The Importance of Cost-Effective Software for Online Learning
Just like students attending classes on campus, those learning online also have to pay certain fees. In addition to tuition, online students often face extra costs for technology and course materials. This can go as high as $500 or more per year, depending on the number of courses and the software required. Affordable online learning software is crucial for student looking to earn their degree on a budget. Just as crucial as an affordable study setup.
Another major issue faced by online college students is the cost of purchasing software and academic tools, such as specialized apps for tracking, writing, research, and collaboration.
The cost of online learning software can be up to $50/month per tool. This might seem small, but these fees can add up if you need multiple apps. That’s why it’s important to find affordable online learning software. By choosing cost-effective academic tools, you can keep your expenses at bay while still getting the necessary resources to succeed in your studies.
Featured Programs
We will outline free and affordable online learning software used by online college students. These tried-and-tested tools will make your college journey simpler and more manageable. The list will include essential software and productivity tools for online college success.
Top Affordable Software for Online Learning Success
Microsoft Office
This is one of the must-need tools in college, especially if you are primarily using a mobile device to complete your online college program.
Features:
- Access on PCs, Macs, phones, and tablets
- Sign in on up to 5 devices simultaneously
- 1 TB of cloud storage
- Includes MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Defender, OneDrive, Outlook, Editor, Clipchamp, and OneNote
- Premium features and offline access
- Ad-free secure email
There are two types of plans:
- Microsoft 365 Family for up to six people
- Price: $99.99/year or $9.99/month
- Microsoft 365 Personal for one person
- Price: $69.99/year or $6.99/month
Microsoft Office is composed of the following tools:
- MS Word: Word processing tool for creating and formatting text documents
- MS Excel: Spreadsheet application for data analysis, calculations, and visualization
- MS PowerPoint: Presentation software for designing and delivering slideshows
- MS Defender: Security app providing antivirus and anti-malware protection
- MS OneDrive: Cloud storage service for storing, syncing, and sharing files
- MS Outlook: Email and calendar application for managing communication and scheduling
- MS Editor: Writing assistant that offers grammar, spelling, and style suggestions
- MS Clipchamp: Video editing tool for creating and editing videos
- MS OneNote: Digital note-taking app for capturing and organizing notes in various formats
Duolingo
- Price Per Month: $12.99
- Price Per Year: $59.99
- Features: Extra features, ad-free experience
You can access Duolingo for free. However, you’re not able to fully maximize the tool.
Duolingo’s game-like app offers a fun and flexible way to learn languages. Users progress through a tree of lessons, earning “lingots” and trophies for achievements.
Although Duolingo doesn’t explicitly teach grammar, it encourages self-discovery and provides online resources for grammar clarification. Overall, it’s an excellent tool for both casual and dedicated learners, combining enjoyable gameplay with effective language practice.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy is a comprehensive, free educational resource offering a wide range of subjects. It features video tutorials, interactive exercises, and math, science, humanities quizzes, and more. The platform’s personalized learning dashboard allows students to track progress and set goals, making it a valuable tool for learners of all ages seeking to supplement their education.
Grammarly
- Price: Premium version for $12/month
This is one of the best budget-friendly educational software. You can use Grammarly for free, but the premium version unlocks all its advanced features.
Grammarly has been around since 2009 and is a go-to tool for checking grammar. Whether you’re working on business documents, academic papers, or creative writing, it’s got you covered. It flags everything from clunky sentences to spelling mistakes.
Chegg Study
Chegg offers various services for students, including:
- Chegg Study: Two plans
- $14.95/month for access to textbook solutions and expert Q&A
- $19.95/month for additional exams, math, and writing help
- Chegg Prep: Create or use flashcard sets similar to Quizlet
- Chegg Writing: Check for plagiarism and grammar issues and generate citations
- Textbook Rentals: Rent digital or physical textbooks affordably, with access to a free digital copy while waiting for the physical one
Other essential software for online students include:
Anki
- Price: Free for desktop; $24.99 on iOS
- Features:
- Flashcard software that uses spaced repetition to promote memorization.
- Customizable decks and cards
- Synchronization across devices.
Coursera
- Price: Free to access course materials; Certification and specializations start at $39/month
- Features:
- Access to online courses from universities and companies
- Various subjects and specializations
- Option to earn certificates and credentials
Quizlet
- Price: Free; Quizlet Plus for $35.99/year
- Features:
- Flashcards and study tools with various learning modes
- Customizable flashcards and study sets
- Practice tests and games
- Price: Free trial; $19/month or $99/year
- Features:
- Online learning platform with courses in the creative fields and business
- Video classes taught by industry professionals
- Community projects and feedback
Socratic by Google
- Price: Free
- Features:
- Homework help app that uses AI to provide explanations and answers
- Supports various subjects through image-based queries
- Offers resources and step-by-step solutions
Budget-Friendly Productivity Tools for Students
These affordable productivity tools for students are like the backbone of your study setup, keeping everything running smoothly. They’re the nerve center of your routine, showing you what’s coming up, who’s doing what, and how far you are with your work. Basically, it’s like having a virtual whiteboard to track all your tasks and progress.
