Tango.ai: Auto-Generate Documentation as You Work
Documentation is essential. Creating it is tedious.
Every startup reaches a point where “just ask me” stops scaling. You need SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), onboarding guides, and training materials. But documenting processes manually—screenshots, annotations, written instructions—takes hours.
Tango flips this equation. Install a Chrome extension, perform a workflow normally, and Tango automatically generates a step-by-step guide with annotated screenshots.
This review covers how Tango works, what it costs, and whether it’s worth it for your team.
What Is Tango?
Tango is a browser-based documentation tool. Its Chrome extension captures your actions as you work in web applications, then transforms those actions into shareable, step-by-step guides.
The output—called a “Tango” or “workflow”—shows each step with:
- An annotated screenshot
- A description of what to do
- Visual highlights on the clickable element
You can share Tangos as links, embed them in docs, export as PDFs, or integrate with knowledge bases like Confluence or Notion.
Key value proposition: Documentation that creates itself while you work.
How It Works
Step 1: Install the Extension
Add Tango’s Chrome extension from the Chrome Web Store. Grant necessary permissions.
Step 2: Start Capture
Click the Tango extension icon and select “Start Capture.” Tango begins recording your actions.
Step 3: Perform the Workflow
Do whatever you’re documenting: create an invoice in QuickBooks, set up a new project in Asana, configure a setting in Salesforce. Work at your normal pace.
Step 4: Stop Capture
Click the extension again and stop recording. Tango processes the capture.
Step 5: Review and Edit
Tango generates a draft guide. You can:
- Edit step descriptions
- Delete unnecessary steps
- Blur sensitive information
- Add annotations or callouts
- Rearrange the order
Step 6: Share
Distribute via link, embed code, PDF export, or direct integration with tools your team already uses.
Key Features
Automatic Capture
Tango’s core technology watches your browser actions and intelligently determines what’s a “step.” It captures:
- Clicks on buttons and links
- Form field inputs
- Dropdown selections
- Page navigation
- Keyboard shortcuts
You don’t need to manually trigger screenshots or narrate what you’re doing.
Smart Step Detection
Not every click is a meaningful step. Tango filters out noise and focuses on the actions that matter. If it gets something wrong, you can edit or delete steps.
PII Blurring
One-click redaction of personally identifiable information. Tango detects text that looks like names, emails, phone numbers, and financial data, letting you blur it across the entire workflow quickly.
This matters when documenting processes that involve real customer data.
Interactive Walkthroughs (Pro/Enterprise)
Beyond static guides, Tango can create interactive overlays that guide users through the actual application. Tooltips appear on the live interface, pointing to exactly where to click.
This transforms documentation into in-app training.
Real-Time Analytics
Track how your Tangos are used:
- View counts
- Completion rates
- Where users drop off
- Most-viewed workflows
This data reveals which documentation is valuable and which needs improvement.
Browser Integration
Works with any web-based application:
- CRMs (Salesforce, HubSpot)
- ERPs (NetSuite, SAP)
- HRIS (Workday, BambooHR)
- Project management (Asana, Monday, Jira)
- Finance (QuickBooks, Stripe Dashboard)
- Internal tools
No API setup or integrations required—if it runs in Chrome, Tango can capture it.
Pricing
Tango offers three tiers:
| Plan | Price | Users | Workflows | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 10 | 15 | Basic capture, sharing, limited editing |
| Pro | $24/user/month | Unlimited | Unlimited | PII blur, analytics, integrations |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited | Unlimited | SSO, SCIM, interactive walkthroughs, advanced permissions |
The free tier is genuinely useful for small teams. You can create 15 workflows and share them without paying anything. The limitation is workflow count, not features.
Pro makes sense when:
- You need more than 15 workflows
- PII concerns require blurring
- You want analytics on documentation usage
Enterprise adds security features (SSO, SCIM) and interactive in-app guidance.
Integrations
Tango connects with tools teams already use:
Knowledge Bases:
- Confluence
- Notion
- Zendesk
- GitBook
Communication:
- Slack
- Microsoft Teams
Project Management:
- Jira
- Trello
- Asana
Productivity:
- Google Workspace
- Dropbox
- Salesforce
Integrations let you embed Tangos directly in existing workflows. A Slack message can include a Tango link. A Confluence page can embed the full walkthrough.
