Best Mobile Apps for Universities and Colleges in 2024

Imagine an academic space where everyone thrives, all thanks to mobile apps for universities which make learning not only easier, but also smarter, more tailored, and engaging. 

We’re living in a digital age, where technology has revolutionized every aspect of our lives, including our education systems. In today's fast-paced world, the traditional university setting is undergoing a major transformation, making way to the concept of the digital campus.

A digital campus is a virtual learning environment that brings students and faculty together. With the advent of high-speed internet, mobile devices, and innovative learning platforms, the digital campus has become a game-changer in a modern university setting. 

Universities are embracing technology to enhance the learning experience and improve accessibility. You shouldn't fall behind. 

In this article, you will learn:

• what are mobile apps for universities
• why you need mobile apps for higher education
• ultimate list of the best mobile apps for colleges and universities in 2024

What are mobile apps for universities?

Mobile apps for colleges and universities are digital platforms designed to enhance the academic experience. They typically provide students, educators, and administrators with tools for learning management, organization, communication, and gamification. 

With the use of apps, colleges and universities become a centralized hub where all individuals, including prospective and current students, alumni, and staff, can access important resources at their fingertips. This hub is otherwise known as a digital campus. 

Through a user-friendly online portal, users login to their account and effortlessly navigate through a wide range of role-specific content. The digital campus ensures that key resources are easily accessible to all its users–both students and faculty alike.

Why you need mobile apps for higher education

As we already know, we live in a world dominated by technology–one where almost everything is driven by it. Why? Efficiency, speed and accessibility, to name but a few. Those working in higher education understand the demand for technology in order to vastly improve the learner journey. Here are a few of the important benefits of a digital campus:

Transforming Learning and Teaching 

With digital campus, students have the opportunity to take control of their own learning. Mobile apps provide on-the-go access to course materials, grades, and assignments, helping students stay engaged and up-to-date with their studies. 

Enhanced Communication and Collaboration

In today's world, we rely on technology to stay connected with others. A digital campus is a great way to foster collaboration among students and facilitate discussions with each other and the educators.  

Features like messaging, announcements, and discussion boards create efficient channels for important updates. They reduce the reliance on email and ensure that all parties remain connected in real time.

Incorporating campus apps and platforms designed for communication and collaboration into a classroom can also effectively cultivate a thriving student community. A stronger sense of community on campus encourages students to participate in university events and activities.

Empowering Faculty and Staff

Whilst you may recognise the benefits first and foremost for the student experience, the benefits for the teaching faculty and staff are actually incredibly substantial. A digital campus provides faculty with greater flexibility, as well as enabling them to deliver more engaging lessons for their students. 

As we know, a traditional method of education was predominantly driven by books and paper, but with a digital campus, educators have the opportunity to explore innovative teaching techniques. They can also gain access to high-quality resources that are readily available for them to integrate into their curriculum. Thus enhancing the services they provide to the students.

Automated Administrative Processes

Campus apps and other mobile apps suitable for universities and colleges can handle tasks like course registration, scheduling, and accessing university resources. This simplifies administrative processes for students and staff, making operations smoother and more efficient.

Administrative systems encompass a wide range of functions. These include filing and record-keeping, correspondence, enquiry management, internal communication, financial management, and various other administrative duties. In a digital campus, having effective administrative systems in place is pivotal for maintaining organized and efficient operations.

Data-Driven Insights

Most of the apps on this list can collect data on various types of student behavior. This feature helps institutions identify trends in student habits like participation and academic performance, starting with time spent on an online lesson, to the amount of attempts it takes to pass a quiz.

These insights can help you make decisions about things like resource allocation, academic support, and event planning. This way, the faculty can derive whether they need to make changes to improve the learner experience. 

Support for Remote and Hybrid Learning

Ever since the covid pandemic took the entire world by storm, workplace culture has shifted towards more remote and hybrid environments. And so has the academic spaces. 

With the increasing need for flexible learning options, university mobile apps support remote and hybrid learning environments. Students can participate in online classes, submit assignments, and communicate with instructors, regardless of their location.

