20 useful apps you should know about
What do financial organization, language learning, project planning, and document editing have in common? They can all be made easier by apps that fit in your pocket.
The smartphone has evolved from an entertainment device to a powerful tool for productivity, learning, and financial management. With over 500 million study sets created on Quizlet and millions of active users on Notion, apps have become an essential part of many people’s daily routines.
The problem is that with so many options available, it’s hard to know which ones are actually worth downloading. Many apps promise to change your life, but few deliver real value.
With that in mind, we’ve gathered 20 useful apps you should know about — organized by category to make your choice easier. Most have generous free versions, and all were selected for solving real problems in organization, learning, finance, and productivity.
20 useful apps you should know about 20 useful apps you should know about
Organization and productivity apps
1. Notion: the all-in-one digital brain
Notion is one of the most versatile apps available today. It combines notes, tasks, projects, databases, and calendars into a single workspace . According to Google Play, you can “write, plan, and organize notes, projects, and tasks, all in one place” . The free version is generous and meets most individual needs.
Best for: students organizing multiple subjects, professionals managing projects, and anyone wanting to replace multiple apps with one.
2. Taskade: organization with artificial intelligence
Taskade integrates to-do lists, notes, mind maps, and AI in one place . The app offers “instant answers to complex questions, note generation, writing organization, and content summarization” . It’s free and allows real-time team collaboration.
Standout feature: Taskade’s AI can generate outlines, rewrite text, and summarize long content.
3. Trello: visual task organization
Trello uses the Kanban board system to organize tasks visually. It’s ideal for those who prefer to see project progress across columns like “To Do,” “In Progress,” and “Done” . Widely used by teams, but equally useful for personal organization.
Best for: project managers, creative teams, and anyone who likes visual planning.
4. Collabis: the Russian Notion alternative
Collabis is a powerful free alternative to Notion with a focus on Portuguese-speaking users. It combines notes, planner, documents, spreadsheets, and a calendar in one place . Its AI assistant can generate text, ideas, and notes, and it allows project sharing via link with privacy controls.
Best for: students, teachers, marketers, and teams looking for a free Notion alternative.
20 useful apps you should know about 20 useful apps you should know about
Study and learning apps
5. Quizlet: AI-powered flashcards
Quizlet is one of the world’s most popular study tools, with over 60 million active students . It allows you to create digital flashcards or use over 500 million sets already created by teachers and students . The app offers spaced repetition-based study modes and interactive games .
Best for: students at all levels who need to memorize vocabulary, formulas, definitions, or concepts.
6. Naukado: AI-powered studying
Naukado brings eight AI tools into one app: flashcards, quizzes, math solver, notes, language learning, essays, and audio lessons . It “adapts to your level and helps you study faster with less stress” . The app is free and works as an alternative to ChatGPT for educational purposes.
Best for: students from elementary school through university who want a complete “AI tutor.”
7. Duolingo: gamified language learning
Duolingo is the world’s most popular language app, with a gamified approach that encourages daily practice . It offers many languages for free and uses game elements to maintain engagement .
Best for: language beginners, travelers, and anyone wanting to learn a language in a fun way.
8. My Study Life: complete academic planner
My Study Life is an academic planner that organizes exams, assignments, homework, and class schedules in one place . Unlike generic productivity apps, it’s designed specifically for the school and university environment.
Best for: students juggling multiple subjects, deadlines, and activities.
9. Khan Academy: free video lessons
Khan Academy offers free video lessons on various subjects, with content aligned to different education levels . It’s an excellent tool for school reinforcement, test preparation, and self-directed learning.
Best for: students at all levels seeking quality free content across multiple subjects.
20 useful apps you should know about 20 useful apps you should know about
Finance and money management apps
10. Mobills: financial charts and reports
Mobills is ideal for those who prefer a visual approach to financial control. It offers clear reports, intuitive charts, alerts, and reminders . It turns financial data into easy-to-understand visual information.
Best for: people who like charts and reports to understand their spending and improve their relationship with money.
11. Minhas Economias: detailed control
Minhas Economias is ideal for those wanting complete financial control. It allows you to plan the month with custom categories, track every expense, and create savings goals . When spending limits are reached, the user is notified .
Best for: those who want a complete view of their financial life and detailed progress tracking.
12. Organizze: simplicity for beginners
Organizze is simple, direct, and easy to use . Perfect for those who’ve decided to get organized but don’t know where to start . The intuitive interface lets you track daily expenses, set basic goals, and build the habit of watching your money .
Best for: beginners in financial control looking for a straightforward tool.