Here are ten low-cost software for college students that can seriously boost time management:
Microsoft To Do
Price: Free
Features:
- Simple task management with to-do lists
- Integration with Microsoft 365 for seamless syncing across devices
- Set due dates, reminders, and recurring tasks
- Create custom lists and prioritize tasks
- Collaborative features for shared lists and group tasks
iStudiez Pro
Price: $0.99/week; $1.99/month; $9.99/year
Features:
- Integrates with a calendar for scheduling
- Track assignments, grades, and GPA
- Syncs across devices; includes widgets for task management
Forest
Price: $1.99 plus in-app purchases
Features:
- Gamified focus tool with virtual tree planting
- Grow a virtual forest by staying on task
- Partners with Trees for the Future
Focus Booster
Price: Free (Starter Plan); $4.99/month or $54.89/year (Professional Plan)
Features:
- Uses the Pomodoro Technique for focused work sessions
- Track Pomodoro sessions and view progress reports
- Suitable for managing projects and client lists
myHomework
Price: Free (Basic); $4.99/year (Premium)
Features:
- Track assignments and set reminders
- Attach files, use customizable themes, and link to calendars
- Syncs across devices; school version available
Any.do
Price: Free (Basic); $5.99/month; $26.94/6 months; $35.88/year (Premium)
Features:
- Centralized task, reminder, and to-do list management
- Syncs across devices
- Premium features include customizable themes and recurring reminders
Evernote
Price: Free (Basic Plan); $7.99/month (Personal Plan); $9.99/month (Professional Plan); $14.99/user per month (Team Plan)
Features:
- Organize notes, research, and to-do lists
- Syncs across all devices
- Add notes to images, PDFs, and audio files
- Task management with due dates and reminders
- 50% student discount on Personal Plan
Remember the Milk
Price: Free (Basic Plan); $39.99/year (Pro Plan)
Features:
- Prioritize and tag tasks
- Attach files and create subtasks
- Integrations with apps like Google Drive, Slack, and Dropbox
- Syncs across all devices
2Do
Price: Free (20-day trial); $49.99 (one user); $149.99 (up to five users)
Features:
- Manage simple and complex tasks
- Advanced sorting, searching, and filtering
- Syncs across devices using Dropbox
- 20% student discount
Trello
Price: Free (Basic Plan); $5/user per month (Standard Plan); $10/user per month (Premium Plan); $17.50/user per month (Enterprise Plan)
Features:
- Visual task and project management using Kanban boards
- Create and organize tasks with lists and cards
- Automate workflows with Butler automation
- Advanced checklists and project timelines
- Integrations with apps like Google Drive, Slack, and Dropbox
Low-Cost or Free Collaboration Tools
Online collaboration isn’t just about academics—it helps build essential life skills like clear communication, tech-savvy, and effective teamwork and leadership.
Collaboration tools for online learning have become indispensable in today’s educational environment. They make communicating, sharing resources, and providing immediate feedback easier, all of which improve learning. Here are some of the top collaboration tools and software for online courses:
Google Workspace for Education
Price: Free; Education Standard at $3/student/year
This comprehensive suite of cloud-based tools is designed to support collaborative learning and streamline classroom management. Its top features include:
- Google Classroom: Simplifies the management of assignments, grading, and communication between teachers and students, helping keep everything organized in one place.
- Google Meet: Offers reliable video conferencing, enabling virtual classes and meetings with integration into other Google tools for seamless communication.
Zoom
Price: Free basic plan; Pro: $149.90/year/user
Features:
- Zoom Huddles: Facilitates quick, informal teamwork outside scheduled meetings.
- AI Companion: Drafts emails, summarizes meetings, and aids with brainstorming.
- Whiteboard Tool: Supports real-time online teaching and collaborative brainstorming with sticky notes, connectors, and comments.
Click Up
Pricing: Free; Unlimited: $7/month/user; Business: $12/month/user; Enterprise: Contact for pricing.
Features:
- Collaborative Docs with live editing
- Virtual Whiteboards for visual brainstorming
- AI-powered tools for generating summaries and study notes
Slack
Pricing: Free; Pro: $7.25/user/month
Features:
- Channels for class discussions
- Direct messaging and file sharing
- Audio conferencing with Huddles
Padlet
Pricing: Free: 1 user and 3 padlets
Features:
- Supports text, images, videos, and links.
- Choose from different board formats.
- Updates are instantly visible.
Kahoot!
Pricing: Kahoot!+ Premier: $7.99/month; Kahoot!+ Max: $9.99/month.
Features:
- Create and play custom quizzes
- Integrate with Microsoft Teams for live games
- Customize with multimedia and different question formats
Finding the Best Deals: Where to Get Affordable Software
College expenses can be overwhelming, with tuition, tech fees, and online course materials adding up quickly. To maximize your education, consider exploring online learning resources on a budget.
- Check with your school for software deals or discounts. They can refer you to budget-friendly tech for students deals.
- Ask providers if they offer student discounts. For instance, Microsoft often provides Office 365 for free or at a discount, and Adobe has significant discounts on Creative Cloud for students.
- Explore free alternatives like Open Educational Resources (OER) and other free online platforms.
- Before signing up for any software or tool, maximize the use of free trials to get a feel for the product. Then, determine whether the tool meets your needs.
- Apply for as many scholarships and grants as you qualify. Although these funds are usually dedicated to tuition, they can sometimes be used for other educational expenses, including software and tech tools. Check with your financial aid office to see if any of your scholarships or grants can be applied toward these costs.
Conclusion: Invest in the Right Tools for Long-Term Success
Thanks to the Internet, you have several cheap educational software options. In fact, some of them are free to use. These tools inject speed, convenience, and efficiency into your online college journey.
Essential software and tools like productivity apps, note-taking platforms, and academic databases help you develop effective organization and collaboration skills. Yet, before choosing a tool, it’s important to assess your needs.