Learning has come a long way from traditional classrooms and dusty textbooks. With the rise of digital learning, students of all ages can now access a world of knowledge at their fingertips.

And with mobile devices being a big part of everyday life, why not use some of that screen time for learning? 

Education apps are the second most downloaded type of app on Google Play and the third most popular on the Apple App Store. There are over 455,000 educational apps on the internet ranging from language learning to coding and from lesson planning to homework help.

In this article, we’ll explore how to make learning fun with the top education apps of 2024 that benefit students in and out of the classroom. 

7 Top educational apps to make learning fun

Here are the top education apps of the year with their unique features and the benefits they bring to both young learners and lifelong students. 

1. Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a free education app packed with videos, practice questions, and articles on almost everything you can imagine. 

From basic math to advanced science, history to art, there’s something for everyone in Khan Academy’s best study app.

Khan Academy Kids is a fun, colorful version for younger learners. It’s filled with games, songs, and stories that help kids learn letters, numbers, shapes, and more.

The key features of Khan Academy include: 

• All courses at Khan Academy are completely free.

• The app offers lessons in diverse subjects like math, science, economics, history, and even computer programming.

• After each lesson, students can practice what they've learned with interactive exercises, which help reinforce their understanding.

• Khan Academy adapts to the learner's pace. It offers personalized recommendations based on their progress.

• Users can track their learning progress over time, which is helpful for setting and achieving goals.

• The app includes preparation materials for standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, and more.

• Khan Academy can be accessed on smartphones, tablets, and computers, making it easy to learn on the go.

2. Scratch 

Scratch and Scratch Jr. are innovative educational apps that make coding fun and accessible for both young learners and adults. 

Scratch Jr. is perfect for young kids. It's simple and easy to use, with big colorful blocks that kids can drag and drop to make characters move, talk, and sing. It's a great way for kids to learn about problem-solving and creativity.

Scratch is the more advanced version, suitable for ages 8 and up, including adults. It's more complex but still really fun. 

You can use it to make more advanced projects, like interactive stories, games, and animations. It's a great way to learn about coding and programming without feeling overwhelmed.

Scratch allows users to share their projects with a global community so you may see what others are creating and get inspired.

3. Duolingo 

Duolingo is a popular language-learning app that makes learning a new language fun and accessible for everyone.

The app uses exercises to gamify education and help you learn vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. 

You earn points and badges as you progress, which makes learning feel like a game. Plus, you can practice speaking with other learners around the world.

Here are its top features: 

• The app offers courses in over 30 languages. 

• Duolingo encourages consistent learning with daily reminders and streaks. 

• The platform adjusts the difficulty of lessons based on your performance.

• Duolingo offers a free version with full access to all courses, with an optional premium subscription for an ad-free experience and additional features.

4. PhotoMath

PhotoMath is a handy tool for anyone who struggles with math or simply wants to check their work. This is one of those top education apps that uses your smartphone’s camera to scan a math problem and then provides a step-by-step solution.

It is suitable for students of all ages, from middle schoolers learning basic arithmetic to high schoolers tackling complex algebra. 

It’s also a great resource for parents who want to assist their children with homework but need a refresher on certain topics.

The app doesn’t just give you the answer. Instead, it breaks down the solution into easy-to-follow steps. It also includes a built-in calculator that provides real-time answers as you type.

For more complex problems, PhotoMath offers interactive graphs to help visualize the solution.

5. Udemy

Udemy is one of the best learning apps for adults that offers a wide variety of courses to make learning enjoyable for everyone. 

It caters to both beginners and advanced learners with over 200,000 courses in subjects like technology, business, personal development, and more.

Many courses come with lifetime access, so you can review the material as often as you need.

Here are its key features: 

• Choose from a vast range of topics and subjects.

• Learn from industry professionals and experienced educators.

• Access courses anytime, anywhere, and at your own pace.

• Many courses are budget-friendly, with frequent discounts and offers.

• Once you purchase a course, you can revisit it as often as you like.

6. Chegg 

Chegg is among well-known study apps for high school and university students for its textbook rentals, homework help, and study support.

The platform allows students to rent or buy textbooks at a fraction of the cost of new ones. This service is especially helpful for college students who need multiple textbooks each semester.

Chegg includes various study tools, such as flashcards and practice tests, to help students prepare for exams and quizzes. It also offers expert Q&A, where students can ask specific questions and get answers from subject experts.

For those who need additional help, Chegg offers 24/7 access to online tutors. Students can connect with tutors in real-time to get personalized assistance with difficult subjects.

Chegg also offers writing assistance, including plagiarism checks and grammar suggestions, to help students improve their essays and papers.

7. Wolfram Alpha

This is one of the top education apps referred to as a computational knowledge engine because it doesn't just search the web for information—it computes answers based on its vast database of curated data.

Wolfram Alpha is particularly popular for solving mathematical problems. It can handle everything from basic arithmetic to advanced calculus. 

The app is also equipped with tools for physics, chemistry, astronomy, and engineering. It can analyze data sets for students working on projects or assignments that require statistical analysis.

On top of it, Wolfram Alpha provides tools for creating interactive graphs, which is useful for visual learners. Students can manipulate variables to see how changes affect the outcome.

Benefits of education apps based learning

The top education apps discussed above offer a ton of advantages that make learning more engaging, effective, and accessible. 

Let's break down some of the key benefits of educational apps. 

Learning anytime, anywhere

One of the biggest benefits of education apps is that you can learn whenever and wherever you want. With an app, your lessons are right there in your pocket, ready to go whether you’re at home, on a commute, or even on a vacay. 

Personalized learning

Some people like to learn by watching videos, while others prefer reading or doing quizzes. Different apps offer different ways to learn the same thing, so you can find what works best for you.

Real-time feedback

Education apps provide real-time feedback, which helps students understand their mistakes and learn from them immediately. 

An instant response allows for quicker learning and improvement, as students can address their weaknesses right away. Teachers can also monitor progress more effectively and provide support when needed.

Engaging content

Education apps use games, animations, and other fun stuff to make learning enjoyable. Such engaging elements keep students interested and motivated, which is crucial for effective learning. 

The use of multimedia content also helps in breaking down complex topics into easily digestible parts.

Cost-effective learning

Many top education apps offer free or affordable learning resources, making education more accessible to a broader audience. This is particularly important in regions where educational resources are limited. 

The cost-effectiveness of these apps makes quality education available to everyone, regardless of their financial situation.

How can Formaloo help?

In this article, we’ve talked about top education apps that can make learning fun and effective. But what if you want to create your own learning materials? That's where Formaloo comes in.

With Formaloo, you can create custom student portals that give learners access to personalized dashboards, grades, and course materials. The platform allows you to design interactive quizzes and student surveys tailored to various learning styles. 

Formaloo also offers real-time tracking of student performance with dynamic charts and tables.

It's a platform that lets you build custom quizzes, surveys, and even whole courses without needing to know how to code.

Formaloo gives you the freedom to design your learning experience exactly how you want it.

Sign up for Formaloo today.