How to choose the ideal mobile app for university

There are multiple types of mobile apps universities and colleges can leverage to enhance the learning experience. Each type of app offers a unique set of features, so the best choice depends on the specific needs and goals of educators and administrators. Here are some of the key factors to consider when choosing a mobile app for higher education.

Mobile apps for universities factor #1: Ease of use

The apps you use should have an intuitive and user-friendly interface that makes navigation simple for educators, administrators, but also the students. They can minimize confusion or frustration and help students focus on learning rather than navigating complex systems.

Make sure the potential apps offer smooth integration with your existing tools. A well-designed app can save valuable time so that teachers can focus more on teaching than on tech troubleshooting.

With all departments able to work efficiently, the entire digital campus ecosystem benefits from smoother workflows and better communication.

Mobile apps for universities factor #2: Feature set

Each type of platform for higher education is designed to support different stages of the academic workflow, from organizing assignments to enhancing communication and collaboration. Because of this, each app offers a unique set of tools tailored to specific needs. 

When choosing a mobile app for your university, it’s important to decide what you need the most: Is it an event management platform, communication tools, or collaborative features? You should choose the app based on your needs and requirements. 

This comparison list offers an overview of the key features that each app offers. It should help you identify which platform will best meet your academic goals and simplify campus operations.

Mobile apps for universities factor #3: Integration capabilities

Digital campus serves as a centralized hub that needs to connect every aspect of the academic workflow. Integration capabilities are crucial in ensuring all campus technology communicates smoothly with other tools and platforms you're already using. Make sure the app integrates with your existing learning management system or productivity tools to avoid additional training or onboarding hurdles.

Mobile apps for universities factor #4: Cost and pricing models

Implementing another platform can be time consuming but also very costly. Before making an important decision, consider the cost of the mobile app. Check if the app offers a free version or trial period to test it before making a financial commitment. 

Mobile apps for universities factor #5: Security and privacy

Universities handle all kinds of sensitive data, such as personal information, grades, and academic records. It’s essential that apps offer robust security features and ensure that all user information is protected.

Check that the platform you want to implement complies with data protection laws such as GDPR and FERPA. Mobile apps should offer transparency on what data is collected, how it is used, and allow users control over their data.

Mobile apps for universities factor #6: Support and maintenance

Dedicated technical support is critical to ensure everything goes smoothly, especially when it comes to university event management. Technical issues can disrupt the professional execution, leading to time waste, and potentially affecting student satisfaction, especially during crucial events like an open day.

Whether it's schedule coordination, registration management, or handling student communication, having reliable support ready to assist can save time, reduce stress for educators, and enhance the overall experience for students.

Mobile apps for universities factor #7: Analytics and reporting

Even though processing data and analytics might be tedious, they can be one of your most valuable assets. Comprehensive reporting can help make informed decisions on academic performance and resource allocation. 

Luckily, the overwhelming majority of apps on this list include built-in analytics tools designed to assess your students' performance, engagement levels, or learning patterns. 

Best mobile apps for student experience [2024]

Now that you know what mobile apps for universities and colleges are and what they can bring to your digital campus, it's time for the ultimate list of best platforms for higher education. 

The list is divided into 6 categories of platforms designed for:

1. Event management and student engagement
2. College organization
3. Collaboration and communication
4. Project management
5. Gamified learning
6. Teachers and academic management

🎖️ Best platform for event management and student engagement

Keeping students engaged throughout their digital learning experience can be a challenge that many digital campus’ face. However, through club apps and event apps, teachers are able to engage with students in a way like never before.

Young people are naturally drawn to technology, and many are tired of outdated communication methods like paper leaflets. Mobile apps can be especially useful when it comes to event planning.

By integrating an event app, universities can provide real-time updates, personalize event schedules, and drive student engagement with ease.

Eventee – Popular Mobile Event App for Student Engagement

One such event engagement app that has gained popularity in the educational setting is Eventee, with customers from prestigious universities around the world, including Stanford, Oxford, and Cambridge. 

Eventee is a powerful and intuitive university event app that helps educators and administrators deliver a memorable experience for attendees. Whether it's in-person or hybrid events, Eventee is an ideal solution for universities organizing any academic conference, an open day, or a job fair. 

