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Productivity · head to head

Tana vs Ulysses

Tana logo

Tana

Productivity

The everything app for your personal workspace

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ulysses logo

Ulysses

Productivity

Distraction-free writing application for creative professionals

From
$5.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Tana has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Tana the free plan hosts only 5 meetings a month with AI transcripts and summaries; Ulysses no free tier available
  • They diverge on capability: Tana covers Outliner interface, Ulysses covers Distraction-free writing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Tana and Ulysses actually diverge.

Attributes where Tana and Ulysses differ
AttributeTanaUlysses
Starting priceFree$5.99/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, DesktopMacOS, IOS, IPadOS
Founded20202003

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Tana

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

Only in Ulysses

  • Distraction-free writing
  • Markdown support
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Organization with sheets and groups
  • iCloud sync
  • Dark and light themes
  • Full-screen mode
  • Search and filter

What people use each for

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

Tana

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

Ulysses

  • Writing and editing on Apple devicesnot Tana
  • Cross-device document synchronizationnot Tana
  • Markdown-based writingnot Tana

Where each one falls short

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

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

Ulysses

  • No free tier available
  • Only subscription model, no one-time purchase option
  • Family Sharing limited to 5 additional members (6 total users)

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Ulysses

$5.99/month
  • Annual Subscription$39.99/year
    • Ulysses on all Macs, iPads, and iPhones
    • Full iCloud synchronization
    • Frequent improvements and updates
  • Monthly Subscription$5.99/month
    • Ulysses on all Macs, iPads, and iPhones
    • Full iCloud synchronization
    • Frequent improvements and updates

Which should you pick?

Choose Tana if

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

Choose Ulysses if

  • You need distraction-free writing.
  • You work on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS.
  • You also want markdown support.
Ulysses review

Questions people ask

Is Tana or Ulysses better?
Neither clearly leads. Tana starts at Free and Ulysses at $5.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Tana or Ulysses?
Tana has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Tana and $5.99/month for Ulysses.
Does Tana or Ulysses run on more platforms?
Tana runs on Web, Desktop. Ulysses runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS.
Can I use Tana for free?
Yes. Tana has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Ulysses starts at $5.99/month.
What is Tana best used for?
Tana is most often used for structured note taking with a graph based supertag data model, automatic meeting capture with ai transcripts and summaries, turning notes into queryable structured databases. Of those, structured note taking with a graph based supertag data model and automatic meeting capture with ai transcripts and summaries are not what Ulysses is typically brought in for.
What can Tana do that Ulysses cannot?
Tana covers Outliner interface, Supertags, Live queries, AI integration. Ulysses covers Distraction-free writing, Markdown support, Syntax highlighting, Organization with sheets and groups.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Ulysses: What are Ulysses pricing options?

Ulysses costs $39.99 per year (annual) or $5.99 per month (monthly). Student discounts are available. Volume licensing is available for businesses through their licensing portal.

Source
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
Ulysses: Does Ulysses include Family Sharing?

Yes, both annual and monthly Ulysses subscriptions include Apple Family Sharing, allowing up to five additional family members to use Ulysses on their devices at no extra cost.

Source
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
Ulysses: Can I get Ulysses through a subscription service?

Yes, Ulysses is available through the Setapp subscription service as an alternative to direct subscription. Volume licensing is also available for businesses and organizations through their licensing portal.

Source
Ulysses: Does Ulysses pricing vary by location?

Prices listed apply to the U.S., and local pricing may differ in other regions. Check your regional App Store for exact pricing.

Source
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