Can I switch from claude-mem to Recallbase?

Yes. Both use session hooks – switching means swapping the hook configuration plus an API key. Existing local data can be exported as Markdown and imported as sessions.

Is claude-mem not free while Recallbase costs money?

claude-mem is open source and free (local). Recallbase has a permanently free plan (1 project, full memory loop); you pay for unlimited projects, team features and hosted operation with EU data residency.

Can I run both in parallel?

Technically yes – both attach to session hooks. One source of truth is wiser, otherwise your memories diverge.

Recallbase / Comparison / claude-mem

Recallbase vs. claude-mem

claude-mem is by far the most popular open-source memory plugin for Claude Code – deservedly. For one person on one machine it is a strong choice. This comparison shows honestly where the line runs.

Two separate clusters – local plugin vs. hosted service

What claude-mem does well

claude-mem (Apache-2.0, 46,000+ GitHub stars) hooks into Claude Code's session lifecycle, compresses observations with AI and loads context back on the next start. Data lives locally in SQLite with full-text and vector search. For solo development on one machine: deservedly popular, and free.

Where the line runs

One machine, one person. The memory lives in a local database. Desktop and laptop share nothing, teammates even less. Recallbase keeps memory server-side – every machine, every teammate and even the Claude app on your phone see the same state.
No team model. There are no organizations, invites or roles. In Recallbase, tenant isolation is enforced via Row Level Security in the database, and members join by invite link.
Operations & compliance. claude-mem optionally syncs to a community cloud (cmem.ai, with its own community token; pricing undocumented). Companies, law firms and newsrooms care about other things: EU hosting, a DPA under Art. 28 GDPR, clear pricing, one-click cancellation – that is what Recallbase is built for, self-hosting included.
Knowledge quality. claude-mem stores and finds. Recallbase additionally distills recurring patterns into durable knowledge – with contradiction detection, so outdated "facts" stop haunting your context.

Honest verdict

You work alone, one machine, data must not leave the house? Take claude-mem – seriously. You work across devices, in a team, need GDPR-clean answers or want your memory on your phone? Then Recallbase is the infrastructure for that – free to try.

Memory that scales with you

Solo today, team tomorrow – same infrastructure. 1 project free, no credit card.

Start for free