Screenpipe vs ChatGPT Memory — Full Screen Context for AI
Screen + audio capture vs conversation history
The Verdict
ChatGPT Memory (updated April 2025) now remembers saved facts AND references your past chat history. That's useful for personalization - but it only knows what you've typed in ChatGPT. It can't see your screen, hear your meetings, or know what you're working on outside of chat. Screenpipe captures everything: screen recordings, audio transcriptions, OCR'd text. Different layers: ChatGPT Memory personalizes your chats, screenpipe gives AI complete context of your work.
Why Screenpipe Wins
Conversation snippets vs complete screen memory
At a Glance
Different Layers of Memory
ChatGPT Memory remembers your conversations: preferences, facts you've shared, context from past chats. Useful for personalization. But it only knows what happened inside ChatGPT. Screenpipe captures what happens on your screen and in your audio - the code you wrote, the docs you read, the meetings you had. Different layers that complement each other.
Visual and Audio Context
The big gap: ChatGPT can't see your screen or hear your meetings. When you ask 'help me with that error,' ChatGPT has no idea what error - you have to copy-paste it. With screenpipe, the error is already captured, OCR'd, and searchable. Same for meetings, videos, anything with audio.
Works Together
These aren't competitors - they're complementary. Use ChatGPT Memory for conversation personalization. Use screenpipe to give ChatGPT (or any AI) actual context about your work. Query screenpipe's API, include relevant screen/audio context in your ChatGPT prompts.
Privacy Trade-offs
ChatGPT Memory stores data on OpenAI's servers. Screenpipe keeps everything local - your screen recordings never leave your machine unless you explicitly share context with an AI. Different privacy models for different use cases.
ChatGPT Memory: pros & cons
Where ChatGPT Memory Is Strong
- Built into ChatGPT - no extra setup
- References past chat history (April 2025 update)
- Saves explicit memories you tell it
- Works on mobile and web
- Available to Plus, Pro, Team, Enterprise users
- Simple and automatic
Limitations
- Only knows your ChatGPT conversations
- No screen capture - can't see what you're doing
- No audio capture - misses meetings, calls, videos
- Limited to ChatGPT - doesn't work with other AIs
- Cloud-only - data on OpenAI servers
- No API access to memories
- Can't search visual content
Is Screenpipe a Good ChatGPT Memory Alternative?
Yes. Screenpipe is a strong ChatGPT Memory alternative and ChatGPT Memory competitor for anyone who values privacy, transparency, and data ownership. Unlike ChatGPT Memory, Screenpipe is fully open-source, keeps all data 100% local, and works on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Screenpipe directly compares itself to ChatGPT Memory on this page. The key difference: Screenpipe captures your screen and audio 24/7 while keeping everything stored locally on your device. No cloud uploads, no vendor lock-in, no proprietary black boxes.
Ready for True Data Ownership?
Join thousands who chose open-source, local-first AI memory. Your data stays yours.