# Ilaro — Research Note Database > Research note-taking database for organizing notes, citations, and ideas. (iPhone/iPad app by twenty.two o.nine squared llc.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ilaro/id570323414 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [twenty.two o.nine squared llc](https://appshunter.io/developer/570323417) - Category: Productivity, Education - Price: $4.99 - Rating: 4.00/5 from 5 App Store ratings · 21 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 12.0 · 101 MB - Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Spanish - Released: 2012-11-02 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ilaro/id570323414/reviews.md ## What is Ilaro? Organize your notes and increase your research productivity with Ilaro, a research note taking database that combines the best features of note cards, research journals, and databases in one beautiful and friendly interface. Ilaro makes it easier to organize research notes, track citations, develop new ideas, and prepare to write research reports. Used by students, professors, authors, and professionals, Ilaro saves time and gets the most out of your research. WIDESPREAD ADOPTION * Reached top grossing app lists in 34 countries! * Used by students, authors, and professionals for a wide range of projects * An excellent tool for organizing writing notes Key Features: EFFICIENT WORKFLOW * Quickly record citations and sources * Organize research notes with simple tagging of topics and sources * Enter sources using ISBN lookup or use your device camera to scan barcodes * Track research questions and ideas in the journal * Manage multiple projects * Keep iOS devices synced via iCloud DISCOVER NEW IDEAS * Discover the strongest connections between research topics, sources, and authors * Ilaro automatically tracks key connections between your research notes and topics * View research notes along with related topics, sources, and authors * Filter note cards by many attributes such as topic and source * Use full-text search to filter notes * Save live updating filters * Track your topic, source, and author card counts and relationships * See research activity on a per-day basis FLEXIBLE AND POWERFUL * Stay organized by taking structured notes * View notes related to events on a structured timeline * Make notes of any length you desire * Helps enforce strong research note taking skills * Prepare bibliographies and export references ACTIVELY USED IN A VARIETY OF PROJECTS * Academic research * Research papers * Book writing * Lecture preparation * Business and legal research reports * Historical research SHARE YOUR WORK * Print note cards over Air Print * Export notes and bibliographies * Open exported notes in other apps * Export cards to other Ilaro users RESPONSIVE SUPPORT * All user feedback is carefully considered for improving the app * Contact support at https://www.ilaroresearch.com/help/ with any questions, feature requests or just to share how you use Ilaro! Thank you for supporting independent developers! ## Key features - Organize research notes with tagging - Track citations and sources - Discover connections between research topics - Manage multiple projects - Export notes and bibliographies - Full-text search for notes ## Recent user reviews (10 of 21) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ilaro/id570323414/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Waste of Money *2022-06-26, version 3.74* This app is buggy garbage that doesn't work. I asked for a refund and Apple said 'so sad for you.' So here is your one star for a trash can app that doesn't work. ### 1/5 — No user guide available. No demo. *2021-05-01* I searched YouTube to get help but found nothing. Nothing on Google either to give me support on how to use this app. The développer says it’s simple to use but it is not really that simple. For example, what is the difference between a topic, a category and a subject? How can I tag notes? Nobody to ask.... ### 5/5 — Amazing research database! *2020-08-10* I love this program, and use it to keep track of every piece of information I want to keep track of. It does a terrific job of tracking bits of info, sources, and authors. It’s also great for grouping the information you’ve collected by theme etc. ### 5/5 — Not perfect, but there’s nothing better out there. *2020-03-14, version 3.74* It absolutely has some bugs, but nothing app or feature breaking. I’d consider them minor annoyances, but otherwise the app is great. It’s really helped with multiple research papers I’ve I recommend if your major requires you to write research papers. ### 3/5 — The dead arises *2019-08-06, version 3.72* Worth noting that this app which had been abandonware was updated recently. Fantastic potential but really needs desktop functionality and sync. Could be a great Zettelkasten or Slip Box replacement if they would put the effort in. At the moment is very focused as a project-based research card tool. ### 1/5 — Bug that causes loss of information *2019-01-03, version 3.06* No response from the developer. If you don't want to spend hours entering information that will be lost or erased, don't get this app. Dear developer: Why spend all that time and money developing an app, only to lose it by neglecting to upkeep it? With a little upkeep and a few marketing videos, this could have been a bestseller. Previously: I previously reviewed this app and gave it a five star, but after encoutering a bug that locks me out of the information I entered and then crashes repeatedly when I try to click on it, I had to change my review. The backup of information is very important, and if this app is unable to do that in a way that retrives uncorropted information, it cannot be used for serious research. It takes hours to enter information in, and losing that is unacceptable. I'm hoping my information is not lost. I have written to the developer. Depending on the response and resolution to the problem, I will be changing this review to either a five star (if resolved) or