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Mem vs Tanka

Two fact sheets from our own research, side by side — pricing, platforms, API access and status re-checked by us rather than quoted from the vendors. Mem publishes a starting price ($12); Tanka does not. Only Mem has a free tier. Only Mem ships a public API.

MemNotes app with an agent that files captures, tracks commitments and briefs you before meetingsTankaEarly-access memory layer positioned as an operating base for AI-native companies and their agents.

Side by side

FactMemTanka
CategoryNote-taking & Second BrainKnowledge Management & Wikis
Pricing modelFreemiumContact
Starts at$12 month—
Public APIYesNo
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, iOSWeb, iOS
Company—Tanka
Last verifiedSep 6, 2026Sep 1, 2026

What our research says

Mem

Mem has moved past 'self-organizing notes' into an agent that actually nags you about commitments, which is the part most note apps never deliver. The catch is the ladder: the free tier is tiny, the useful proactive behavior is fenced into a $99/month plan, and sign-in is currently Google-only.

Pros

  • Agent tracks tasks and commitments across notes, not just search
  • Native apps on web, Mac, Windows and iOS with voice capture
  • Pro at $12/month includes API and email-in access
  • Proactive tier reaches you on Slack, iMessage and WhatsApp

Cons

  • Free plan (25 notes/month) is too small to evaluate the agent seriously
  • The headline proactive features cost $99/month
  • Google-only authentication; no Android app listed

Tanka

Tanka is easier to evaluate through press coverage and its founder's track record than through its own website, which is still mostly a sign-up page with placeholder sections. The pitch, persistent shared memory as infrastructure for teams working alongside AI agents, is a real and increasingly common category, but there is no public description of what the product screen actually looks like or does day to day. Treat this as a pre-launch or early-access company to watch rather than a tool ready to evaluate hands-on.

Pros

  • Founder has direct prior experience building AI memory products
  • Announced funding and press coverage suggest real institutional backing
  • Mobile app listing exists on the App Store

Cons

  • Public website shows no concrete feature list, screenshots, or pricing
  • Access is gated behind an early-access signup rather than a self-serve trial

Which one fits

Choose Mem if you need

  • Founders and consultants juggling many threads without an assistant
  • People who capture by voice and want automatic filing
  • Users who want reminders pushed into Slack or iMessage rather than another app

Choose Tanka if you need

  • Teams comfortable requesting early access to an unreleased enterprise tool
  • Founders following the AI-native company operating-system space

More comparisons

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