Best Note Taking Tools
Tools for capturing, organizing, and connecting your notes.
Useful Websites for Students
Students need tools that work on a budget. This list covers free websites for notes, research, citations, collaboration, and time management. No subscriptions required.
We've prioritized tools with generous free tiers and those designed for academic use. Whether you're writing a paper, managing group projects, or keeping track of assignments, these sites can help.
All picks are web-based—no downloads needed. Access your work from any device.
-
Notion
Notion is free for students. Notes, docs, and wikis in one place. Great for organizing research and group projects.
Key features: Free for students; Notes and docs; Collaboration
Best for: Organizing coursework.
-
Grammarly
Grammarly's free tier catches grammar and spelling in essays. Integrates with Google Docs and Word.
Key features: Grammar; Free tier; Integrations
Best for: Essay proofreading.
-
Canva
Canva's free tier works for presentations and posters. Templates for academic use.
Key features: Templates; Presentations; Free
Best for: Academic presentations.
-
Google Drive
Google Drive offers 15GB free. Docs, Sheets, and Slides for collaboration. Essential for group work.
Key features: Storage; Collaboration; Free
Best for: Group projects and storage.
-
Obsidian
Obsidian helps organize research with linked notes. Local files mean you own your data. Free core app.
Key features: Linked notes; Local; Free
Best for: Research organization.
-
Toggl
Toggl tracks study time. Free tier for individuals. See where your time goes.
Key features: Time tracking; Free; Reports
Best for: Study session tracking.
-
Pocket
Pocket saves articles for later. Free. Build a reading list for research.
Key features: Save articles; Reading list; Free
Best for: Saving research sources.
-
Feedly
Feedly aggregates RSS feeds. Follow journals and blogs. Free tier available.
Key features: RSS; News aggregation; Free
Best for: Following sources.