Allume
Nested-board thinking canvas for Mac, iPad and iPhone
What is Allume?
Allume, known as Muse until a 2026 rename, is a thinking canvas for Mac, iPad and iPhone. Boards nest inside other boards, and each one holds handwriting, text, images, videos, PDFs, web links and other files side by side. Data is stored local-first and synced between devices, so the app does not depend on a constant connection, and shared workspaces add live cursors and comments. It is made by an independent developer, Milestone Made, LLC.
Allume has a free plan. Paid plans start at $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year. See every plan
Good for
- iPad and Mac users who mix handwriting, text and files on one canvas
- Reading and research: PDFs can be annotated and excerpted onto boards
- Solo thinkers who want their data stored locally and usable offline
- Projects that outgrow a single board and need boards inside boards
Worth knowing
- Allume is offered only for Mac, iPad and iPhone; the vendor lists no web, Windows or Android version.
- The Free plan has a small board size and allows 2 workspaces, 100 cards per workspace and 1 other collaborator per workspace.
- The vendor deliberately leaves out drawing brushes, complex text formatting, and endless canvas zooming or rotation.
- Through Setapp the app is limited to 5 collaborators and needs a Mac, against unlimited collaborators on the Unlimited plan.
Key features
- Nested boards
- Each board works like a whiteboard that can contain further whiteboards, so an idea or project can grow in place and be organized later rather than up front.
- Ink, text and cards on one canvas
- Handwriting, typed notes, images, videos, PDFs, web links and other files sit together on a board, and connections can be drawn between cards.
- Linked cards and PDF excerpts
- A linked card references the same board from several places. PDFs can be read and annotated, and excerpts pull part of a PDF or image onto a board while keeping its source.
- Shared workspaces
- Collaborators added to a workspace get live cursors, comments, following and templates. The Free plan allows 1 other collaborator per workspace.
- Local-first sync
- Data is kept locally and synced between Mac, iPad and iPhone. The vendor lists an always-online requirement among the things the app does not have.
- Command line app and MCP
- Version 4.0 adds a command line app to search, export and add content, plus an MCP connection for AI tools such as Claude and ChatGPT. Both are switched off by default.
Allume pricing
- Starts at
- $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year
- Free plan
- a small board size, 2 workspaces, 100 cards per workspace and 1 other collaborator per workspace, on Mac, iPad and iPhone. The vendor describes it as free forever.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Small board size, 2 workspaces, 100 cards per workspace, 1 other collaborator per workspace and community support. |
| Unlimited | $9.99per month, or $99.99 per year | Huge board size, unlimited workspaces, cards and collaborators, and priority email support. |
| Setapp | $14.99per month, through a Setapp subscription | Huge board size, unlimited workspaces and cards, and 5 collaborators. A Mac is required for Setapp; iPad and iPhone are optional. |
Read from allume.com on Oct 6, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Allume before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Annual discountAbout 17% less on the yearly plan
Unlimited is $99.99 a year or $9.99 a month. Twelve monthly payments come to $119.88, so paying yearly works out about 17% cheaper.
Stated on allume.com - EducationEducation discount on request
The pricing section says students and teachers can email Allume for an education discount. The size of the discount is not published.
Stated on allume.com
How people rate the Allume app
4.6
out of 5 for the iPhone and iPad app
336 ratings on the App Store in the United States, read Oct 6, 2026. It rates the app, not everything the product does. See the listing
Works with
Allume alternatives
- Allume vs Milanote
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
- Allume vs Kinopio
Free plan · from $8/mo
- Allume vs Scapple
Free trial · from $20.99 one-time
- Allume vs MindNode
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
- Allume vs Heptabase
Free trial · from $8.99/mo
Common questions
Is Allume free?
Allume has a free plan. a small board size, 2 workspaces, 100 cards per workspace and 1 other collaborator per workspace, on Mac, iPad and iPhone. The vendor describes it as free forever. Paid plans start at $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year.
How much does Allume cost?
Allume lists 3 plans. Free: $0. Unlimited: $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year. Setapp: $14.99 per month, through a Setapp subscription. Prices were read from allume.com on Oct 6, 2026.
What platforms does Allume work on?
Allume is available on macOS and iOS.
Does Allume offer any discounts?
Allume publicly lists the following: About 17% less on the yearly plan; Education discount on request.
How is Allume rated?
Allume's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.6 out of 5 from 336 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 6, 2026. That is the store's rating of the app, not a score from us.
Does Allume have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Allume is listed for macOS and iOS.
Does Allume have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Allume is listed for macOS and iOS.
Is Allume open source?
Allume is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Does Allume work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
What does Allume integrate with?
Allume's listing names Claude, ChatGPT and LM Studio. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does Allume have a student discount?
Education discount on request. The pricing section says students and teachers can email Allume for an education discount. The size of the discount is not published.
Who makes Allume?
Allume is made by Milestone Made, LLC.
What are the alternatives to Allume?
The closest alternatives to Allume in our directory are Milanote, Kinopio, Scapple, MindNode and Heptabase. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Allume.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 6, 2026. What people say is linked where it appears.