to one star (if it's not resoloved - because this would make the program unusable). Previsously: This app is amazing for academics, college students, journalists, and writers. I keep track of all my sources, citations, writing topics, and authors here. I only wish there was a manual on how to use, because it is a little confusing. ### 1/5 — No guide to use it *2018-06-09* There is no user manual or video available to show you how to use it. I have emailed several times, got auto-acknowledgement, but never a reply. Retried the app after May/June 2018 update. App crashed as soon as "Use iCloud" was selected in Settings! ### 5/5 — Base de donnée très utile *2016-03-25* J'ai commencé à l'utiliser afin de classer les paroles de mes chansons favorites. Elle est parfaite pour moi. Merci. Après 18 mois d'utilisation je suis bien satisfait et je connais rien d'autre pour gérer les références aussi bien. ### 1/5 — Abandonware- Beware *2015-09-07, version 2.11.1* There has been no movement in this app for quite some time and the developer has not responded to my numerous requests as to information on further development. So I can only conclude that this is abandonware and Apple should pull it from the store. ### 2/5 — You can do better... *2015-08-16, version 2.11.1* Let's keep it concise. You probably already have the best app in this category. This could have been a contender, but the last update was over a year ago. By the way Ilaro, not to be confused with the Nigerian city of the same name, means, "tool set," in Esperanto. "Nekompleta," is Esperanto for the English word: incomplete. How hard is it to add a sync feature (in any language)? Did you ever note that the green elephant has his own page on Wikipedia? ## Frequently asked questions about Ilaro ### What is Ilaro? Ilaro is a research note-taking database designed to help users organize their notes, track citations, and develop ideas for writing projects. It aims to streamline the research process for students, authors, and professionals. ### How much does Ilaro cost? Ilaro is a paid application with a price of $4.99. This one-time purchase grants access to all of its features for organizing and managing research. ### What devices does Ilaro support? Ilaro is available for iOS devices, including iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It also supports iCloud syncing to keep your research notes consistent across your Apple devices. ### How often is Ilaro updated? The latest version of Ilaro is 3.74, which was last updated on September 18, 2019. While the app has been around since 2012, updates are released to improve functionality and address user feedback. ### Can I export my research notes from Ilaro? Yes, Ilaro allows you to export your notes and bibliographies. You can also print note cards over Air Print and share exported cards with other Ilaro users. ### What is the age rating for Ilaro? Ilaro has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users. The app's focus on organization and research is beneficial for academic and professional use. ### Does Ilaro have ads? No, Ilaro does not contain advertisements. As a paid application, it provides an ad-free experience to users focused on their research and writing. ### How does Ilaro help discover new ideas? Ilaro automatically tracks key connections between your research notes, topics, and authors. You can view related notes, filter by attributes, and see research activity to uncover new insights. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 3.74 — 2019-09-18 This update includes stability and performance improvements: * fixed issues related to list selection * improved cloud sync behavior * updates for forward compatibility ### 3.73 — 2019-09-02 This update features enhancements and updates, including: * iCloud sync improvements * Improvements to indexing * Improved related topic recommendations * Improved timeline behavior * Fixed bugs related to record deletion * Fixed client crashes * Added notice informing user that the app is migrating pre-Ilaro 3.x data * Compatibility improvements for future syncing with macOS ### 3.72 — 2019-03-20 This update features enhancements and updates, including: * iCloud sync improvements * Bug fixes and stability improvements ### 3.71 — 2019-03-01 This update features enhancements and updates, including: * Improved related record reporting within projects * Improved topic browsing while in lists * Added swipe-to-edit and swipe-to-delete options to record lists * Improved source asset handling and browsing * Updates to themes * Improved handling of topic deletions and merges * Bibliography formatting improvements * iCloud sync improvements * Bug fixes and stability improvements ### 3.7 — 2019-02-12 This update features numerous enhancements and feature updates, including: * Added bibliography preparation * Added support for additional reference styles * Improved export behavior and additional export options * Share Ilaro data with other users and import Ilaro records via Airdrop * Updates to themes * Bug fixes and stability improvements ## Apps similar to Ilaro | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Nested Folder Notes - Folino](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nested-folder-notes-folino/id1605664113) | 5.0 (11) | Free | Productivity | | [eScribo](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/escribo/id1545875599) | 2.5 (2) | $3.99 | Productivity | | [StoryLines - Write and Track](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/storylines-write-and-track/id6444220966) | 3.2 (5) | Free | Productivity | | [Page Grab](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/page-grab/id633259399) | 3.0 (11) | $0.99 | Productivity | | [Merge Word Home](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merge-word-home/id1535431108) | 1.0 (1) | $19.99 | Productivity | | [Birtly](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birtly/id1552253920) | 5.0 (5) | Free | Productivity | --- *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.*