A few years ago, you had to jump through all kinds of hoops just to learn new skills. First, you had to screen out tutors from the few who were actually competent and accessible or be forced to enroll in an institution. Then you had to squeeze precious time out of your schedule and cover the expenses of taking the lessons. Most people would rather not go through the trouble unless absolutely necessary.
Today with just a few taps and swipes of your screen, you can do and learn virtually everything through the convenience of an app on your phone or tablet. The convenience of learning on the move aside, the costs are very affordable, and most importantly, the process is enjoyable.
Frankly, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that apps are essential for today’s tech-savvy person. The challenge is that you’d have to spend time sifting through the thousands of apps available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store to find a decent app that offers both convenience and quality.
Fortunately for you, we’ve done the hard work and compiled a list of the best-rated apps for when you need to learn new skills.
1. Kitchen Stories
Kitchen Stories, available on iOS and Android, is one of the best apps for foodies looking to learn new cooking skills. The app is community-based, where users upload and share pictures or videos of their recipes, which can be filtered based on categories. The app is free, but you need to create a profile for interactive use, such as liking and saving recipes in your cookbook.
The “Cooking Mode” allows the app to guide you step-by-step through the entire cooking process, making it very beginner-friendly. Additionally, the measurement converter, which allows you to customize the ingredient measurements from the recipe based on your serving size, is also a big win for this app.
2. VPN
The ExpressVPN app is subscription-based and can be installed on multiple devices simultaneously, on different platforms, including Android and iOS. The installation is a three-step process, and the app is very user-friendly. You’ll be able to access skill-sharing websites across the world and change your IP address to unblock any geo-restricted content. For those living in areas with restricted internet access, a VPN will help you connect you with the tools to learn new skills.
3. Openfit
Openfit app, available on iOS and Android, is the best app choice for beginners to get started when learning health and fitness skills because it offers structured fitness programs. Working out, if done incorrectly, could lead to serious injury.
Therefore, we recommend starting a workout program under the guidance of a professional instructor, who can make you aware of the precautions when creating a fitness program. Openfit is subscription-based and offers instructor-led on-demand and live classes, which allows you to get personalized feedback, nutritional planning and tracking, and most importantly, a very active fitness community to keep you motivated.
4. Garden Tags
Garden Tags, available on iOS and Android, is a subscription-based gardening app ideal for beginners. You can use plant recognition features, set up task lists that remind you when to care for your plants, and generate seasonal and climate-based plant care tasks. Garden Tags offers an extensive gardening community that helps generate a plant encyclopedia and offers gardening tips, support, and inspiration.
5. Babbel
Babbel, available on iOS and Android, is a subscription-based language learning app that offers up to 14 different language courses with different levels, from beginners to advanced learners. While some would argue that the pre-recorded learning exercises can be monotonous, the app offers its worth in language learning, emphasizing vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, and concepts. Although competitor apps are good, when it comes to learning a new language seriously, we recommend Babbel.
6. Yousician
Yousician, a subscription-based app, combines gaming and music concepts in a successful mesh in what is presently one of the best music learning apps. The app, available on both Android and iOS, features video tutorials, instructor feedback, and extensive exercises covering everything from the basics to the advanced level. Additionally, the app goes a step further and makes learning enjoyable by setting up challenges, points systems, and other game features so that the entire learning process is like a fun game.
7. Google Primer
Google Primer is a free app that offers one of the best ways to learn about business and marketing. The app offers courses ranging from SEO, social media analytics, advertising, branding, and sales, among others. All you do is select a list of topics of interest, spend 5 minutes per day learning the content, and keep track of your progress. The app is available on both Android and iOS.
8. Stylebook
Stylebook, available only on iOS, is a closet organizing fashion app that helps you learn how to manage your closet, improve your fashion sense, and shop for new clothing. The app is subscription-based and requires you to take photos of your closet to create a digital wardrobe. After that, you can track your outfits, match different outfits through the editor before trying them on, or look through user content for inspiration on a new look.
9. SoloLearn
SoloLearn is one of the best apps offering programming courses, with as many as 25 courses in its library. The interface is very user-friendly, and the entire app is designed to cater for categorical advancement in the learner’s programming skills, starting from the basics to advanced content.
One of the app’s best features is allowing learners to challenge each other through the community tab, which is both good for practical application and makes learning entertaining. SoloLearn has both a free and subscription service and is on both Android and iOS.
10. Headspace
Headspace is a subscription-based meditation app available on both Android and iOS. The app features an extensive library of meditation courses, daily videos, and sleep exercises, among others. The app is ideal for those looking to learn meditation for stress relief or other health reasons, particularly because it offers beginner courses.
The Takeaway
It is easier for people to learn new skills through apps not just because of the convenience afforded by apps but because of the innovative ways in which apps approach learning. For instance, breaking down a comprehensive topic into smaller chunks for easier knowledge absorption or introducing games into the content to make it more interesting.