Tana - Put your notes to work with voice and AI

I use it constantly!

It's very useful service!

Love this idea, looking forward to following along

yes

I first used Tana a couple of years ago and was immediately impressed by how intuitive it felt to build my knowledge base. Tana’s unique “database-like” structure—without forcing the user into rigid schemas—was a game-changer in note-taking. It let me link, search, and auto-fill fields in ways I haven't experienced in other tools.

Despite loving the concept, I eventually stopped using Tana due to a few key shortcomings at the time:

1.     No Offline Access
When my internet went down, Tana effectively became a blank screen. Not being able to work offline was a deal-breaker.

2.     Lack of a Mobile App
As someone who frequently takes notes on the go, the absence of a native mobile app hindered my workflow.

3.     No Clear Data Export
It was difficult to back up or migrate my knowledge base into a usable format. If I couldn’t easily export, I felt locked in.

4.     Missing Whiteboard/Canvas View
I love visually mapping out connections in my notes. Tana’s lack of a whiteboard or canvas felt limiting at times.

The real disappointment for me was the lack of visible commitment from the team to address these issues. Tana was still in pre-release, but I never got a clear sense of how or when these problems would be tackled, so I shifted to other applications.

Fast-forward to early February 2025: Tana hosted a launch party (3 Hour video linked here) and showcased the steps they’ve taken to address user feedback. After seeing their progress, I decided to give Tana another chance—and I’m glad I did. Here’s how Tana is tackling its most significant pain points:

1.     Working Offline
According to Grim [CPO], they aim to move towards an “offline-first” approach. This commitment should let us run unlimited API calls and continue working seamlessly even without an internet connection.

2.     Mobile Application
They’ve initially rolled out an iOS app and are now testing an Android app in prerelease. I’ve had the chance to try the Android version, and while it’s still basic, the Tana team has clearly prioritized hiring new developers to improve and expand mobile functionality.

3.     Data Export
Grimm hinted that once Tana moves offline-first and their API matures, exporting data will be significantly easier. They even teased interesting possibilities for exporting knowledge bases in more flexible formats via these APIs.

4.     Whiteboard/Canvas View
A canvas-style view is “not hard to implement,” according to Grimm—so it’s definitely on their radar. The real question is prioritizing it alongside everything else they’re building.

AI Implementation: A Major Draw
Tana’s native AI features stand out in the crowded note-taking space. Since my earlier time on the platform, they’ve doubled down on generative AI integration. Back then, Tana allowed the average user to create “Agents” to automate tasks like note-taking, metadata extraction, and more—well before AI agents became a buzzword. During the launch party, they teased even more AI enhancements on the horizon, which is especially exciting for anyone seeking to optimize their personal knowledge management.

My Verdict
Tana has come a long way since its early, more limited days. While not all issues are fully resolved yet, the team’s commitment to addressing core needs—offline access, mobile functionality, data export, and a canvas view—is evident. I’ve returned as a free user and am strongly considering upgrading to unlock Tana’s AI features.

If you’re looking for a powerful, evolving platform that merges note-taking, database functionalities, and cutting-edge AI integrations, Tana is worth another look. I’m excited to see how it continues to grow and can’t wait to explore the innovative features the team rolls out next.

The speed of Tana's updates has shocked me, congratulations on the launch of the new version!

Really excited for Tana! 🚀 The AI-native workspace idea sounds like a game-changer for organizing information efficiently. Can't wait to try it out and see how it compares to other tools!