When it comes to teaching, anything that saves you time, keeps students engaged, and makes your classroom run more smoothly is worth it. And in 2025, the right educational apps can make all the difference.
Whether you’re managing assignments, creating interactive lessons, or trying to stay organized between grading and meetings, there’s an app out there that can help. Here’s a roundup of some of the best educational apps teachers are loving this year, along with why they’re worth the download.
Canva for Education: Design without Stress
Gone are the days when you had to spend hours making newsletters, certificates, bulletin boards, worksheets, and slide shows look decent. Canva for Education is a game-changer. With free access for teachers (and students), it gives you professional-looking templates you can customize in minutes.
You can also invite students to collaborate on projects, which is perfect for group work or creating class posters. Whether you need to spice up a lesson with an infographic, create a whiteboard presentation, or Google Slide deck, Canva makes it easy.
Google Keep: Simple Organization
Just when you thought Google Classroom couldn’t get any better, they came out with Google Keep, a quick organization on the go for when inspiration strikes, and you need somewhere to jot it down fast. Think of it like a digital sticky note that you can color-code, label, and organize however you want.
Teachers love it because it keeps track of lesson ideas, parent notes, supply lists, and even personal to-dos. Plus, it syncs across all your devices, which is a lifesaver if you’re at the point where, let’s be honest if you don’t write something down the moment it pops into your head, it’s gone.
Whether it’s a lesson idea in the pickup line or a quick reminder to email a parent, this app catches it all. It’s not flashy or complicated it’s actually pretty simple. Once you start using it, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it.
Kira Learning: AI Assistant
Kira Learning is one of the most talked-about newcomers this year — and for good reason. Created by AI expert Andrew Ng, this app acts as a personal teaching assistant. It helps with things like grading, lesson planning, and tracking student progress.
One of the best features is that Kira builds visual “knowledge maps” that show how students are grasping material over time. It’s like having another set of hands helping you behind the scenes, allowing you to spend more time connecting with your students.
Kahoot!: Gamifying Learning
Kahoot might not be new in 2025, but it’s still going strong, and it’s holding tight to its spot at the top of many teachers’ favorites list. Whether you’re reviewing for a test or breaking up a long afternoon, throwing in a Kahoot! quiz keeps students engaged.
Plus, it’s super easy to create your own or use one of the thousands already made by other teachers. You can even assign Kahoots as homework now, which somehow makes it way more appealing to students than a boring worksheet.
Gamma: For Faster Presentations
Gamma is a newer AI-powered presentation tool that’s been gaining popularity among educators in 2025. It’s an AI-powered presentation creator that helps you build clean, professional-looking slide decks in minutes, no more struggling with formatting or picking out fonts.
You just type in your topic, and Gamma pulls together a full outline with slides, images, and even talking points you can customize. One of the best features? You can export your presentation straight to Google Slides — no more messing around with conversions from PowerPoint.
It’s perfect when you’re short on time but still want your materials to look sharp. Gamma offers a free version with a generous amount of credits to get started, and it’s simple enough to use without a big learning curve.
Notability: Notes, Ideas, and Everything In Between
If you’re like most teachers (over the age of 35), if you don’t write it down the second you think of it, it’s gone. Notability is your go-to app for that. It lets you type, handwrite, sketch, and even record audio notes all in one spot.
Whether you’re brainstorming lesson ideas, taking notes during a faculty meeting, or grading a stack of papers, Notability keeps everything neat and accessible — no more lost sticky notes floating around your desk. It’s similar to Google Keep, but with a lot more flexibility if you like to write things out by hand or markup documents on the go.
Edpuzzle: Making Video Lessons Count
We all know students love watching videos, but getting them to stay focused is a different story. Edpuzzle lets you embed questions right into the videos you assign and tracks who’s actually watching them.
You can use content from YouTube, Khan Academy, or upload your own, making it easy to turn a regular video into an interactive assignment. It’s a must-have if you’re flipping your classroom or just looking to make video time more meaningful.
SocratiQ: The Personalized Learning Booster
SocratiQ is making waves this year thanks to its unique spin on personalized learning. It leans into the Socratic method which is asking students questions, then adjusting what comes next based on how they respond. It pushes kids to really think instead of just memorizing and repeating what they learn.
You get deeper conversations, stronger critical thinking, and a lot less prep on your end since the app helps drive the discussion. It’s not brand new to 2025, but it’s definitely picking up steam in classrooms this year as more teachers see what it can do.
There’s no perfect app that works for everyone — the best ones simply make your day a little easier and your teaching a little better. Don’t stress yourself out trying to use every tool at once. Start with one or two that actually meet a need you have right now. Whether you’re trying to save time, get more creative with your lessons, or connect better with your students, there’s something here that can help you do exactly that.
Educators never stop learning; check out our available graduate degree programs to hone your skills and promote lifelong learning and academic excellence.