The platform stands out among other event apps with its less is more approach. With Eventee, organizers can set up their entire event in less than 10 minutes without the need for coding skills or any technical expertise. 

Eventee provides an easy-to-navigate event schedule, so students can quickly find what they need without any confusion. Push notifications ensure students get real-time updates without going through paper leaflets. Live questions feature allows shy and timid students to ask questions without the pressure of speaking in front of a crowd.

Social wall and networking helps students and educators connect with each other, making events feel more interactive and social. Attendees can register for workshops directly through the app, and they can even rate sessions and speakers to provide valuable feedback.

Eventee key features

• Networking with meeting scheduler and 1:1 chats
• Interactive features like Live polls and Live questions
• Newsfeed with Push notifications
• Event schedule
• Personalized agendas
• Advanced analytics and reporting
• Social wall
• Gamification
• White label
• Custom menu with venue maps
• Sponsors and exhibitors visibility
• Workshops registration
• Session rating

Eventee rating

G2 score: 4.8 (162 reviews)

Capterra score: 4.8 (62 reviews)

🧑🏫 Mobile apps for college organization

Otherwise known as learning management systems. LSM refers to platforms that allow educators to create, manage, and deliver online courses and educational content. These powerful tools can revolutionize the way education is delivered.

They break down the walls of traditional classrooms and create more dynamic learning experiences. 

Canvas college campus app

Canvas is a traditional popular learning management system used by universities and other educational institutions to connect teachers and students to help manage their coursework.

The software allows teachers to share course content, reading materials, and lectures. This way, students have everything in one place and necessary materials are easily accessible through mobile application.

Not only that, the users can automate routine tasks, such as enrolling students in courses, sending notifications, or issuing certificates upon completion. Canvas is ideal for larger institutions seeking powerful analytics and extensive integrations.

Canvas college campus app key features

• assignment submission
• quizzes
• option to view grades
• calendar integration
• analytics
• real-time notifications
• built-in messaging

Canvas college campus app rating

G2 score: 4.4 (1,483 reviews)

Capterra score: 4.6 (4,107 reviews)

CYPHER learning

CYPHER learning is a dynamic and vibrant cloud-based platform for colleges and universities offering a user-friendly and highly personalized learning experience. 

With its strong focus on engagement through gamification, the software seamlessly blends education with technology to make learning more dynamic. The system offers a modern and flexible design, perfect for universities looking to make a lasting impression. 

CYPHER is very adaptable to various learning environments. Whether it's universities, corporations, or entrepreneurial needs, its versatility is what sets it apart from other competitors. 

CYPHER learning key features:

• generative AI
• competency-based learning
• gamification
• assessment and evaluation
• analytics
• high security
• interactive chat rooms

CYPHER learning rating: 

G2 score: 4.4 (289 reviews)

Capterra score: 4.5 (118 reviews)

Moodle

Moodle is another learning management system designed to provide educators and students with a robust learning environment. 

Used by hundreds of thousands of learning institutions globally, Moodle has a strong community that continuously contributes to its growth. Unlike other LSM platforms on this list, Moodle offers a free license.

Moodle provides its users with a simple and easy-to-use interface which allows for advanced personalization and customization. It's an affordable and functional tool for students and teachers to connect and collaborate.

Moodle key features

• collaborative tools and activities like surveys or glossaries
• file management
• customizable notifications
• multilingual capability
• progress tracking
• multimedia integration
• in-line marking

Moodle rating

G2 score: 4.1 (398 reviews)

Capterra score: 4.3 (3,293 reviews)

Google Classroom

Google Classroom is like the ultimate classroom toolkit in the digital world. Just like any other LSM on this list, the platform allows educators to create interactive and organized learning environments. 

Google Classroom is a natural extension of the Google Workspace ecosystem (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, and more). So, teachers can easily share resources with just a few clicks and students can seamlessly collaborate on projects. 

The platform offers a clean and intuitive interface which makes it perfect for educators of all tech abilities. But due to its minimalist approach, it might lack the depth of features found in traditional LMS platforms.

