# Allegory — Take beautiful notes

> Powerful, minimalist note-taking and drawing app with markdown and iCloud sync. (iPhone/iPad app by PoeticBytes Inc..)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/allegory/id1470828583 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [PoeticBytes Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1012903170)
- Category: Productivity, Lifestyle
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.15/5 from 107 App Store ratings · 72 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.0 · 20 MB
- Languages: Arabic, Dutch, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Polish, Russian, Chinese and 1 more
- Released: 2019-09-19
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/allegory/id1470828583/reviews.md

## What is Allegory?

Allegory is a powerful notes app with a beautiful iOS-centric UI. The minimal and focused writing experience, combined with an impressive set of powerful features, makes this the ideal choice for everyone. Allegory removes the complexity of most markdown editors, presenting a minimal UI that’s welcoming for casual writers and note-takers as well as more attuned authors, making it a great app for you to pick up regardless of your background and skill level.

—

WHY YOU'LL LOVE ALLEGORY:

Allegory immediately launches to the clean and simple note editor screen, boosting your productivity and reducing friction between wanting to write down what you’ve just thought of, and actually getting it written down. Support for valid markdown as well as custom markdown makes it easier to create your best work.

Allegory also includes a brilliant hand-crafted drawing area which lets you select from a variety of colors, long-holding on any of the tools brings them into focus with sliders to adjust their opacity and stroke size with gorgeous animations that strike awe.

You can bookmark and set due dates on any note from anywhere in the app regardless of where you are, which makes performing essential actions entirely seamless, further reducing friction for users. Seamless iCloud sync adds upon the notion of keeping your notes exactly where they need to be. Notes can be searched for within the app in ways that make sense to you, by words and dates, or by using language that comes naturally such as ‘today’, ‘yesterday’, and ‘last week’. A summary of your current note also provides further context on your writing by displaying character/word/line/paragraph counts, sentiment analysis to portray how positive or negative your writing is, quick links to open the specific note, and more.

Inspiration can strike anywhere, and that is why Allegory supports custom action extensions that allow creating notes and putting down ideas from other apps. You can also use Siri to do the same. Scan documents and text to convert it to notes, or add images within notes to provide more context. When you want to share your work with the world, use one of the many export options to create files that work best for you, from TXT and MD, to HTML and PDF. Or simply export as an image or plain text. It's built in ways that make sense to your workflow.

Tweak and adjust the app to make it look and behave the way that you want. From app icons and tints, to markdown settings and haptics, there's a settings option to make the app your own. URL schemes and Siri shortcuts allow you to perform useful actions in Allegory from anywhere. Allegory is available on your iPhone, your iPad, and your Apple Watch, and supports seamless iCloud sync to share notes without lifting a finger.

All the power of iOS is in your hands with Allegory. It is fully integrated with the latest technologies such as Dark Mode, a standalone Apple Watch app, Siri, Today Widget, Quick Actions, Action Extension, Context Menus, iCloud sync, Notifications, document scanning, biometric locks, custom haptics, Pencil support, keyboard shortcuts, URL schemes, custom app icons, iMessage stickers, fully accessible, and more.

## Key features

- Minimalist writing experience
- Markdown support (standard & custom)
- Hand-crafted drawing area
- Bookmark and set due dates
- Seamless iCloud sync
- Intelligent search (words, dates, natural language)
- Document and text scanning

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Yearly Subscription | $16.49 | per year |
| Monthly Subscription | $1.99 | per month |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Subscription | $28.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of Allegory?

Overall sentiment: negative

**Pros**

- 🎨 Beautiful and visually stunning UI design
- ✨ Gorgeous animations and attention to detail
- 💡 Innovative note-taking interface and approach
- ⚡ Smooth and fluid user experience (when working)
- 🎯 Intuitive card-based organization system
- 📱 Well-designed for iOS and iPad displays
- 🔍 Good search functionality
- 💰 Affordable pricing compared to competitors
- 🌙 Dark mode support
- 📝 Markdown support with customization options

