Back in your school days, like most school children, you were likely fed heaps of information without being told how to actually process the information.

The good news is, there are many learning and memory techniques that have been used for centuries by leading memory experts that anyone can apply. Here’s a list of some of the best resources to learn faster and improve your memory online and on your mobile.

1. Mind Tools

Mindtools benefits and resources page

Mindtools is one of the largest online libraries of learning techniques and methods. There are over 2500 online resources, including articles, videos, and quizzes to help you learn faster and boost your memory.

The site offers a collection of acclaimed memory improvement techniques which cover image clues, storytelling strategies, and spatial systems. At the end of every article, you’ll find links to further resources to put what you’ve learned into practice. These include book insights, short-form animations, and self-reflection exercises. You can also bookmark the resources you find most insightful.

Whatever learning style best suits you, Mindtool’s variety of learning formats is guaranteed to help you succeed. You can learn using skillbooks, use self-assessments to learn what areas to improve in, and take information from short-form articles. While it does cost $27 a month for unlimited access, with its contents written by experts with over 150 years of combined experience, Mindtools is definitely worth its price.

2. Anki

Anki is a powerful flashcard app that uses spaced repetition to help you learn information faster. You store information in decks, like a pack of playing cards, but use learnable flashcards instead.

For every flashcard, you type the text for the front (prompt) and back (answer) of the card. You can also add attachments, including images and audio clips, to suit your learning preference. There are several types of flashcards, including Basic, Reversed, and a Type in the answer option.

To help you understand and learn content faster, Anki’s testing system is built in with progress-checking options. After revealing an answer, you can pick from four options: Again, Hard, Good, and Easy to rate your understanding. Depending on your level of confidence, Anki will automatically reassign when you should next review a card.

There’s a dark mode for late-night study, and a detailed Statistics tab for measuring your progress. What’s more, you can access a wide range of user-made decks on AnkiWeb that you can download on your PC.

Download: Anki for Android (Free) | iOS ($24.99)

3. NeuroNation

Neuronation is a brain-training app designed to boost your brain’s performance. With 34 varied exercises backed by research, Neuronation will improve your processing of information while bettering your overall cognitive abilities.

Before beginning your journey, you’ll take an initial test to cover different areas of your cognition. NeuroNation will use this data to create a personalized schedule. You’ll also have the option to choose the intensity of your schedule and pick a time of day that’s best for your training.

The exercises present a game-like experience, allowing you to have fun while improving your cognition. You can level up, unlock new exercises, and receive bonus points throughout the exercises.

Each exercise is categorized into four sections: Attention, Memory, Reasoning, and Speed to assess different areas of your brain. In addition to the games, you’ll also find some useful mind and body practices, including breathing exercises to help reset your brain when you need a break.

The Evaluation tab gives you a clear judgment of your current performance. In this section, a percentage is displayed for each of the four primary cognitive aspects. This is updated frequently, allowing you to understand your strengths and weaknesses over time.

Download: NeuroNation for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)

4. Reading Trainer

If you want to absorb information faster, increasing your reading speed using an app is one of the best practices you can apply. Reading Trainer provides a range of personalized exercises to quicken your reading speed.

Reading Trainer won’t only improve your ability to read more content in less time—it will also improve your comprehension and ability to retain information. The exercises focus on all the different cognitive aspects of reading. Some of the exercises include Word Pairs, Text Search, and a WpM Test. The app’s curriculum gives a great balance of reading skills to help you build a well-rounded performance.

The Statistics tab provides further insights into your performance. Here you’ll find your average words per minute (WpM), the number of exercises you’ve completed, and your current ranking. Reading Trainer is the perfect app to improve your reading speed and comprehension, so you can learn and apply information effortlessly.

Download: Reading Trainer for Android | iOS (Free, premium version available)

5. Art of Memory

Art of Memory Homepage

Art of Memory is a go-to resource for improving your memory and learning faster. Whether you’re learning a new language using an app, memorizing names, or learning a script, Art of Memory has everything you need to memorize information anytime, anywhere.

For beginners, you can download a free eBook to learn the foundations of memory techniques. There’s also an FAQ section to answer your memory-related questions. You’ll learn ancient memory techniques in the site’s blogs, with articles like How to Build a Memory Palace. These are packed with images and step-by-step instructions to give you the clearest indication of the techniques.

If you’re looking for something specific, the Memory Techniques Wiki is where you’ll find the full collection of principles and techniques. Another top feature of the site is the community forum. Here you can view insights from some of the world’s leading memory experts and chat with other users. On top of all of this, all the site’s resources are completely free to use.

Learn Faster and Smarter With These Online Tools and Apps

In today’s world full of evolving information, increasing your learning speed is one of the best things you can do to supercharge your productivity. Using these tools, you’ll be able to process information faster while being able to retain it for longer. Don’t underestimate the power of your brain. Apply these techniques to learn rapidly and transform how you function in everyday life.