Best Mac Apps for Students (2026)
The best Mac apps for students are Notion or Obsidian for notes, Anki for flashcards and exam revision, and LibreOffice for writing papers. They are free (or have free education plans) and install with one Homebrew command.
How we pick: every app here installs via Homebrew, runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel, and is ranked on real-world use, value, and maintenance. Our methodology.
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Notion
FreeAn all-in-one workspace for notes, assignments, and databases, with a free education plan.
Best for: Organizing coursework and projects
brew install --cask notion - 2
Obsidian
FreeA free, local-first Markdown notes app ideal for lecture notes and linked study material.
Best for: Building linked study notes
brew install --cask obsidian - 3
Anki
FreeA free, open-source spaced-repetition flashcard app proven for memorization and exam prep.
Best for: Memorization and exam revision
brew install --cask anki - 4
LibreOffice
FreeA free, open-source office suite that opens and edits Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.
Best for: Writing papers without paying for Office
brew install --cask libreoffice - 5
Figma
FreeA collaborative design tool with a free education plan for coursework and prototyping.
Best for: Design students and group projects
brew install --cask figma