**Cons**

- 🐛 Frequent and constant app crashes
- 💾 Notes disappear or fail to save
- ❌ Cannot delete notes or folders reliably
- ⚠️ M-series Mac compatibility issues
- 🔧 Poor performance with images and drawings
- 🌐 Syncing problems between devices
- 📊 Confusing and non-intuitive navigation
- 🎯 Unclear UI with hidden functionality
- ⏱️ Extremely slow performance on newer devices
- 🔄 Duplicate folders created automatically
- 📱 iOS-centric design not adapted for macOS
- 💥 Data loss after app updates
- 🎮 Keyboard shortcuts don't function properly
- 📦 Excessive storage usage (3GB+ reported)
- 🚫 Lack of developer support and updates
- 🔐 No recycle bin for deleted notes

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App crashes immediately on launch
- App crashes on M1/M-series Mac devices
- Notes deleted after app updates
- Notes fail to save or save as empty files
- Delete function unreliable for notes and folders
- Duplicate folders appearing in iCloud
- Built-in example notes cannot be deleted
- Sync issues between iPhone and iPad
- App freezes when cycling through stacks
- Keyboard shortcuts non-functional
- Strange gaps between folders
- Glitched duplicate folders created automatically
- Notes randomly disappear
- App crashes when adding photos or drawings
- Excessive memory usage causing slowdowns
- Preferences menu causes app to crash
- Duplicate folder selection issues
- Text input lag and delayed typing
- App won't launch on macOS Monterey
- Handwriting recognition poor quality
- Animations cause freezing issues

**Most requested features**

- Quick tutorial instead of written instructions
- List view for easier note browsing
- Ability to duplicate notes
- Recycle bin or trash functionality
- Better folder deletion mechanism
- Watch app functionality
- RTF support as alternative to markdown
- Quick note feature with simpler interface
- Audio recording from lectures
- Image manipulation and positioning within notes
- Faster scrolling options on dashboard
- Quick access sidebar
- Better keyboard shortcut support
- Clearer documentation on free account limits
- Free trial for Pro version
- Customer support contact options

## Recent user reviews (10 of 72)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/allegory/id1470828583/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Crashes on start up

*2024-08-21, version 1.2.9*

Can't use the app because everytime I try to open it, it immediately crashes!

### 1/5 — Constant crashes

*2024-06-10*

Please fix the constant crashes. Tested on iOS 17.

### 2/5 — Poor performance

*2023-05-10, version 1.2.9*

This application looks amazing but there are many bugs this is  y second time purchasing it after getting a refund the first time. 

Why is this application so expensive and it doesn’t even work properly and the dev does nothing to fix the bugs. Looks like I’m going to get another refund.

### 1/5 — Hasn't been updated for M-series chips

*2023-02-07*

Don't buy this if you have an M-series chip Mac. It simply won't even launch. The developers have abandoned their product, which is a pity as I used to love this note taking app.

It also doesn't make sense to me that they wouldn't make it optimised for the M-series or native, because they've lost out on a lot of business, provided prospective buyers are reading these reviews. Their overall review score would be a lot higher if they made the effort to make this app M-series friendly, and they'd make more money.

But not everyone has business sense I guess. Maybe they're too busy developing something else... like a crack addiction.

### 1/5 — App crashed an writing disappeared

*2023-02-07, version 1.2.9*

Awful first impression. I downloaded the app and began to write. had a page filled and the app crashed on me and deleted everything I wrote as well as the folder I had created! Beautiful interface but what an awful UX experience. Deleting app immediately.

### 3/5 — Several issues

*2022-12-28*

I have experienced the following: app crashes, notes won’t delete, notes won’t show in dashboard, duplicate folders clogging up my iCloud

### 2/5 — Inutilisable ☹️

*2022-12-09, version 1.2.9*

Ça plante, les raccourcis claviers ne fonctionne pas, le menu de notes est étrange est non-intuitif.

L'app a l'air belle mais elle n'est pas fonctionnelle. C'est dommage.

### 1/5 — Does not run on Mac M1

*2022-10-06, version 1.2.9*

The app looks good but after downloading it will not run. It crashes as soon as I launch it. I’m on an M1 Mac and the app has not been updated in over a year so this is probably why. I don’t think the app will be update anytime soon if at all. Unfortunate for what seemes like a nice looking program.

### 1/5 — Unable to Search Multiple Notes

*2022-09-23, version 1.2.9*

I tested the app to see if it could find a keyword that appears in at least one note. It failed the test. Additionally, I think the UI is confusing. Disappointment summarizes this app.

