Comparison
cortex-memory vs claude-mem
Verdict
Pick cortex-memory if cortex-memory is a zero-config VSCode extension, CLI, and MCP server that provides persistent AI memory for coding sessions, auto-capturing decisions and context for tools like Claude Code, Cursor, and Cline; pick claude-mem if claude-mem provides persistent context across sessions, leveraging AI to capture and compress agent activity.
Markdown twin · cortex-memory alternatives · claude-mem alternatives
GraphCanon updated Sep 20, 2026
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Trust & integrity
| Signal | cortex-memory | claude-mem |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Slowing (176d since push) As of Sep 18, 2026 · github_public_v1 | Very active (0d since push) As of Aug 18, 2026 · github_public_v1 |
| Provenance | Not a fork · Personal account As of Sep 18, 2026 · github_public_v1 | Not a fork · Personal account As of Aug 18, 2026 · github_public_v1 |
| OSV dependency advisories | Published findings As of Sep 18, 2026 · osv@v1 | No lockfile (source not queried) As of Jul 11, 2026 · osv@v1 |
| deps.dev advisories | Not queried deps.dev@v1 | Not queried deps.dev@v1 |
| OpenSSF Scorecard | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 |
Tagline
- cortex-memory
- Persistent AI memory for coding sessions, auto-capturing decisions and context.
- claude-mem
- Persistent Context Across Sessions for Every Agent
Stars
- cortex-memory
- 8
- claude-mem
- 91k
Forks
- cortex-memory
- 2
- claude-mem
- 8.0k
Open issues
- cortex-memory
- 0
- claude-mem
- 200
Language
- cortex-memory
- TypeScript
- claude-mem
- JavaScript
Adopt for
- cortex-memory
- cortex-memory is a zero-config VSCode extension, CLI, and MCP server that provides persistent AI memory for coding sessions, auto-capturing decisions and context for tools like Claude Code, Cursor, and Cline.
- claude-mem
- claude-mem provides persistent context across sessions, leveraging AI to capture and compress agent activity.
Persona
- cortex-memory
- -
- claude-mem
- -
Runtime
- cortex-memory
- -
- claude-mem
- -
License
- cortex-memory
- MIT License
- claude-mem
- Claude-Mem is distributed under the Apache License 2.0, allowing it to be freely used in a variety of development and production environments while maintaining clear licensing terms.
Last pushed
- cortex-memory
- Mar 25, 2026
- claude-mem
- Aug 17, 2026
Categories
- cortex-memory
- Data & Retrieval, Developer Tools
- claude-mem
- AI Agents, Inference & Serving
Trust and health
Maintenance
- cortex-memory
- Slowing (36%)
- claude-mem
- Very active (96%)
Days since push
- cortex-memory
- 176d
- claude-mem
- 0d
Open issues (now)
- cortex-memory
- 0
- claude-mem
- 200
Stars delta
- cortex-memory
- +1 (30d)
- claude-mem
- +3.3k (30d)
Open issues delta
- cortex-memory
- 0 (30d)
- claude-mem
- -116 (30d)
OSV dependency advisories
- cortex-memory
- Published findings
- claude-mem
- No lockfile (source not queried)
Full report
- cortex-memory
- Trust report
- claude-mem
- Trust report
Typed relationship
cortex-memory alternative claude-memClaude-mem and cortex-memory both provide persistent AI memory for Claude Code agents, tackling similar problems in different ways.
Choose cortex-memory if…
- cortex-memory is primarily TypeScript; claude-mem is JavaScript.
- License: cortex-memory is MIT, claude-mem is Apache-2.0.
- Pricing: The tool is open-source under the MIT License, making it free to use, but additional features or services may come at a cost..
- Requirements: Min 2 GB RAM; Requires a compatible AI coding assistant like Claude Code, Cursor, or Cline.; Works best with VSCode, but also supports CLI and MCP server..
- Claude-mem and cortex-memory both provide persistent AI memory for Claude Code agents, tackling similar problems in different ways.
- Tags unique to cortex-memory: ai, ai-coding-assistant, claude-code, cline.
- Also covers Data & Retrieval, Developer Tools.
- When you are working with specific AI coding assistants like Claude Code, Cursor, or Cline and need persistent memory across coding sessions.
When NOT to use cortex-memory
- If you are not using AI coding assistants like Claude Code, Cursor, or Cline, as cortex-memory is specifically designed to work with these tools.
- When you prefer a tool that does not automatically capture decisions and context, and you want full control over what is stored and retrieved.
- If you are working in an environment where zero-configuration tools are not suitable, and you require extensive customization options.
Choose claude-mem if…
- claude-mem is primarily JavaScript; cortex-memory is TypeScript.
- License: claude-mem is Apache-2.0, cortex-memory is MIT.
- Requirements: Requires Node.js v20.0.0 or higher.; Must have the latest version of Claude Code with plugin support.; Auto-installs Bun (JavaScript runtime and process manager) if not already present.; Requires uv (Python package for vector search), auto-installation supported..
