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LokalBot vs Screenpipe

Screenpipe records your screen and audio continuously and turns that history into context for any AI, through a local API and MCP server. It runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux. LokalBot starts smaller: it logs app and window activity by default, adds screen text and encrypted screenshots only if you opt in, and pairs that with bot-free meeting notes. The licenses differ too — LokalBot is GPLv3 open source, while Screenpipe's source is available under a commercial license.

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Side by side

Feature by feature.

Feature LokalBot Screenpipe
Captured by default App name and window title; screen text and screenshots are opt-in Screen, audio, and meetings, continuously
Retention and disk Screenshots and extracted text deleted after 14 days by default About 30 GB per month, with configurable retention
Meeting notes Bot-free microphone + system-audio capture, local summaries, searchable library Transcription with speaker identification; a meeting-summary pipe writes notes
Built-in AI llama.cpp summaries and chat, no setup Brings your history to the AI you already use
Connect AI tools Read-only CLI and MCP server, off until you enable Agent Access Local REST API, MCP server, and agent pipes that can take actions
Encryption at rest Screenshots are encrypted Optional
Account required None Not for the core app
License Open source, GPLv3 Source-available under the Screenpipe Commercial License
Price Free Free (limited history) · Basic $21/mo or $250/yr · Business $42/seat/mo · Enterprise custom
Platforms macOS 15+ on Apple Silicon macOS 13+, Windows 10+, and Linux

Verdict

Which one fits you?

Pick Screenpipe if…

Maximum capture, built as a data layer for agents.

  • You want everything on screen and in your ears recorded, all the time
  • You're building agents and automations on top of a local API
  • You use Windows, Linux, or an Intel Mac
  • You're rolling it out to a team with managed seats

Pick LokalBot if…

Recall that starts small and asks before it captures more.

  • You'd rather log app activity by default and opt into screen text
  • You want meeting notes at the center, with summaries written locally
  • You want captures cleaned up after 14 days, not 30 GB a month
  • You want OSI-approved open source you can use at work for free

Questions

The short answers.

Isn't Screenpipe open source?

It used to be MIT-licensed. Current versions are source-available under the Screenpipe Commercial License: free for personal, non-profit, educational, and research use, while business use needs a paid license. LokalBot is GPLv3, so anyone can use it at work, study it, and share changes.

Does LokalBot record my screen all the time?

No. Out of the box it saves the app name and window title. Visible text and encrypted screenshots are separate opt-ins that need macOS Accessibility and Screen Recording permission, and captures are deleted after 14 days by default.

Can AI agents read my LokalBot history?

Yes, if you allow it. The bundled CLI and MCP server are read-only and stay off until you enable Agent Access in Settings → Privacy.

Download

Remember your day, on your terms.

Free and open source. Models download on first use; built-in inference then works offline.

Download for macOS

.dmg installer · brew install --cask stevyhacker/tap/lokalbot · all releases and notes

Screenpipe is a trademark of its owner; LokalBot is not affiliated with or endorsed by it. Details are based on its public site, pricing, and repository as of September 2026 and may change — if something here is wrong or out of date, open an issue and we'll fix it.