screenpipe vs limitless (rewind)
open-source local-first vs cloud-based wearable ecosystem
the verdict
limitless (formerly rewind ai) pioneered the ai memory space but has pivoted to a hardware + cloud model with their pendant wearable. while polished and well-funded, it requires cloud processing and proprietary hardware. screenpipe keeps everything local, is fully open-source, and works with any microphone you already own. developer-friendly with full api access, yet intuitive for everyone. if you want true data ownership without vendor lock-in, screenpipe delivers.
why screenpipe wins
cloud-dependent wearable vs local-first freedom
at a glance
no hardware required
limitless sells a pendant to capture in-person conversations. while clever, this creates hardware dependency and vendor lock-in. screenpipe works with any microphone you already own - your laptop mic, airpods, or a professional usb mic. no proprietary hardware needed.
cloud vs local: the privacy trade-off
limitless processes your data in the cloud, which means your conversations, screen content, and personal information travel to their servers. they claim hipaa compliance, but you're still trusting a third party with your most sensitive data. screenpipe processes everything locally - your data never leaves your machine unless you explicitly choose to use cloud ai.
open source advantage
when a company pivots (as rewind did to limitless), users have no control. with screenpipe being open-source, even if development stopped, the community could continue. you own your setup, your data, and your future.
for developers and everyone
screenpipe offers a full api for developers who want to build on top of their personal data. but you don't need to be technical to use it - the interface is designed for everyone. limitless offers no api access or extensibility, limiting what power users can do.
limitless (rewind): pros & cons
where limitless (rewind) is strong
- well-funded company with active development
- polished, integrated experience
- pendant captures in-person conversations
- hipaa-compliant for healthcare use
- calendar and task management integrations
- strong meeting transcription
limitations
- requires proprietary hardware for full features
- cloud-dependent for ai processing
- closed-source software
- no linux support
- no api or extensibility for developers
- vendor lock-in to their ecosystem
ready for true data ownership?
join thousands who chose open-source, local-first ai memory. your data stays yours.