Memos
Tana
| Feature | Memos | Tana |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $0/mo | Free / from $12/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | self-hosters, quick-note-takers, journaling, privacy-focused-users | power-users, researchers, knowledge-workers, systems-thinkers |
| Founded | 2022 | 2020 |
| Markdown | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tags | ✓ | ✗ |
| Search | ✓ | ✗ |
| Api | ✓ | ✗ |
| Docker Deployment | ✓ | ✗ |
| Embed Resources | ✓ | ✗ |
| Timeline View | ✓ | ✗ |
| Supertags | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ai Commands | ✗ | ✓ |
| Live Queries | ✗ | ✓ |
| Views | ✗ | ✓ |
| Node Graph | ✗ | ✓ |
| Daily Notes | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Memos Pros
- Completely free and open-source
- Lightweight and fast (single binary deployment)
- Twitter-like quick note interface
- Full data ownership with self-hosting
✗ Memos Cons
- No real-time collaboration features
- Limited organizational tools (no folders/hierarchy)
- Self-hosting required (no managed cloud option)
✓ Tana Pros
- Supertags create structured data effortlessly
- Powerful AI-powered search and commands
- Everything is queryable and linked
- Flexible views (table, board, calendar)
✗ Tana Cons
- Steep learning curve
- No mobile app yet
- Still in development (features changing)
The Verdict
Memos is built for self hosters and quick note takers, with a focus on markdown and tags. Tana targets power users and researchers and leads with supertags and ai-commands.
On pricing, Memos is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $0/mo compared to $12/mo for Tana. That $12/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Feature-wise, Memos offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Tana takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.