MCP connectors
basic-memory
Conversations become Markdown notes your next session can read
★ 3.9k
September 2026
AGPL-3.0
MCP connectors
What we checked ourselves
Not copied from the project's own blurb. These are things we opened and verified, with the date.
- 9 Sept 2026We checked that the link to the project still resolves.
- 14 Aug 2026We read the licence text itself (LICENSE). No unusual restrictions were stated.
- 2 Sept 2026We read the project's own documentation and found no sign that development has stopped.
Where this sits among the 47 tools we list in MCP connectors
- No API key required28 of 47
- Commercial use confirmed as allowed45 of 47
- Requires terminal commands3 that do not →
- Sends your input to the provider17 that do not →
Only 27 of the 47 meet all of the conditions above.
Counted from our own checks: every tool we list is examined against the same criteria.
What it does
Persists what matters out of AI conversations into plain Markdown files on your machine, readable and editable by hand, and available to Claude, Codex or Cursor over MCP on the next run. Self-host it with Python, or pay for the hosted version if you would rather skip setup — in which case the notes live on their servers, which is the distinction that matters for work material. Decide a retention policy early; the file count only grows. AGPL-3.0.
Summary based on the project's own description. The Japanese page has a fuller beginner guide: setup difficulty, what to prepare, and a step-by-step start.
Screenshots & visuals
Before you start
- Setup difficultySome setup needed
- Command lineRequired
- API keyNot required
- Sends data onlineYes
Judged automatically from the project's own metadata. Always confirm on the official page.
basic-memory FAQ
- Is basic-memory free?
- The source is open, but the build distributed through the app store may be a paid download. Check the store listing before installing.
- Do I need to install anything or write code to use basic-memory?
- It connects to an MCP-capable AI app such as Claude. It does not run on its own.
- Does basic-memory work on a phone?
- No. It needs a computer.
- Can I use basic-memory commercially?
- The licence is AGPL-3.0. Using it commercially is fine, but if you distribute something built on it you may be required to release that under the same licence. Keep it internal, or check before distributing.
How it compares
The conditions that decide whether you can actually use it, side by side.
| Tool | Command line | API key | Sends data out | Phone | Commercial use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| basic-memory (this page) | Required | Not needed | Yes | No | Yes |
| EverOS | Required | Not needed | No | No | Yes |
| mcp-server-qdrant | Required | Not needed | Yes | No | Yes |
| MCP Servers | Required | Not needed | Yes | No | Yes |
"Sends data out" means your input is uploaded to someone's server. Pick "No" when the material cannot leave your organisation.