13. Meu Cofrinho: gamified saving
Meu Cofrinho turns saving money into a game. With an “Anti-Spending” approach, it lets you record micro-wins—like resisting buying a coffee and saving the amount instead . It includes the 52-Week Challenge and visual progress bars for goals . The app is 100% offline, prioritizing user privacy.
Best for: those who need extra motivation to save and enjoy gamified approaches.
14. SavDin: value your time
SavDin converts any product’s price into hours of your work life . Before spending, you see how long you’ll need to work to pay for that item . The app also includes the 100 Envelopes Challenge to save R$ 5,050.00 and integrates AI to analyze recurring expenses and offer personalized financial advice .
Best for: those who feel they work hard but see money disappear at month-end.
20 useful apps you should know about 20 useful apps you should know about
Document and writing apps
15. WPS Office: free office suite
WPS Office is a free and complete office suite that integrates word processor, spreadsheets, presentations, and AI-powered PDF tools . WPS AI offers content generation, rewriting, PDF summarization, and advanced tools like contract review and AI resume assistant . Compatible with 51 file formats including docx, xlsx, and pptx.
Best for: those needing a free alternative to Microsoft Office with advanced AI features.
16. Evernote: the smart note organizer
Evernote helps centralize all your notes in one place, avoiding the chaos of information scattered across notebooks, PDFs, and files . It lets you create notes, checklists, save PDFs, slides, and even audio explanations .
Best for: people who take lots of notes in different formats and need a centralized location.
17. Google Docs and Sheets: free collaborative editing
Google Docs and Google Sheets, known as the “Google Excel,” are free programs accessible via desktop and mobile apps . Google Sheets lets you organize monthly budgets and perform simple income and expense calculations . They’re part of Google’s office suite, including documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
Best for: those needing free, collaborative office tools accessible from anywhere.
20 useful apps you should know about 20 useful apps you should know about
Personal organization apps
18. Google Calendar: the smart schedule
Google Calendar is a powerful and simple tool for applying “time blocking”—reserving specific times in your schedule for each activity . It integrates with other Google apps for a complete view of commitments.
Best for: anyone needing to visually organize their routine in an integrated way.
19. Pomodoro Challenge: focus and discipline
Inspired by the Pomodoro method (25 minutes focus + 5 minutes break), Pomodoro Challenge helps organize study time, track productivity, and identify when you perform best . The app sends motivational messages reminding you that consistency is key to achieving goals .
Best for: those who struggle to stay focused and need a structured study routine.
20. Google and Apple Wallet: payment organization
The tech giants’ digital wallets offer a convenient and secure way to organize credit cards, debit cards, and other payment methods . Integrated into their operating systems, they’re extremely convenient for quick payments.
Best for: those who value convenience and security in payments and want to reduce physical wallet use.
20 useful apps you should know about 20 useful apps you should know about
How to choose the best apps for your routine
With so many options available, it can be hard to decide which apps are worth the download. Some tips to help you choose :
- Define your main goal: what do you need to solve? Organize studies? Control spending? Learn a language? Choose apps aligned with that goal.
- Evaluate features offered: prefer apps that combine different formats (text, video, audio, exercises, practice tests).
- Consider cost-benefit: many apps are free and meet most needs. Evaluate if paid features are worth the investment.
- Test usability: the more intuitive the app, the more likely you’ll use it consistently.
20 useful apps you should know about 20 useful apps you should know about
Frequently asked questions about useful apps
Which study apps are free?
Khan Academy, Duolingo (free version), Quizlet (free version), and Naukado (free version) are complete, no-cost options .
What’s the best app for organizing finances?
It depends on your profile: Mobills is great for those who like charts, Minhas Economias for detailed control, and Organizze for beginners .
Do I need to pay for Notion?
The free version of Notion meets most individual needs. The paid plan is only necessary for teams or advanced features .
What’s better: Quizlet or Naukado?
Quizlet focuses more on flashcards and memorization, while Naukado brings eight AI tools into one app, including math solver and audio lessons . The choice depends on your specific needs.
How do I choose a finance app?
For beginners: Organizze. For chart lovers: Mobills. For detailed control: Minhas Economias. For gamified motivation: Meu Cofrinho or SavDin .
Which apps help maintain study focus?
Pomodoro Challenge helps structure study time with the Pomodoro technique, while Trello and Google Calendar help with task organization
20 useful apps you should know about 20 useful apps you should know about 20 useful apps you should know about 20 useful apps you should know about 20 useful apps you should know about 20 useful apps you should know about