Google Classroom key features

• Google Workspace integration (Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, Meet, and more…)
• Simple assignment management
• Real-time collaboration
• AI assistant Gemini
• High privacy and security
• Analytics and data visualizations
• Q&A and polls during live streams

Google Classroom rating:

G2 score: 4.5 (1,459 reviews)

Capterra score: 4.6 (2,818 reviews)

If you're still unsure, there are plenty of other learning management systems that could be a better fit. Ultimately, it depends on what you're looking for and your specific needs.

🫂 Platforms for collaboration and communication 

The days of lost emails and endless back-and-forths are over. With the rise of modern communication platforms, especially since COVID, tools like Microsoft Teams and Zoom have become integral to how we connect.

As a current university student, I can tell you that these platforms are far more comfortable and familiar for the younger generation. They offer real-time communication, file sharing, and seamless collaboration.

The use of communication apps allows students and faculty members to interact with one another in a safe environment. With the use of tools like Slack or Zoom, you can create separate groups to house different topics of discussion. This enables students to work collaboratively on projects at the touch of a button. 

Slack

Slack is a vibrant and buzzing space designed for more formal collaboration and communication within teams, businesses, or other organizations. Slack's threaded conversations make it easier to track ongoing conversations.

Slack offers 2,600 app integrations for platforms like Google Drive, Zoom, Trello, or Dropbox. So, it's much easier to upload files directly into your conversation or channel, so everything stays in context and accessible. 

Other than that, the platform is free indefinitely with some basic features, such as 1:1 video and audio messaging or 90 days of message history for one workspace. For more advanced features, interested parties can see detailed pricing. 

Slack key features

• workspace channels
• enterprise-grade security
• huddles as an online meeting platform
• clips as an audio and video messaging
• workflow builder
• built-in AI
• more than 2,600 integrated apps

Slack rating

G2 score: 4.5 (22,428 reviews)

Capterra score: 4.7 (23,362 reviews)

Discord

If you don't know this platform, chances are your students definitely will! Originally created for gamers to chat while playing online, Discord has since transformed into a versatile and dynamic platform that serves as a powerful digital hub for communities, teams, and organizations of all types.

Just like on Slack, you can create multiple channels dedicated to different topics. While Discord offers real-time text chat options, it really shines with its voice and video chat features. The voice channels let you instantly jump into audio or video calls with ease. 

You can even look for specific communities to connect with other people outside of your bubble. Other than that, Discord is mostly free with unlimited messaging and voice channels, and there's no limit on message history. Perfect for students or groups that don’t want to deal with paywalls. 

Discord key features

• channels
• high quality real-time voice and video
• server customization
• bots for automated tasks
• integrations with numerous third-party apps
• secure environment with invite-only servers
• file sharing

Discord rating

G2 score: no info

Capterra score: 4.7 (447 reviews)

Remind

Imagine a tiny classroom megaphone of the digital age. Remind is a communication platform built to make sure no one misses out on important announcements or assignments. 

With Remind, teachers, students, and even parents stay connected through quick, real-time messages, reminders, and updates. No more checking your email or juggling unnecessary papers. 

Teachers can send out reminders about assignments or quizzes, and students can ask last-minute questions without exchanging phone numbers. All happens within the app. 

Remind key features

• real-time 1:1 conversations
• high security
• office hours scheduling
• automatic translations into over 90 languages
• push notifications
• free tool
• file sharing

Remind rating

G2 score: 4.6 (249 reviews)

Capterra score: 4.6 (31 reviews)

If none of these platforms fit your needs and requirements, other softwares for messaging include for example Flock, Whatsapp, or Mattermost.

👀 Project management

Mobile apps for universities and colleges designed for project management helps teams, groups but also individuals to collaborate on school projects with ease and order. As a student, I use them all the time to help me manage my assignments and stay on top of deadlines. 

Trello

Trello is a project management platform that helps organize and manage ideas or projects of any size with ease. 

Similar to a Kanban board, Trello boards visualize tasks, deadlines, and ideas into neatly arranged colorful boards, lists, and cards.These cards and boards can be moved, updated, and customized while turning chaos into order at a glance. 

