12 Free Software And Apps For Uni Students To Download (2024)

Free software for university students

The last thing uni students need to worry about is forking out more money for pricey apps and software on top of their tuition fees and other expenses. Thankfully, there are plenty of free software and alternatives to popular paid apps that you can use to your advantage.

From efficient citation tools so your essays are always on point to a superior spell check that even most of us at TheSmartLocal use daily, here are seven free apps that all uni students can download before the first day of classes start.

Table of Contents

Free software for university students

How to make the most use of your benefits as a university student

Staying in school does have its perks. For one, many places offer student card discounts when you flash your registered school ID at F&B outlets and selected retailers. Movie theatres in Singapore all offer concession prices on tickets, Singapore Airlines offers 10% off flights, and Apple also has back-to-school bundles on their iPads and laptops for students.

If you have an active email ending in .edu, you can also score cheaper subscriptions for apps like Spotify, and Adobe Creative Cloud.

– Basic Office Tools –

1. Grammarly

A higher-level spell check that spots grammar mistakes

Screenshot from: Grammarly

I can’t count the number of times Grammarly came in clutch as I churned out essay after essay during hell week. The handy writing assistant would spot some of my most egregious grammar and spelling mistakes that the default spell check just ignored.

As I spent most of my time on Google Docs, the Grammarly Chrome browser extension worked best for me. However, it also works on Microsoft Word and as a desktop app. If you would rather not download anything, you can also run it on your browser once you’ve signed up with them.

Get Grammarly.

2. LibreOffice

Open-source suite for Word docs & Excel sheets

Screenshot from: LibreOffice

If your university doesn’t offer Microsoft Office for free, a good alternative you can download is LibreOffice. The suite of apps is fully compatible with all types of documents that Microsoft Office already handles, just that they do it under different names: Writer for word processing, Calc for your spreadsheets, and Impress for all your PowerPoint presentations.

LibreOffice can be installed on Windows, Mac, and Linux, so you don’t need to worry about any compatibility issues.

Get LibreOffice.

3. Prezi

Trust us, nobody wants to sit through a PowerPoint presentation that has hundreds of words on a single slide. Adding an image may help a little, but if you want your audience to stay captivated, try out Prezi.

They have hundreds of templates to create engaging slideshows that use a zoom-in-zoom-out to hone into subtopics, so you can skip around in your presentation without having to search for specific slides.

Get Prezi.

– Reference Management –

4. Zotero

Cite & organise your essay research more efficiently

Screenshot from: Zotero

No one prepares you for the number of citations you have to do for your research essays, and you can save yourself the headache of rushing out your references at the final minute with Zotero. The Zotero browser extension will create a citation of the webpage you’re referencing with a single click, which can then be exported as a proper citation in over 9,000 styles. It’s available for Google Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.

Get Zotero.

5. Mendeley

Intuitive citation manager for Chrome & Safari users

Screenshot from: Mendeley

Those who spend their days on Google Chrome and Safari instead can use Mendeley, another powerful citation management tool. It boasts plenty of intuitive features including a single-click citation importer.

If you’re using Microsoft Word, you just have to download Mendeley Cite to quickly put references into your document from your library of citations.

Get Mendeley.

– Image & Video Editing –

6. Diagrams.net

Easy tool for building diagrams

Screenshot from Diagrams.net

Unless your school has bought Photoshop for the entire cohort, chances are you’re looking for a free alternative for all your diagramming needs. Enter Diagrams.net, a free and open-source tool you can use to create anything from graphs, charts, and even infographics.

While there is an easy-to-use browser version, downloading the app so you can use it without Wi-Fi is a better experience.

Get Diagrams.net.

7. Inkscape

Design software to make vectors & Illustrator alternative

Screenshot from: Inkscape

Those who need to make graphics for an assignment can turn to Inkscape instead of paying for a subscription to Adobe Illustrator. The free and open-source vector graphics editor lets you design anything from logos to banners at an unlimited resolution, so your printouts can be crystal clear with no pixelation.

If you’re not familiar with the user interface, fret not – there are many official tutorials available to guide you through the various features from bitmap tracing to calligraphy.

Get Inkscape.

8. SketchUp

Online 3D modelling software that you don’t need to download

Screenshot from: SketchUp

Once you get to the varsity level, art classes would require more than just your pen, pencil, and eraser. Students working on interior design, architecture, and other projects that need sketches can use SketchUp, a free web-based app that lets you create 3D models.

The simplicity of the app is what makes it stand out compared to other more expensive and popular alternatives like Revit and Fusion 360.

Get SketchupFree.

9. GitHub Student Developer Pack

Complimentary access to pro versions of Canva & Typeform

Screenshot from: Canva

In case you didn’t already know, your student email account gets you access to a ton of freebies courtesy of GitHub, including 12 months of Canva Pro (worth $165) so you can impress your profs with your presentation slides and one year of Typeform’s professional plan (worth over $795) to make all the fancy-looking surveys.

Check out the GitHub Student Developer Pack.

– Note-Taking & Productivity –

10. Notion

Track progress for each course you’re enrolled in

Back when I was a student, you’d bring multiple notebooks to school – one for each of the subjects you’re taking. Now, all you need is to download Notion, a desktop organiser and unlimited notebooks rolled into one. Their student planner is useful for keeping track of course syllabi, assignments and test dates, as well as any other notes you might have for each class.

Screenshot from: Notion

Tip: Use Notion AI to help with study guides. You can ask it to sieve through all your notes to pick up keywords and definitions, and even make a flowchart to help you understand study material better.

Get Notion.

11. KardsAI

Create flashcards from your own notes

Remember the good old days of flashcards when you were a kid? They’re great for revising for exams that require you to know many definitions, formulas, or key events and dates. Creating them on your own can be quite troublesome, especially if you have hundreds of keywords to run through.

Image adapted from: KardsAI

But this is where KardsAI comes in handy – simply upload your notes in PDF format, and the app will automatically pull out pointers for you to study. In some cases, you don’t even need your own notes to create your own stack of flashcards. Say you’re learning a new language; just let KardsAI know what vocabulary words you want to learn and the app will create a list in just a tap of a button.

Get KardsAI.

12. Padlet

Collaborative note-taking bulletin board with friends

Teamwork makes the dream work with Padlet, which allows an unlimited number of collaborators to add notes together onto a digital bulletin board. Use this for brainstorming ideas for group projects, catalogue research references, or build a kanban board to keep track of multiple projects at once.

Screenshot from: Padlet

Apart from text and images, you can add in links and videos on each bulletin board you create. If you’re looking for the freedom drawing and collaging that paper brings, use the Sandbox function. It’ll allow you to freely move any elements, such as text, images, and even drawings without having to stick to a grid.

Get Padlet.

Best free software downloads for students

Gone are the days where you can just breeze through a school semester with just a pen and some paper. The right apps and software can make surviving your college years a smoother and stress-free experience. Your bank account also won’t be in the red as much because these apps here are all free of charge with no strings attached.

Check out our similar articles for students:

Cover image adapted from: Canva, Notion
Originally published on 26th July 2021. Last updated by Raewyn Koh on 5th August 2024.