First, fairly
What is Basic Memory?
Basic Memory is a notes-structured knowledge base. The local, open-source version is a developer tool built on plain Markdown files; the cloud version adds a web app aimed at teams, with a knowledge graph and search reachable by AI through MCP. It can import your chat history too.
Best for developers and teams who want a structured, notes-based knowledge base they own.
How it compares
Basic Memory vs MemoryPlugin
A quick, honest look at where each one fits.
| Feature | Basic Memory | MemoryPlugin |
|---|---|---|
| How it's structured | Notes you organize | Automatic Memories, chat history & files in one place |
| Made for | Developers (local), teams (cloud) | Everyday users |
| Works across your AI tools | MCP clients | 21+ sites + MCP Via the browser extension |
| Memory lifecycle | Not available | Smart Memory, suggestions & merging |
| Upkeep | You maintain notes | None, it's automatic |
How it's structured
Made for
Works across your AI tools
Memory lifecycle
Upkeep
Which fits you
Which should you choose?
Choose Basic Memory if
- You want a structured, notes-based knowledge base you own
- You're a developer (local) or a team (cloud)
- You're happy organizing and maintaining notes
Choose MemoryPlugin if
- You want memory in every AI app with zero upkeep
- You want it across 21+ tools, not only MCP clients
- You want the memory lifecycle handled for you, suggestions and all
Why MemoryPlugin
Memory that follows you.
One memory, every tool
The same memory works across 21+ AI tools, from ChatGPT and Claude to Gemini and Cursor. Recall follows you everywhere.
Memories, chat history & files together
One knowledge base holds it all: the facts it remembers, your full chat history, and your uploaded files.
Search your chats from the browser
Chat-history search is built into the extension, so past conversations are a keystroke away inside any tool.
Stays clean on its own
It detects conflicting memories and merges related ones, so your memory sharpens over time instead of contradicting itself.
Token-efficient recall
Smart Memory summarizes and categorizes, cutting up to 90% of the tokens a raw context dump would burn.
No upkeep
Memory shows up automatically inside each tool's own interface. No second app to visit, no notes to maintain.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Do I need to be a developer to use MemoryPlugin?
No. Install the extension or add the MCP URL, sign in once, and it works. There are no Markdown files or notes to maintain.
Where does MemoryPlugin work?
Natively across 21+ AI platforms plus any MCP client, so the same memory and chat history show up in ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Cursor, and more.