But Trello offers numerous ways to visualize your projects according to your needs with different types of views. For example, timeline view makes it easier to hit deadlines and stay on track of every goal. 

Trello key features

• customizable cards
• timeline view
• calendar view
• analytics with Dashboard
• interactive map view
• integrations
• automation

Trello rating

G2 score: 4.4 (13,605 reviews)

Capterra score: 4.5 (23,233 reviews)

Basecamp

Basecamp is an all-in-one hub for communication, tasks, and file sharing. It's designed as a centralized workspace for teams to manage their projects, tasks, and communication all in one place.

The platform is often praised for its simplicity and "everything in one place" philosophy. Users can track work with to-do lists, store and share files, chat with colleagues, or schedule deadlines and milestones. 

Basecamp key features

• dashboard for projects, assignments, and schedule
• real-time group chats
• to-do boards
• project schedule
• numerous integrations with the feature Doors
• reports and analytics
• push notifications

Basecamp rating

G2 score: 4.1 (5,305 reviews)

Capterra score: 4.3 (14,452 reviews)

Asana

Just like any other platform in this category, Asana is a project and task management program designed to help teams organize, track, and manage their work efficiently. It offers a clean, intuitive, and modern interface.

Asana is a great option for keeping teams on schedule. It allows users to visualize progress through different types of project views and set milestones. Academic institutions can leverage Asana for event planning, resource management, and tracking other project timelines.

The platform provides a free plan with essential features for teams of up to 10 members. For larger teams, pricing begins at $10.99 and includes extra functionality. 

Asana key features

• task and project management
• project views in a list, calendar, timeline, Gantt chart, or Kanban board
• custom fields to filter tasks
• time tracking
• automation and AI
• inbox
• reporting

Asana rating

G2 score: 4.4 (10,467 reviews)

Capterra score: 4.5 (12,990 reviews)

Miro

Miro is a visual collaboration platform that transforms brainstorming into an interactive experience. With Miro, users can sketch out ideas, create flowcharts, and organize information visually on a digital whiteboard. 

The platform is ideal for teams of all types, designers, educators, and anyone who needs to visualize their ideas in a flexible and interactive space. 

Miro also offers a variety of developer tools to customize Miro boards or build unique experiences within the platform. The feature gives users the flexibility to tailor Miro to their specific workflows. 

Miro key features

• intelligent canvas
• AI-powered assistance
• sprint planning
• roadmapping
• 160+ integrations
• customizable widgets
• 3,000+ community templates

Miro rating

G2 score: 4.7 (6,528 reviews)

Capterra score: 4.7 (1,571 reviews)

🎮 Mobile apps for gamified learning and engagement

One of the biggest challenges in an academic setting is keeping students engaged during lectures. However, mobile apps specifically designed to drive engagement can make a huge difference.

These apps allow educators to test students' knowledge in real-time through interactive quizzes, polls, and surveys, helping them gauge how well students work with the material without any additional stress. 

Kahoot!

Kahoot! is an engagement platform designed to turn any lesson into a fun, interactive experience. It's a great solution for gamifying the educational world while bringing a little friendly competition to classrooms.

The platform is very easy to use and versatile, perfect for any learning environment whether in-person, remote, or hybrid. Educators can create quizzes, polls, and surveys to get answers and opinions from students in real-time using just their phones. All students need is a device and a game PIN, and they’re off! No complex setup or login process required.

Kahoot! leverages AI for content creation making it even easier for teachers to catch the students' attention. It also provides data-driven insights that show how well students understood the material. 

Kahoot! key features

• quizzes, polls, surveys
• gamification
• lesson review and test prep
• AI-powered assistance
• real-time insights
• integrations
• collaborative learning

Kahoot! rating

G2 score: 4.6 (386 reviews)

Capterra score: 4.7 (2,875 reviews)

Brilliant

Brilliant is a platform that helps with learning quantitative technical skills, especially in math, data, and computer science / AI. 

It's based on a philosophy that learning is not just about theory—it’s about thinking critically, experimenting, and problem-solving which is essential for higher-level education, especially in STEM fields.

