Comparison

Allume vs Defter Notes

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Allume

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
Read full description

Allume (formerly Muse) is a canvas for thinking that helps you get clarity on things that matter. Think in private or collaborate with others. BEYOND WHITEBOARDS with nested boards Each Muse board is like a whiteboard that can hold even more whiteboards. Your boards grow organically over time as you develop an idea. Stay in the ideation flow, worry about organizing later. REFERENCE & REMIX with linked cards & excerpts Linked cards let you reference boards from multiple places. And excerpts let you remix parts of PDFs and images without losing the context of the source. Grow your Muse into a space of interconnected whiteboards. ONE CANVAS FOR ANYTHING with ink + text + cards Developing an idea starts with collecting inspiration and stray thoughts. Muse lets you put everything on a single canvas: writing, scribbles, notes, images, videos, PDFs, web links, and any other files. Lay out all the raw materials, then connect the dots with ease. COLLABORATION with shared workspaces Add collaborators to a Muse workspace to plan and strategize together. They'll feel right at home with live cursors, comments, following, and templates. AND PLENTY MORE → Search and quick-jump to boards → Read and annotate PDFs → Create connections between cards → Export boards as PDFs or PNGs → Local-first data with instant sync LEARN MORE Website: https://allume.com/ Community: https://allume.com/community Contact us: hello@allume.com Terms of service: https://allume.com/terms

About

Defter Notes

This app provides an infinite canvas for spatial thinking, allowing users to capture, connect, and explore ideas through handwriting, drawing, and text. Organize thoughts with flexible tools and intuitive navigation for enhanced creativity and productivity.

Highlights
  • Infinite canvas for spatial thinking
  • Handwritten notes, sketches, and typed text
  • Connect and layer ideas
  • Organize with Stacks
  • Deft movement with gestures
  • Cross-reference and multitask documents
  • Supports links and files
Features
Read full description

Defter Notes is loved by academics, students, teachers, researchers, journal keepers, knowledge workers, designers, architects, engineers, writers, and anyone who thinks best with their hands and eyes.  It’s built for people who see ideas as living things: connected, evolving, and worth exploring. Think without boundaries Defter Notes gives you an infinite canvas for spatial thinking. Drop ideas anywhere. Draw connections. Expand as far as your thoughts take you. Enjoy pure creative flow. Capture ideas your way Whether it starts as a quick sketch, a handwritten note, or a PDF you’re diving into, Defter Notes adapts to your process. Write, draw, or type; then move, link, and layer it all together. Your ideas stay flexible and alive. Work the way your brain works Move items freely. Zoom in and out of context. Build hierarchies of Spaces that let you go deeper into your projects. Defter Notes stays out of the way so your focus stays on thinking. Top features * Stacks for deep work: Ideal for reading, studying, or comparing multiple resources. * Deft movement with gestures: Drag pages or extract text directly out of PDFs. * Cross-reference and multitask: View, resize, and reorder documents side by side. * Handwriting and text tools: Combine pen, pencil, marker, and text boxes using Apple Pencil or Scribble. * Fluid editing: Double-tap any item to edit or share. * Intuitive navigation: Use the mini-map, navigation bar, gestures, and select tool to move effortlessly through infinite spaces. * Supports links and files: Drop in PDFs, images, URLs, and attachments right onto your canvas. Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/GjS5tJSmBW Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy policy: https://www.defternotes.com/touprivacypolicy https://defternotes.com

Screenshots

Allume3 screens
Defter Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

Allume and Defter Notes both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 75% of Defter Notes's written reviews are positive against 64% of Allume's. Allume's advantage is ratings volume (332 vs 75) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Allume sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Defter Notes sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Allume holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 332 and 75 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 64% of Allume's written reviews are positive against 75% of Defter Notes's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Allume versus Defter Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAllumeDefter Notes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (332 ratings) — better4.4 (75 ratings)
Positive reviews64.4% of reviews75.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings332 — better75
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size100 MB59 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMilestone Made, LLCDeft Works ApS

Customer experience

Allume

All ratings332 ratings
Positive91.0%
Neutral2.7%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews267 reviews
Positive64.4%
Neutral10.1%
Negative25.5%

Defter Notes

All ratings75 ratings
Positive84.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative12.0%
Written reviews81 reviews
Positive75.3%
Neutral11.1%
Negative13.6%

Bugs and requests

Allume

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • 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
Show 1 more
  • Freezing and performance issues

Requested features

7 requests
  • More pen color and workspace options
  • Zoom in/out within a board
  • Search functionality
  • Checklists
  • Support for pen tablets on Mac
Show 2 more
  • Straight line drawing with arrowheads
  • Monthly payment plan

Defter Notes

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Allume

Subscriptions4
  • Unlimited membership, monthly$9.991 Month
  • Pro membership, monthly$9.991 Month
  • Unlimited membership, yearly$99.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Pro membership, yearly$99.991 Year
7 purchases

Defter Notes

Subscriptions5
  • Monthly Plan$2.991 Month
  • Mini Supporter$2.991 Month
  • Supporter$7.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Yearly Plan$17.991 Year
  • Big Supporter$29.991 Month
One-time2
  • Lifetime Access - Welcome Offer$29.99
  • Lifetime Access$39.99

Questions

Is Allume free?
Allume is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Defter Notes free?
Defter Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Allume or Defter Notes?
Allume is rated higher. Allume averages 4.6 out of 5 from 332 ratings, while Defter Notes averages 4.4 from 75 ratings.
Do Allume or Defter Notes have ads?
Neither Allume nor Defter Notes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Allume or Defter Notes?
Allume ships an update every 2 weeks, and Defter Notes every 2 weeks. Most recently, Allume was updated on September 24, 2026 and Defter Notes on September 19, 2026.

Other comparisons