Untangle vs Maia: two AI apps for couples, compared

What’s the difference between Maia and Untangle?

Maia is built to be with you across the whole relationship. It describes itself as “made for the two of you”, and its App Store listing offers advice 24/7, quizzes, games and voice-guided sessions. The release notes for version 1.12.0 introduce a voice feature for mediating conflicts, so the fight is one of several things it covers.

Untangle is narrower on purpose. It’s an AI mediator for the fight you’ve had before, the one where underneath it all, one of you doesn’t feel heard. There are no quizzes or games. Tara sits between you, asks one question at a time and never says who’s right.

Does each partner get their own private side?

In Untangle, yes. First it’s just you and Tara, about 10 minutes, to find what the fight is really about. She helps you turn what you feel into words your partner can actually hear. Then your partner joins free from a link, and Tara takes turns, keeps it fair and checks you each were heard, each of you on your own phone.

Your partner sees nothing you wrote until you share it, and a private word with Tara stays private. Maia’s App Store listing doesn’t say whether each partner uses their own phone with a private side. If that matters to you, check it in the app before you pay. Untangle isn’t the only app built this way, either: in BetterCouple, each partner installs the app, links by code and has a private chat with their own AI guide.

What method is Tara working from?

Tara’s method is WinWin Conversations by Kamal Sarma, with Nonviolent Communication underneath. Every untangle follows 5 steps: what happened, how it felt, what you need, what you appreciate, what you’re asking for.

One idea from WinWin shows how it works in a fight. When things run hot, Tara slows the room and gets three yeses before anyone tries to fix anything. The fixing waits; agreement comes first. For the full method, go to Kamal Sarma’s book, The Art of WinWin Conversations.

Tara is an AI built on Anthropic’s Claude. Your conversations are never used to train AI models.

How do the prices compare?

The headline numbers are close. Untangle is $25 a month for both of you, after 3 days free, and your partner joins free. Your first untangle is free and nothing is charged until day 4. Cancel at least 24 hours before your 3 days end and you pay nothing.

Maia’s US App Store listing shows “Premium” in-app purchases at $24.99 and $200.00. The listing doesn’t label the billing periods, so check them in the app before you subscribe.

When is Maia the better pick?

Be honest about what you want. If you’re after an always-on AI companion for the relationship as a whole, for advice at any hour, quizzes, games and guided sessions, Maia covers more ground than Untangle does.

Maia is also the pick if either of you isn’t on iPhone, or if you want something that’s already out. Untangle is an iPhone app, and it’s arriving on the App Store soon. If what you need is help with the same fight, at 11pm, with both of you heard, that’s the one job Untangle is built for.

Questions

Is Maia or Untangle better for arguments?

Both can help with a fight. Maia has a voice feature for mediating conflicts inside a broader coaching app. Untangle is built only for the fight: Tara sits between you, each on your own phone, gives you each a fair turn and checks you were heard.

Do I have to pay for my partner on Untangle?

No. Untangle is $25 a month for both of you after 3 days free, and your partner joins free from a link.

Is Untangle out yet?

Not yet. Untangle is an iPhone app and it’s arriving on the App Store soon. Maia is already out (see the table for platforms).

Is Untangle a form of therapy?

No. Untangle is not therapy and not for emergencies. If a conversation turns into a crisis, Tara pauses and points you to real people who can help. The check is automatic and won’t catch everything, so if you’re in danger, call 911 or 988 directly. It isn’t designed for abuse, coercive control, intimidation or fear for your safety.

Are my Untangle conversations private?

Stored conversations are encrypted with AES-256. They’re never sold, never used for ads and never used to train AI models, and you can export or delete everything from your account, any time.