Comparison

Allume vs NinoPad

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

NinoPad

Transform your device into a versatile handheld keypad for your computer. Control presentations, manage code, play music, and more with customizable workspaces and seamless Wi-Fi pairing. Offers local offline functionality for musical instruments and productivity tools.

Highlights
  • Handheld keypad and control surface for Mac
  • Real-time Mac screen mirroring
  • Virtual trackpad, scroll wheel, and modifier keys
  • Text clipboard injection with voice dictation
  • Customizable workspaces for coding, writing, and creative tasks
  • Standalone musical instruments (synthesizer, guitar)
  • Local Wi-Fi pairing, no cloud relay
Features
Read full description

Place your iPhone or iPad beside your keyboard and turn it into a versatile handheld keypad and secondary console for Mac. ◆ Handheld Keypad & Control - Fast local Wi-Fi pairing via QR code with no complex setup. - Real-time Mac screen mirroring with fluid zoom and pan. - Multi-touch trackpad, scroll wheel, and modifier keys (⌘, ⌥, ⌃, ⇧). - Text and voice injection into Mac cursor with one tap. ◆ Ready-to-Use Workspaces - Vibe Coding: Manage Mac coding assistants (Claude Code, Codex, Antigravity) with session switching, task queues, output previews, token tracking, and permissions (Mac companion required). - Codex: 6 task slots, quota progress, and reasoning knob (requires Codex on Mac). - Native Terminal: Multi-tab local Mac Shell with live output and full-screen input (no cloud SSH). - Writing & Research: Precise cursor stepping, Markdown formatting, and web clippings with source archive. - Reading: PDF/EPUB chapters, knob page turns, and bookmark notes. - Video Editing: Shortcuts and jog controls for DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and CapCut. - Office & Utilities: Dock app launcher, browser tab control, finance workspace (numpad, calculator, 64 spreadsheet formulas), and media player. - Presentation & Whiteboard: Slide navigation, teleprompter cues, laser pointer, and synchronized Whiteboard. - Sound & Fun: Two-player local arcade (Mac companion required), and Smart Home controls. ◆ Standalone Musical Instruments (Offline iOS Engine, Pro) - 16-Pad Sampler: Mic recording, audio import, and waveform slicing. - Pocket Synthesizer: 7 chord pads, 8-way joystick, drum generator, 6-track loop recording/overdub, WAV/MIDI export, MIDI output to Mac. - Pocket Guitar: 6 touch strings with strumming, chord joystick, pitch bend/mute, and 100 guided harmony exercises. ◆ Wallpapers & Custom Canvas - 8 animated animal wallpapers; custom photo, video, and Live Photo imports. - Modular canvas editor: drag and drop buttons, knobs, sliders, pads, and shortcuts. ―――――――――――――――――――― 【REQUIREMENTS & NOTES】 - Systems: iOS 17.0+ / iPadOS 17.0+. Mac control requires free companion app (macOS 13.0+ Ventura, Apple Silicon & Intel, Developer ID signed & notarized, direct download). Instruments, calculator, and clip notes work offline without Mac. - AI & Terminal: Connects over local Wi-Fi to assistants installed on your Mac (no cloud AI subscriptions/keys included). Terminal runs local Shell sessions. - Network & Privacy: Commands and screen mirror stream peer-to-peer over local Wi-Fi with zero cloud relay. Optional iCloud sync and third-party services operate via independent data streams. - Free vs Pro: Core keypad is free. Pro workspaces, wallpapers, and standalone instruments unlock via NinoPad Pro (Weekly, Yearly, Lifetime options with identical full Pro access). 【NINOPAD PRO SUBSCRIPTIONS】 - Plans: Weekly, Yearly, or Lifetime with identical full Pro features. - Auto-Renewal: Charged to Apple ID account at confirmation. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before period ends. - Manage / Cancel: Manage anytime in iOS Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. - Restore Purchases: Easily restore previous purchases in app settings. - Privacy Policy: https://ninopad.com/privacy - Terms of Use: https://ninopad.com/terms

Screenshots

Allume3 screens
NinoPad4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: NinoPad at 5.0 against Allume's 4.6. NinoPad also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Allume's advantage is ratings volume (338 vs 1) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 NinoPad sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NinoPad holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Allume has 338 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Allume ships an update every 2 weeks, NinoPad every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Allume versus NinoPad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAllumeNinoPad
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (338 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews64.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings338 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size100 MB90 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMilestone Made, LLC呈斐 彭

Customer experience

Allume

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

NinoPad

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

NinoPad

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
3 purchases

NinoPad

Subscriptions2
  • 奶猫妙控 Pro - 连续包周$0.997 Days
  • 奶猫妙控 Pro - 连续包年$6.991 Year
One-time1
  • 奶猫妙控 Pro - 终身买断$14.99

Questions

Is Allume free?
Allume is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NinoPad free?
NinoPad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Allume or NinoPad?
NinoPad is rated higher. Allume averages 4.6 out of 5 from 338 ratings, while NinoPad averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Allume or NinoPad have ads?
Neither Allume nor NinoPad shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Allume or NinoPad?
Allume ships an update every 2 weeks, and NinoPad every 6 days. Most recently, Allume was updated on November 3, 2026 and NinoPad on October 31, 2026.

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