Screenpipe vs Rewind/Limitless
Rewind.ai (now Limitless) was one of the first AI memory tools. Here’s how screenpipe compares:Key Differences
Open Source vs Proprietary
screenpipe:- 100% open source (MIT license)
- Fully auditable codebase
- Community-driven development
- No vendor lock-in
- Closed source proprietary software
- No code transparency
- Vendor-controlled roadmap
Data Storage & Privacy
screenpipe:- 100% local storage by default
- Your data never leaves your device
- Optional encrypted sync (zero-knowledge)
- No account required for core features
- Cloud storage required
- Data stored on their servers
- Requires account and subscription
Platform Support
| Feature | screenpipe | Rewind/Limitless |
|---|---|---|
| macOS (Apple Silicon) | ✅ | ✅ |
| macOS (Intel) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Windows | ✅ | ✅ |
| Linux | ✅ | ❌ |
Screen Capture
screenpipe:- Multi-monitor support (all monitors)
- Event-driven capture (only when things change)
- ~5-10 GB storage per month
- Accessibility tree + OCR fallback
- Active window only
- Continuous recording
- Higher storage usage
- OCR-based
Developer Features
screenpipe:- Full REST API + JavaScript SDK
- MCP server for AI assistants
- Plugin system (Pipes - AI agents)
- Raw SQL access to data
- Custom integrations
- Limited API access
- No plugin system
- Proprietary integrations only
AI Model Choice
screenpipe:- Use any AI model (local or cloud)
- Built-in Ollama support for 100% local AI
- OpenAI, Anthropic, or custom models
- No vendor lock-in
- Proprietary AI models only
- No model choice
- Cloud-dependent
Team & Enterprise
screenpipe:- Central config management
- Per-pipe AI data permissions
- Shared pipes deployment
- MDM ready (Intune, SCCM)
- Data stays on employee devices
- Limited team features
- No granular permissions
- Data centralized in cloud
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | screenpipe | Rewind/Limitless |
|---|---|---|
| Open source | ✅ MIT license | ❌ |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, Windows |
| Data storage | 100% local | Cloud required |
| Multi-monitor | ✅ All monitors | ❌ Active window only |
| Audio transcription | ✅ Local Whisper | ✅ |
| Developer API | ✅ Full REST API + SDK | Limited |
| Plugin system | ✅ Pipes (AI agents) | ❌ |
| AI model choice | Any (local or cloud) | Proprietary |
| Team deployment | ✅ Central config, AI permissions | ❌ |
| Pricing | One-time purchase | Subscription |
Pricing
screenpipe:- Lifetime: $400 one-time
- Lifetime + Pro 1 year: $600 one-time
- Pro subscription: $39/month (optional)
- No recurring costs for core features
- Monthly subscription required
- No one-time purchase option
- Ongoing costs mandatory
screenpipe offers a one-time lifetime purchase with no recurring subscription for core features. Rewind/Limitless requires an ongoing subscription.
When to Choose screenpipe
- You want full control over your data
- Privacy is a top priority
- You need multi-monitor support
- You want to build custom integrations
- You prefer local-first AI
- You want to avoid recurring subscriptions
- You need team deployment with granular permissions
- You want open source transparency
When to Consider Rewind/Limitless
- You prefer a fully managed cloud solution
- You don’t need multi-monitor support
- You’re comfortable with proprietary software
- You don’t need custom integrations or API access
Ready to try screenpipe? Download the desktop app or join our Discord for support.