- Claude-mem and cortex-memory both provide persistent AI memory for Claude Code agents, tackling similar problems in different ways.
- Tags unique to claude-mem: ai-agents, chromadb, long-term-memory.
- Also covers AI Agents, Inference & Serving.
- claude-mem ships Docker support for self-hosted deployment.
- claude-mem ships an MCP server manifest.
- When you require seamless and persistent context continuity between different session interactions with Claude Code or other supported agents.
When NOT to use claude-mem
- When working in environments where Node.js v20.0.0 or higher cannot be installed, as claude-mem requires this version to operate.
- If your specific AI agent or tool does not integrate with the supported frameworks listed (e.g., Claude Code, OpenClaw), making context persistence ineffective for your workflow.
Explore
Sources
Every stat on this page traces to a dated GitHub sync, license file, enrichment field, or trust scan.
- GitHub stars (SKULLFIRE07/cortex-memory) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- GitHub forks (SKULLFIRE07/cortex-memory) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Last push (SKULLFIRE07/cortex-memory) · observed Mar 25, 2026
- License file (MIT) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Sep 18, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Sep 18, 2026
- GitHub stars (thedotmack/claude-mem) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- GitHub forks (thedotmack/claude-mem) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Last push (thedotmack/claude-mem) · observed Aug 17, 2026
- License file (Apache-2.0) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 11, 2026
GitHub stars on cards: cortex-memory 8 · claude-mem 91k (synced Sep 20, 2026).
Common questions
- What is the difference between cortex-memory and claude-mem?
- cortex-memory: Persistent AI memory for coding sessions, auto-capturing decisions and context.. claude-mem: Persistent Context Across Sessions for Every Agent. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.
- When should I choose cortex-memory over claude-mem?
- Choose cortex-memory over claude-mem when cortex-memory is primarily TypeScript; claude-mem is JavaScript; License: cortex-memory is MIT, claude-mem is Apache-2.0; Pricing: The tool is open-source under the MIT License, making it free to use, but additional features or services may come at a cost.; Requirements: Min 2 GB RAM; Requires a compatible AI coding assistant like Claude Code, Cursor, or Cline.; Works best with VSCode, but also supports CLI and MCP server.; Claude-mem and cortex-memory both provide persistent AI memory for Claude Code agents, tackling similar problems in different ways; Tags unique to cortex-memory: ai, ai-coding-assistant, claude-code, cline; Also covers Data & Retrieval, Developer Tools; When you are working with specific AI coding assistants like Claude Code, Cursor, or Cline and need persistent memory across coding sessions.
- When should I choose claude-mem over cortex-memory?
- Choose claude-mem over cortex-memory when claude-mem is primarily JavaScript; cortex-memory is TypeScript; License: claude-mem is Apache-2.0, cortex-memory is MIT; Requirements: Requires Node.js v20.0.0 or higher.; Must have the latest version of Claude Code with plugin support.; Auto-installs Bun (JavaScript runtime and process manager) if not already present.; Requires uv (Python package for vector search), auto-installation supported.; Claude-mem and cortex-memory both provide persistent AI memory for Claude Code agents, tackling similar problems in different ways; Tags unique to claude-mem: ai-agents, chromadb, long-term-memory; Also covers AI Agents, Inference & Serving; claude-mem ships Docker support for self-hosted deployment; claude-mem ships an MCP server manifest; When you require seamless and persistent context continuity between different session interactions with Claude Code or other supported agents.
- When should I avoid cortex-memory?
- If you are not using AI coding assistants like Claude Code, Cursor, or Cline, as cortex-memory is specifically designed to work with these tools. When you prefer a tool that does not automatically capture decisions and context, and you want full control over what is stored and retrieved. If you are working in an environment where zero-configuration tools are not suitable, and you require extensive customization options.
- When should I avoid claude-mem?
- When working in environments where Node.js v20.0.0 or higher cannot be installed, as claude-mem requires this version to operate. If your specific AI agent or tool does not integrate with the supported frameworks listed (e.g., Claude Code, OpenClaw), making context persistence ineffective for your workflow.
- Is cortex-memory or claude-mem more popular on GitHub?
- claude-mem has more GitHub stars (91,018 vs 8). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
- Are cortex-memory and claude-mem open source?
- Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (cortex-memory: MIT, claude-mem: Apache-2.0).
- Where can I find alternatives to cortex-memory or claude-mem?
- GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at cortex-memory alternatives and claude-mem alternatives (cortex-memory markdown twin, claude-mem markdown twin), ranked by typed relationship edges rather than popularity votes.
- Is there a machine-readable version of this comparison?
- Yes. The markdown twin at this comparison mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers.
- Which is better maintained, cortex-memory or claude-mem?
- cortex-memory: Slowing. claude-mem: 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 cortex-memory and claude-mem?
- GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: cortex-memory trust report; claude-mem trust report.