# IdeaPad vs Allume

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: IdeaPad at none against Allume's 4. IdeaPad also leads on iOS requirement (11.2 vs 15.0). Allume's advantage is ratings volume (332 vs 12) and review sentiment (64% vs 50%). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Allume sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. IdeaPad asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for IdeaPad against 4.6 for Allume. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Allume has 332 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 50% of IdeaPad's written reviews are positive against 64% of Allume's.

IdeaPad ships an update every 4 weeks, Allume every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IdeaPad | Allume |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ideapad-practice-creativity/id1332782353/reviews) | **[4.6 (332 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/allume-for-focused-thinking/id1501563902/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 12 | **332** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **64.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 20 MB | 100 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.2** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Three Green Wedges](https://appshunter.io/developer/792187187) | [Milestone Made, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476538400) |

## What reviewers say

### IdeaPad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ideapad-practice-creativity/id1332782353)

This app helps you develop your idea generation skills by encouraging daily practice. It provides a simple interface to record your thoughts without judgment, fostering creativity and problem-solving abilities. You can export your ideas to develop them further outside the app.

**Highlights:** Daily idea generation practice, Write or speak ideas, Save and track ideas, Inspiration prompts for topics, Export ideas via email, No editing or deleting past ideas

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Allume

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/allume-for-focused-thinking/id1501563902)

This app provides a digital canvas for organizing thoughts and ideas. It allows users to create nested boards, link content, and combine various media types like text, images, and PDFs. Collaborate with others in real-time on shared workspaces.

**Highlights:** Nested boards for deep ideation, Linked cards for referencing, Remixing content from PDFs and images, Unified canvas for text, ink, and files, Real-time collaboration with shared workspaces, PDF annotation and export

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited membership, monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Pro membership, monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Unlimited membership, yearly | $99.99 | per year |
| Pro membership, yearly | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Organize ideas and information
- 🚀 Unique and very cool features
- 👍 Indispensable app - incredibly well designed
- 👍 Great thinking and creative tool
- 👍 Exceptional app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Too expensive subscription price
- 🔒 Lack of privacy of user data
- 🔒 Requires email to try
- 🐛 Bugs are prevalent
- 🔒 Outrageous pricing

**Reported bugs**

- Eraser size issues
- Undo history reset when navigating between boards
- Crashes when erasing large areas
- Syncing issues between devices
- iPhone app not usable without iPad or Mac

**Requested features**

- More pen color and workspace options
- Zoom in/out within a board
- Search functionality
- Checklists
- Support for pen tablets on Mac


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IdeaPad free?

IdeaPad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Allume free?

Allume is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, IdeaPad or Allume?

Allume is rated higher. IdeaPad averages 4.5 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Allume averages 4.6 from 332 ratings.

### Do IdeaPad or Allume have ads?

Neither IdeaPad nor Allume shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, IdeaPad or Allume?

IdeaPad ships an update every 4 weeks, and Allume every 2 weeks. Most recently, IdeaPad was updated on September 10, 2026 and Allume on September 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*