Rather than passively absorbing information, Brilliant encourages learners to actively engage with math and science through interactive lessons and challenging puzzles. Topics range from foundational math and logic to advanced courses in cryptography, quantum computing, and game theory.

Brilliant key features

• bite-sized lessons 
• game-like progress tracking
• guided courses
• multiple levels for ages 13 to 113
• real-time feedback
• personalized learning paths
• puzzles and quizzes

Brilliant rating

G2 score: 4.8 (17 reviews)

Capterra score: 4.8 (22 reviews)

Duolingo

In a nutshell, Duolingo is basically like a personal language coach, except it’s dressed up as a game full of lessons, colorful animations, and plenty of encouragement. Whether it's French, Spanish, or even High Valyrian (yes, seriously), Duolingo makes language learning feel less like studying and more like playing a game. 

Duolingo offers over 40 languages to choose from for every type of learner, whether you're starting from scratch or looking to fine-tune your fluency. Each lesson feels like a mini victory with instant feedback and achievements.

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Duolingo key features

• points, streaks, and leaderboards
• instant feedback
• AI-powered assistance
• duolingo math
• personalized assignments
• progress insights
• free language education

Duolingo rating

G2 score: 4.5 (133 reviews)

Capterra score: 4.6 (883 reviews)

🎓 Apps for teachers and academic management

Throughout their studies, students often feel distressed by the constant pressure to properly quote and avoid plagiarism. Fortunately, there are now apps that simplify the quoting process, help with plagiarism detection, and even allow users to save references from academic databases.

Turnitin

Turnitin is primarily known for its plagiarism detection features. The platform scans student submissions against a massive database of academic papers, websites, and other sources to identify unoriginal content.

But it's more than just a plagiarism checker. Teachers can also use it to save time on grading, giving feedback, and improving the writing process. Turnitin provides an AI checker which helps educators identify when an AI writing tool such as ChatGPT or text spinners may have been used in students’ submissions. 

Other than that, Turnitin helps students become better writers over time thanks to real-time feedback and reflective learning. It ensures academic integrity and protects the institution's reputation. 

Turnitin key features

• similarity report
• real-time feedback
• rubrics and grading forms for objective and consistent grading
• AI checker
• citation checker
• instant reports
• digital exams

Turnitin rating

G2 score: 4.2 (135 reviews)

Capterra score: no info

Zotero

Zotero is a powerful reference management tool designed to help users collect, organize, cite, and share research sources with ease. It's basically like a personal research assistant saving valuable time during the research process.

The platform automatically collects citations, articles, PDFs, websites as you go and keeps everything in one organized place. Other than that, Zotero is free, incredibly easy to use, and accessible across multiple devices whether it's desktop, laptop, or a mobile phone. 

Zotero key features

• automatic reference collection
• customizable collections and tags
• integrations with Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and LibreOffice
• in-text citations
• PDF management and annotation
• collaborative research with groups
• cloud-based sync feature

Zotero rating

G2 score: 4.4 (96 reviews)

Capterra score: no info

Respondus

Respondus is a technology that develops tools for fair and secure assessment ensuring exam integrity. The platform helps prevent cheating during online exams by restricting student activity on their devices and monitoring their behavior via webcam.

Respondus offers two key features for secure assessment: LockDown Browser, which locks down the testing environment on students’ computers, and Respondus Monitor creating a proctored, secure environment where student activity is recorded and analyzed. 

Respondus key features

• LockDown Browser
• Respondus Monitor
• exam creation tools
• integrations with popular LSMs and video tools
• offline exam creation
• flashcards and learning games for students
• test bank network

Respondus rating

G2 score: 3.5 (51 reviews)

Capterra score: 4.5 (12 reviews)

In conclusion

With high-speed internet, mobile devices, and innovative learning platforms, the digital campus has become a game-changer for students and faculty alike. This virtual learning environment brings together individuals in an interconnected space, and enables unprecedented opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing. 

As technology continues to advance, mobile apps for higher education will continue to shape the future of learning, providing limitless possibilities for the pursuit of knowledge and academic excellence.