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Comparison

memory-os vs honcho

memory-os (A 7-layer memory operating system for Hermes Agent) vs honcho (Memory library for building stateful agents) - live GitHub stats and typed graph relationships, not marketing.

Markdown twin · memory-os alternatives · honcho alternatives

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memory-os

ClaudioDrews/memory-os

1.2kpushed Jun 10, 2026
vs

honcho

plastic-labs/honcho

5.8kpushed Jul 8, 2026

Tagline

memory-os
A 7-layer memory operating system for Hermes Agent
honcho
Memory library for building stateful agents

Stars

memory-os
1.2k
honcho
5.8k

Forks

memory-os
117
honcho
698

Open issues

memory-os
7
honcho
155

Language

memory-os
Python
honcho
Python

Adopt for

memory-os
Provides a comprehensive, local-first memory operating system for Hermes Agent with seven layers of memory infrastructure including Qdrant and structured facts.
honcho
Honcho provides memory infrastructure for building stateful AI agents capable of dynamically understanding entities over time through message storage, event tracking, reasoning, and insight queries.

Persona

memory-os
-
honcho
-

Runtime

memory-os
-
honcho
-

License

memory-os
MIT
honcho
AGPL-3.0

Last pushed

memory-os
Jun 10, 2026
honcho
Jul 8, 2026

Categories

memory-os
AI Agents, Vector Databases
honcho
AI Agents

Trust and health

Maintenance

memory-os
Active (82%)
honcho
Very active (96%)

Days since push

memory-os
27d
honcho
0d

Open issues (now)

memory-os
7
honcho
155

Owner type

memory-os
User
honcho
Organization

Security scan

memory-os
56 low (56 low)
honcho
No lockfile

Full report

memory-os
Trust report

Typed relationship

memory-os alternative honchoHoncho and claudiodrews/memory-os both function as memory systems for AI agents, though Honcho emphasizes stateful understanding over time while Memory OS provides a layered approach.

Shared compatibility

  • Python · memory-os: Python runtime · honcho: Python runtime

Choose memory-os if…

  • License: memory-os is MIT, honcho is AGPL-3.0.
  • Requirements: Min 8 GB RAM; Requires Docker; Hermes Agent + Docker (Qdrant + Redis + ARQ Worker) are required.; Python 3.11+ is needed..
  • Honcho and claudiodrews/memory-os both function as memory systems for AI agents, though Honcho emphasizes stateful understanding over time while Memory OS provides a layered approach.
  • Tags unique to memory-os: context-injection, persistent-memory, ground-truth, docker.
  • Also covers Vector Databases.
  • When you need persistent and structured memory that doesn't rely on cloud services.

When NOT to use memory-os

  • When you prefer a tool that is fully cloud-based or requires minimal local setup.
  • If your environment does not support local memory infrastructure such as Docker, Qdrant, Redis, and ARQ Worker.
  • For scenarios requiring lightweight memory solutions without the complexity of multiple layers and self-hosted services.

Choose honcho if…

  • License: honcho is AGPL-3.0, memory-os is MIT.
  • Honcho and claudiodrews/memory-os both function as memory systems for AI agents, though Honcho emphasizes stateful understanding over time while Memory OS provides a layered approach.
  • Tags unique to honcho: embeddings, llm, continual-learning, long-term-memory.
  • honcho ships Docker support for self-hosted deployment.
  • - When you need a system that can store messages and events to maintain long-term agent context.

When NOT to use honcho

  • - If your application does not require stateful memory and dynamic tracking of entities over time.
  • - When the project does not align with Honcho's model of peer-centric reasoning and multi-peer perspective which might be unnecessary for straightforward agent needs.

Explore

Related comparisons

Common questions

What is the difference between memory-os and honcho?
memory-os: A 7-layer memory operating system for Hermes Agent. honcho: Memory library for building stateful agents. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.
When should I choose memory-os over honcho?
Choose memory-os over honcho when License: memory-os is MIT, honcho is AGPL-3.0; Requirements: Min 8 GB RAM; Requires Docker; Hermes Agent + Docker (Qdrant + Redis + ARQ Worker) are required.; Python 3.11+ is needed.; Honcho and claudiodrews/memory-os both function as memory systems for AI agents, though Honcho emphasizes stateful understanding over time while Memory OS provides a layered approach; Tags unique to memory-os: context-injection, persistent-memory, ground-truth, docker; Also covers Vector Databases; When you need persistent and structured memory that doesn't rely on cloud services.
When should I choose honcho over memory-os?
Choose honcho over memory-os when License: honcho is AGPL-3.0, memory-os is MIT; Honcho and claudiodrews/memory-os both function as memory systems for AI agents, though Honcho emphasizes stateful understanding over time while Memory OS provides a layered approach; Tags unique to honcho: embeddings, llm, continual-learning, long-term-memory; honcho ships Docker support for self-hosted deployment; - When you need a system that can store messages and events to maintain long-term agent context.
When should I avoid memory-os?
When you prefer a tool that is fully cloud-based or requires minimal local setup. If your environment does not support local memory infrastructure such as Docker, Qdrant, Redis, and ARQ Worker. For scenarios requiring lightweight memory solutions without the complexity of multiple layers and self-hosted services.
When should I avoid honcho?
- If your application does not require stateful memory and dynamic tracking of entities over time. - When the project does not align with Honcho's model of peer-centric reasoning and multi-peer perspective which might be unnecessary for straightforward agent needs.
Is memory-os or honcho more popular on GitHub?
honcho has more GitHub stars (5,846 vs 1,233). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
Are memory-os and honcho open source?
Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (memory-os: MIT, honcho: AGPL-3.0).
Where can I find alternatives to memory-os or honcho?
GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at /tools/claudiodrews-memory-os/alternatives and /tools/plastic-labs-honcho/alternatives (/tools/claudiodrews-memory-os/alternatives.md, /tools/plastic-labs-honcho/alternatives.md), ranked by typed relationship edges rather than popularity votes.
Is there a machine-readable version of this comparison?
Yes. The markdown twin at /compare/claudiodrews-memory-os-vs-plastic-labs-honcho.md mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers.
Which is better maintained, memory-os or honcho?
memory-os: Active. honcho: Very active. Compare maintenance labels, days since push, and release cadence in the trust section below - stars alone do not measure maintenance.
Where are the full trust reports for memory-os and honcho?
GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: memory-os: /tools/claudiodrews-memory-os/trust; honcho: /tools/plastic-labs-honcho/trust.

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