Tana
Ulysses
| Feature | Tana | Ulysses |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $12/mo | From $5.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best For | power-users, researchers, knowledge-workers, systems-thinkers | authors, bloggers, journalists, apple-users |
| Founded | 2020 | 2013 |
| Supertags | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Commands | ✓ | ✗ |
| Live Queries | ✓ | ✗ |
| Views | ✓ | ✗ |
| Node Graph | ✓ | ✗ |
| Daily Notes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Markdown Editor | ✗ | ✓ |
| Library Organization | ✗ | ✓ |
| Goals And Deadlines | ✗ | ✓ |
| Publishing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Icloud Sync | ✗ | ✓ |
| Split View | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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)
✓ Ulysses Pros
- Beautiful distraction-free writing
- Excellent library management
- Direct publishing to blogs
- iCloud sync across devices
✗ Ulysses Cons
- Apple ecosystem only
- Subscription model controversial
- No Windows support
The Verdict
Tana is built for power users and researchers, with a focus on supertags and ai-commands. Ulysses targets authors and bloggers and leads with markdown-editor and library-organization.
On pricing, Ulysses is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $5.99/mo compared to $12/mo for Tana. That $6.01/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Tana has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Ulysses requires a paid subscription from day one.
Bottom line: Ulysses has a slight overall edge — but if supertags create structured data effortlessly matters most to you, Tana may still be the right call.