### 1/5 — App wont launch on new MBP Pro Monterey

*2021-12-12, version 1.2.9*

App wont launch on new MBP Pro Monterey after downloading and launching (deleting and repeating multiple times).

## Frequently asked questions about Allegory

### What does Allegory do?

Allegory is a powerful notes app designed with a clean, minimalist UI for a focused writing experience. It supports markdown for text formatting and includes a drawing area for visual notes. The app facilitates easy organization, search, and sharing of your notes.

### What are the key features of Allegory?

Key features include a minimalist writing interface, support for both standard and custom markdown, a detailed drawing area with adjustable tools, the ability to bookmark notes and set due dates, seamless iCloud synchronization, intelligent search capabilities, and document scanning. It also offers extensive customization options for the app's appearance and behavior.

### How much does Allegory cost?

The application is available for free and includes in-app purchases. Specific details on what features or content are unlocked through in-app purchases are not provided in the description, but it suggests a freemium model.

### What devices is Allegory compatible with?

Allegory is built for the iOS ecosystem and is available on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. It leverages various iOS technologies like Dark Mode, Siri, Today Widget, and Action Extensions for seamless integration across devices.

### What are common use cases for Allegory?

Common use cases include jotting down quick thoughts, drafting longer pieces of writing, creating visual notes with drawings, organizing tasks with due dates, and capturing information through document scanning. Its cross-device sync and integration with other apps make it versatile for various personal and professional workflows.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.2.9 — 2020-11-17

General maintenance and bug fixes

### 1.2.8 — 2020-05-29

- Added a new default app icon
- Added cursor support for iPad
- Pulling down when viewing a full-screen list will now dismiss the list
- Improved iCloud sync
- Improved accessibility and contrast across the app
- Improved keyboard shortcut commands
- Added more alternative app icons
- Fixed various issues where the app may crash
- Minor UI changes
- Various bug fixes and improvements

If you have any questions or feedback, please get in touch. Allegory was created by an incredibly small team of one and I'd love to hear your thoughts. I'm available through email: shihab@allegoryapp.info or Twitter: @AllegoryApp or @JPEGuin.

### 1.2.7 — 2020-05-11

- Added a new default app icon
- Added cursor support for iPad
- Pulling down when viewing a full-screen list will now dismiss the list
- Improved iCloud sync
- Improved accessibility and contrast across the app
- Improved keyboard shortcut commands
- Added more alternative app icons
- Fixed various issues where the app may crash
- Minor UI changes
- Various bug fixes and improvements

If you have any questions or feedback, please get in touch. Allegory was created by an incredibly small team of one and I'd love to hear your thoughts. I'm available through email: shihab@allegoryapp.info or Twitter: @AllegoryApp or @JPEGuin.

### 1.2.6 — 2020-05-08

- Added cursor support for iPad
- Improved keyboard shortcut commands
- Added more alternative app icons
- Allegory is now a unified purchase across platforms
- Fixed various issues where the app may crash
- Minor UI changes
- Various bug fixes and improvements

If you have any questions or feedback, please get in touch. Allegory was created by an incredibly small team of one and I'd love to hear your thoughts. I'm available through email: shihab@allegoryapp.info or Twitter: @AllegoryApp or @JPEGuin.

### 1.2.5 — 2020-05-06

- Added more alternative app icons
- Aurora is now a unified purchase across platforms
- Fixed various issues where the app may crash
- Minor UI changes
- Various bug fixes and improvements

If you have any questions or feedback, please get in touch. Allegory was created by an incredibly small team of one and I'd love to hear your thoughts. I'm available through email: shihab@allegoryapp.info or Twitter: @AllegoryApp or @JPEGuin.

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## More apps by PoeticBytes Inc.

- [Cosmicast](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cosmicast/id1435195637)
- [Mast: for Mastodon](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mast-for-mastodon/id1437429129)
- [Chessmate: Beautiful Chess](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessmate-beautiful-chess/id1446084937)
- [Makers: for Product Hunt](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/makers-for-product-hunt/id1464578186)
- [Aurora: Color Picker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-color-picker/id1493055655)

All apps by PoeticBytes Inc.: https://appshunter.io/developer/1012903170

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*