# BrainWave vs Allume

The clearest difference is price: Allume at Free against BrainWave's $4.99. Allume also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). BrainWave's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and review sentiment (88% vs 64%). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Allume is free to download; BrainWave costs $4.99 up front. Allume sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. BrainWave asks for nothing beyond the download.

BrainWave holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.2K and 332 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of BrainWave's written reviews are positive against 64% of Allume's.

BrainWave ships an update every 2 months, Allume every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BrainWave | Allume |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.9 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainwave-sharp-mind/id308715234/reviews)** | [4.6 (332 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/allume-for-focused-thinking/id1501563902/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 332 |
| Positive reviews | **87.9% of reviews** | 64.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 158 MB | 100 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Banzai Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/305909501) | [Milestone Made, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476538400) |

## What reviewers say

### BrainWave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainwave-sharp-mind/id308715234)

Enhance focus, memory, and problem-solving skills with advanced brainwave programs. This app combines binaural tones with ambient sounds and music to guide your mind into optimized mental states for learning and creativity. Customize your experience with adjustable settings and enjoy a unique approach to brainwave entrainment.

**Highlights:** 18 Advanced Brainwave Programs, Binaural Tones with Music/Audiobooks, Ambient Backgrounds & Alarm Sounds, Adjustable Brainwave Intensity, Customizable Timer, Progressive Brainwave Entrainment

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helps with focus and concentration
- 👍 Effective for ADHD and TBI
- 🧠 Improves cognitive abilities
- 💤 Aids in sleep and relaxation
- 🎨 Enhances creativity and problem-solving

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or audio issues
- 🔇 Stops playing when notifications occur
- 🔍 Cluttered interface could be simplified

**Reported bugs**

- Alarm clock not working properly
- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Requested features**

- Add more background sound options
- Allow customization of sound mixes
- Enable background playback while device is locked


### 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 BrainWave free?

BrainWave costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Allume free?

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

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

BrainWave is rated higher. BrainWave averages 4.9 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Allume averages 4.6 from 332 ratings.

### Do BrainWave or Allume have ads?

Neither BrainWave nor Allume shows ads.

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

BrainWave ships an update every 2 months, and Allume every 2 weeks. Most recently, BrainWave was updated on October 14, 2026 and Allume on October 9, 2026.

---

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