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Limitless.ai offers an AI-powered pendant and app for recording meetings and conversations. screenpipe provides similar AI memory capabilities but entirely self-hosted and open source.

comparison

featurescreenpipelimitless
hardwareuses your existing devicesrequires pendant
open sourceyes (MIT)no
data location100% localcloud-based
platformsmacOS, Windows, LinuxiOS, web
screen captureyesno
audio captureyesyes
self-hostedyesno

why choose screenpipe?

no hardware purchase

use your existing computer, microphone, and webcam. no additional hardware required.

screen + audio

limitless only captures audio. screenpipe captures:
  • screen content with OCR
  • audio transcription
  • UI elements (experimental)

complete privacy

  • all data stays on your device
  • use local AI models (Ollama)
  • no cloud dependency
  • audit the source code yourself

no cloud dependency

screenpipe runs entirely on your device. no cloud account required.

extensible

build custom integrations with the REST API or pipes:
# query your screen data
curl "http://localhost:3030/search?content_type=all&limit=50"

for meeting transcription

screenpipe handles meetings just as well — configure audio devices in the desktop app settings to capture system audio (meeting apps) and your microphone simultaneously.

self-hosting benefits

limitless cloudscreenpipe local
data on their serversdata on your device
internet requiredworks offline
cloud dependencyworks offline
vendor lock-inexport anytime

get started

download the desktop app

more comparisons

looking for detailed feature comparisons? check out our main comparison pages:

resources

frequently asked questions

how does screenpipe compare to Limitless?

screenpipe captures both screen and audio on your existing devices, while Limitless requires purchasing a pendant and only captures audio. screenpipe is open source, runs entirely locally, and stores all data on your device. Limitless is cloud-based and closed source. screenpipe also offers extensibility through pipes (AI agents) and a full REST API.

do I need to buy hardware to use screenpipe?

no. screenpipe uses your existing computer, microphone, and webcam. no pendant, wearable, or special hardware required. just download the desktop app and start recording.

can screenpipe replace Limitless for meeting transcription?

yes. screenpipe captures system audio (Zoom, Meet, Teams) and your microphone simultaneously, with automatic transcription and speaker identification. configure audio devices in the desktop app settings. unlike Limitless, all transcriptions stay on your device.