Train your brain and break the chain
You don't need a formal course to learn something new – just a few spare moments. Use your commute or coffee break to code, learn a new language, or digest a bestseller. Check out these microlearning apps to turn your downtime into daily growth.
Bite-sized books for busy days
Blinkist: Book Summaries Daily
Blinks Labs GmbH
In-app purchases
4.6star
171K reviews
10M+
Downloads
Everyone
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- 1Learn key insights from thousands of nonfiction books and podcasts in 15 minutes or less
- 2Read or listen to summaries of titles spanning psychology, creativity, productivity, history, and more
- 3Get the must-hear nuggets of podcasts with “Shortcasts” from hosts like Malcolm Gladwell and Dr. Laurie Santos
Blinkist condenses nonfiction best sellers and expert podcasts into powerful 15-minute audio and text episodes. Whether you want to boost productivity or understand economics, you can read or listen to key insights on the go.
Absorb new topics in minutes with microlessons
Kinnu transforms complex subjects – from linguistics to medieval history – into engaging "pathways" that fit into a five-minute break. Jump into text or audio lessons designed for long-term retention, then solidify your understanding with smart reviews that ensure the information actually sticks.
Hack daily learning
Uptime delivers speedy summaries of books, podcasts, and documentaries in just five minutes. Find content by topic or author to quickly digest titles. When you’re short on time, just jump straight to the key points and save your favorite tips for later.
Learn to code in quick bursts
Mimo: Learn Coding/Programming
Mimo: Learn to Code
Contains adsIn-app purchases
4.7star
702K reviews
10M+
Downloads
Everyone
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- 1Mimo makes coding truly accessible, with bite-size lessons designed for mobile and plain-English explanations
- 2Choose from practical learning tracks like “Make a Game”, “Developer Essentials”, “Ruby”, and “Cybersecurity”
- 3Frequent quizzes test your understanding of new concepts, so you’ll advance only when you’re ready
Mimo breaks down programming into manageable five-, 10-, or 20-minute lessons that fit any schedule. Whether you want to master Python or full-stack development, the app builds a customized path just for you. Keep your momentum going by building real projects and competing on the leaderboard.
Play your way to language fluency
Drops: Language Learning Games
Drops Languages
Contains adsIn-app purchases
4.3star
314K reviews
10M+
Downloads
Everyone
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- 1Drops is great for a daily dose of vocabulary, with design so lovely and simple it makes studying feel soothing
- 2Explore lessons on a broad range of topics – from pastries to pets to politics
- 3Skip what you know: Drag new words down to learn them, and familiar words up to exclude them from your lesson
Drops turns vocabulary building into fast, fun games. You can choose from 45+ languages – from Ainu to Yoruba – and customize lessons around interests like sports or fashion. With quick quizzes and monthly challenges, you can start reading, writing, and speaking in just minutes a day.