Rating: Very Good
Platform: iPhone/iPad/Android
Cost: Free
Strong Points: Easy and intuitive to use, impressive text recognition capabilities.
Weak Points: Study guides are mostly at the high school and college level.
Socratic, an app both built and powered by Google, is an excellent resource for students seeking extra help while doing their homework or studying for an exam. Users can take a picture of the question that’s stumping them, which then gets recognized and uploaded onto the interface. The app returns its best guess at an answer and includes numerous links to alternative explanations, explanatory videos, and trusted web sources. For users who don’t have the question printed out in front of them, the app also accepts questions typed in by the user or queries spoken into the microphone. In addition to this central feature, the app also includes numerous illustrated study guides that cover a wide range of topics, from basic biology and chemistry to electromagnetism and parametric equations. Socratic is a lifesaver for students who need an extra hand, and a useful tool for anyone who wants to review some essential topics.