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Productivity · head to head

Spark Mail vs Tana

Spark Mail logo

Spark Mail

Productivity

AI-assisted email client from Readdle with a Smart Inbox and team collaboration features

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tana logo

Tana

Productivity

The everything app for your personal workspace

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Spark Mail several sync features route mail metadata and, for some features, credentials through Readdle servers, which is a materially different trust model from a local-only IMAP client.; Tana the free plan hosts only 5 meetings a month with AI transcripts and summaries
  • They diverge on capability: Spark Mail covers Smart Inbox, Tana covers Outliner interface.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Spark Mail and Tana actually diverge.

Attributes where Spark Mail and Tana differ
AttributeSpark MailTana
Pricing modelPer user per monthsubscription
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android, WebWeb, Desktop
FoundedUnknown2020

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Productivity).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Spark Mail

  • Smart Inbox
  • AI Copilot
  • AI Summaries
  • Team collaboration
  • Send later and snooze
  • Multi-account unified inbox

Only in Tana

  • Outliner interface
  • Supertags
  • Live queries
  • AI integration
  • Graph views
  • Email capture
  • API
  • Zapier

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Spark Mail

  • A freelancer juggling Gmail and Outlook accounts who wants one AI-assisted inboxnot Tana
  • A small support team sharing a single inbox with internal notes before replyingnot Tana
  • Someone who wants drafts and summaries generated without switching to a new mail hostnot Tana
  • A user who wants notification triage without writing their own filtersnot Tana

Tana

  • Structured note taking with a graph based supertag data modelnot Spark Mail
  • Automatic meeting capture with AI transcripts and summariesnot Spark Mail
  • Turning notes into queryable structured databasesnot Spark Mail

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Spark Mail

  • Several sync features route mail metadata and, for some features, credentials through Readdle servers, which is a materially different trust model from a local-only IMAP client.
  • It is a client over accounts you still pay for elsewhere, so the total cost is Spark plus whatever Gmail, Outlook or Fastmail plan you already hold.
  • The free tier lacks AI Copilot and summaries, so the features it is best known for sit behind the paid plan.
  • Team features are basic next to dedicated shared-inbox tools like Front or Help Scout, so a support team scaling past a few agents will likely outgrow it.
  • Windows and Android versions have historically lagged the macOS and iOS apps in feature parity.

Tana

  • The free plan hosts only 5 meetings a month with AI transcripts and summaries
  • The free plan connects only 1 calendar and allows 50 AI queries
  • Pro is $30 per user per month at standard price, with $20 shown as an early bird rate
  • Max is $120 per user per month at standard price, with $80 shown as an early bird rate
  • Integrations and full MCP require the Pro plan
  • Dedicated support and onboarding, and unlimited agents, skills and types, require the Max plan
  • The Business plan is custom priced, billed yearly and has no published rate
  • The free trial runs 30 days

Pricing, plan by plan

Spark Mail

Free
  • BasicFree
    • Unlimited accounts
    • Smart Inbox
    • Basic send later
  • Premium$7.99/month
    • AI Copilot and summaries
    • Unlimited snooze and send later
    • Priority support
  • Premium Teams$10/month
    • Shared inboxes
    • Delegation and internal comments
    • Admin controls

Tana

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 5 hosted meetings monthly with AI transcripts
    • 1 calendar connection
    • 50 AI queries
  • Pro$20/month
    • Early bird pricing (regular $30/month)
    • Unlimited hosted meetings
    • Botless meeting agent for Zoom, Teams, Google Meet
  • Max$80/month
    • Early bird pricing (regular $120/month)
    • 5x more AI than Pro plan
    • Dedicated support and onboarding
  • Business$null/year
    • Custom pricing (billed yearly)
    • SAML SSO and advanced security controls
    • Designated customer success manager

Which should you pick?

Choose Spark Mail if

  • You need smart inbox.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want ai copilot.
Spark Mail review

Choose Tana if

  • You need outliner interface.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Desktop.
  • You also want supertags.
Tana review

Questions people ask

Is Spark Mail or Tana better?
Neither clearly leads. Spark Mail starts at Free and Tana at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Spark Mail or Tana?
Spark Mail starts at Free and Tana at Free.
Does Spark Mail or Tana run on more platforms?
Spark Mail runs on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Web. Tana runs on Web, Desktop.
Can I use Spark Mail for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Spark Mail best used for?
Spark Mail is most often used for a freelancer juggling gmail and outlook accounts who wants one ai-assisted inbox, a small support team sharing a single inbox with internal notes before replying, someone who wants drafts and summaries generated without switching to a new mail host, a user who wants notification triage without writing their own filters. Of those, a freelancer juggling gmail and outlook accounts who wants one ai-assisted inbox and a small support team sharing a single inbox with internal notes before replying are not what Tana is typically brought in for.
What can Spark Mail do that Tana cannot?
Spark Mail covers Smart Inbox, AI Copilot, AI Summaries, Team collaboration. Tana covers Outliner interface, Supertags, Live queries, AI integration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Spark Mail: Does Spark host my email?

No. It is a client that connects to Gmail, Outlook, iCloud or any IMAP account; you still need a mail host.

Tana: What is Tana's cheapest paid plan?

Tana Pro starts at $20/month with early bird pricing (regular $30/month) per user, offering unlimited hosted meetings and AI transcripts.

Source
Spark Mail: Does Spark store my email credentials on its servers?

For some features, including cross-device snooze and send-later sync, yes. It is part of how those features stay consistent across devices.

Tana: Does Tana offer a free trial?

Yes, Tana provides a 30-day free trial with no credit card required, plus a 60-day refund window for yearly plan subscribers.

Source
Spark Mail: Is there a one-time purchase option?

No, Spark is subscription only for individuals and teams; the base client is free but AI and unlimited scheduling need Premium.

Tana: What is the difference between Tana Pro and Max plans?

Max provides 5x more AI than Pro ($80/month early bird or $120 regular), dedicated support, onboarding, and unlimited agents and skills.

Source
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