Use Cases for Startups
Employee Onboarding
New hires need to learn your tools. Instead of scheduling training sessions or hoping they figure it out, create Tangos for:
- Setting up their development environment
- Navigating your CRM
- Submitting expense reports
- Using your project management system
Onboarding becomes self-service. New employees work through documentation at their own pace.
Customer Success Playbooks
Your CS team handles similar situations repeatedly. Document the workflows:
- How to troubleshoot common issues
- Steps to upgrade a customer’s plan
- Process for handling refund requests
- Setting up new customer accounts
Consistent documentation means consistent customer experience.
Sales Demo Documentation
Sales reps need to demonstrate your product. Create Tangos showing:
- Standard demo flow
- How to handle specific feature questions
- Setup steps for trial accounts
- Integration walkthroughs
New sales hires ramp faster when the playbook is visual.
Internal Process Standardization
“How do I do X?” is the most common Slack question in growing teams. Capture the answer once:
- Monthly close process
- How to create a new product in the system
- Steps to deploy code to production
- Process for requesting PTO
Link to Tangos instead of re-explaining.
Comparison: Tango vs. Alternatives
vs. Loom
Loom creates video recordings. Tango creates static step-by-step guides.
| Factor | Tango | Loom |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Static screenshots | Video |
| Searchability | Text searchable | Not easily searchable |
| Update process | Edit steps individually | Re-record entire video |
| Consumption time | Scan quickly | Watch in full |
| Storage | Small | Large |
Choose Tango for procedural documentation that changes frequently. Choose Loom for context-rich explanations where tone and nuance matter.
vs. Scribe
Scribe is Tango’s closest competitor. Both auto-capture workflows and generate guides.
Differences:
- Pricing is similar
- Feature sets overlap significantly
- Scribe has slightly different capture mechanics
- Tango’s analytics may be more developed
Try both free tiers and see which captures your workflows more accurately.
vs. Manual Documentation
Creating screenshots manually (Snagit, native screenshot tools) and writing in Google Docs is always an option.
Manual advantages:
- Complete control over presentation
- No additional tool cost
- Works for non-browser workflows
Manual disadvantages:
- Time-consuming (10-30 minutes vs. real-time capture)
- Screenshots become outdated
- Difficult to maintain consistency
For teams creating significant documentation, Tango’s time savings justify the cost.
Limitations
Browser-Only
Tango’s extension works in Chrome (and Chromium browsers). It cannot capture:
- Desktop applications
- Mobile apps
- Terminal commands
- Workflows spanning browser and desktop
For non-browser processes, you’ll need alternative tools or manual documentation.
Capture Quality Varies
Some workflows capture cleanly. Others produce too many steps, miss important actions, or misidentify click targets. Editing is required.
Complex workflows with lots of mouse movement or unusual UI patterns may need significant cleanup.
Subscription Adds Up
At $24/user/month, a 10-person team pays $2,880/year. That’s meaningful for early-stage startups.
Mitigation: You don’t need a license for every employee—only those creating documentation. Viewers don’t need paid accounts.
Getting Started
Week 1: Foundation
- Install the Chrome extension (free)
- Capture 3-5 frequently asked “how do I…” workflows
- Share links in Slack when questions arise
Week 2: Expand
- Create an onboarding collection for new hires
- Document customer-facing processes
- Set up integration with your knowledge base
Month 2: Optimize
- Review analytics—which Tangos get used?
- Update outdated workflows
- Train team members to create their own
Ongoing
- Make Tango creation part of your process
- When you implement a new tool or workflow, create the Tango immediately
- Schedule quarterly documentation reviews
Bottom Line
Tango solves a real problem: documentation takes too long to create and gets outdated quickly.
Auto-capturing workflows as you perform them eliminates the creation bottleneck. The 15-workflow free tier lets you validate the value before committing budget.
For startups scaling past the “ask me” phase, Tango is worth the investment. The time saved on documentation compounds as your team grows.
Best for: Teams with significant web-based workflows, onboarding needs, and recurring “how do I” questions.
Skip if: Most of your work happens outside browsers, or you have fewer than 10 processes worth documenting.