comparison
| feature | screenpipe | pieces |
|---|---|---|
| what it captures | entire screen + audio 24/7 | code snippets from your editor |
| screen recording | all monitors, all apps | none |
| audio transcription | yes — meetings, calls, conversations | none |
| browser, Slack, terminal | yes — captures everything on screen | no — editor plugins only |
| open source | yes (MIT) | partially open source |
| data location | 100% local | local + optional cloud sync |
| platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| AI integrations | MCP server for Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT + 45+ app connections | MCP server, IDE plugins |
| extensibility | 16+ pipes (scheduled AI agents) | snippet-focused workflows |
| pricing | $400 lifetime | free tier + $10/mo Pro |
why screenpipe?
captures everything, not just code
Pieces only sees what’s inside your editor. screenpipe captures your browser research, Slack conversations, Zoom calls, terminal output, design tools — everything on your screen. when your AI asks “what was I working on?”, screenpipe has the full picture.audio + meetings
screenpipe transcribes all audio — meetings, calls, pair programming sessions. Pieces has no audio capabilities. when someone mentions a deadline in a Zoom call, screenpipe captures it.pipes — automated workflows
screenpipe’s pipe ecosystem (16+ published pipes, 574+ installs on the most popular) automates workflows: time tracking, CRM sync, daily summaries, meeting intelligence. Pieces doesn’t have scheduled automations on your screen data.45+ app connections
screenpipe connects to Slack, Notion, Gmail, Obsidian, Toggl, HubSpot, Salesforce, and 40+ more apps. Pieces connects primarily to IDEs.when to use Pieces instead
Pieces excels at code snippet management — it parses code, extracts metadata (language, repo context, related docs), and organizes snippets with tags. if your primary need is saving and finding code snippets inside your editor, Pieces is purpose-built for that.use both together
many developers run both:- Pieces for snippet management inside the editor
- screenpipe for everything else — meetings, browser research, Slack, the full visual timeline of your day
more comparisons
- vs Rewind — open source alternative
- vs Microsoft Recall — privacy-focused alternative
- vs Granola — meeting notepad vs full screen memory
- vs Limitless — hardware vs software
- vs Littlebird — cloud screen reader vs local capture
- vs Omi — wearable pendant vs desktop capture