How To Use Tana

Getting Started (2 minutes)

1. Sign up at tana.inc. Tana is free to start, with paid plans for advanced features.
2. You'll land on a blank page. Tana is an outliner - everything is a bullet point (called a "node"). Type something and hit Enter to create a new node below it.
3. Indent with Tab to nest ideas under each other. This is how you build structure - projects, tasks, notes - all connected in one place.
4. Use @ to link to other notes or create new ones. Type @Project Ideas and Tana creates a link. Click it later to see everything you tagged with that.
5. Add a "supertag" by typing # - these turn your notes into structured data. Tag a task with #todo and it becomes actionable, shows up in task views, and can have due dates or priorities.

How Tana Is Different

Most note apps (Notion, Evernote) are page-based. Tana is a network. Every note, task, or idea is a node that can link to anything else. You're not organizing into folders - you're building a web of connected information.

• Supertags turn notes into databases. Tag a note with #book and you can add fields like author, rating, or reading status. Now every book you log becomes searchable and filterable.
• Daily notes = your scratch pad. Every day, Tana gives you a fresh page to brain-dump thoughts, tasks, and notes. Tag them with supertags and they flow into the right place automatically. No manual filing.
• Live searches pull in what you need. Create a search for "all tasks due this week tagged #urgent" and it updates in real-time. Your to-do list builds itself based on how you tag things.

Pro Tips

• Voice input for fast capture. On desktop, Tana has live transcription. Talk instead of typing to capture meeting notes, ideas, or tasks. On mobile, record voice memos and Tana transcribes them with custom workflows based on the tags you add.
• Build templates for recurring workflows. If you run weekly team meetings, create a template with agenda, notes, and action items. One click and your structure is ready - just fill in the blanks.
• Use the API and MCP (Model Context Protocol). Tana's desktop app lets AI tools like Claude read and work with your notes directly. Instead of copying text into prompts, AI can access your structured knowledge and help you think through problems.

What It's NOT Good For

• People who want simplicity. Tana is powerful, but it has a learning curve. If you just need a basic to-do list or simple notes, it's overkill.
• Visual thinkers who need boards and galleries. Tana is text-first. If you prefer Kanban boards, calendars, or visual layouts, you'll be fighting the tool.