Automation
screenpipe
Continuously records your screen and audio so you can search your own past work
★ 22k
September 2026
MIT
Automation
What we checked ourselves
Not copied from the project's own blurb. These are things we opened and verified, with the date.
- 6 Sept 2026We checked that the link to the project still resolves.
- 13 Sept 2026We read the licence text itself (LICENSE.md) and found conditions attached to how it may be used.
- 30 Aug 2026We read the project's own documentation and found no sign that development has stopped.
Where this sits among the 29 tools we list in Automation
- Works without using a terminal9 of 29
- Keeps your data on your own machine2 of 29
- Requires an API key13 that do not →
Only 1 of the 29 meet all of the conditions above.
Counted from our own checks: every tool we list is examined against the same criteria.
What it does
Keeps a rolling local recording of what is on your screen and what is said, then lets you search it in plain language - useful when you remember seeing something but not where. Everything stays on your machine, and there is a desktop app so no command line is needed to get started. Be aware that continuous capture also records password prompts and anyone else on a call, that consent is needed before recording colleagues, and that the licence changed in June 2026 from open source to a source-available licence with usage conditions.
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 difficultyEasy to start
- Command lineNot required
- API keyRequired
- Sends data onlineNo
Judged automatically from the project's own metadata. Always confirm on the official page.
screenpipe FAQ
- Is screenpipe free?
- screenpipe itself is free, but it needs an API key for an external AI service. That service charges separately, though some have a free tier.
- Do I need to install anything or write code to use screenpipe?
- You install it like a normal desktop app. No command line involved.
- Does screenpipe work on a phone?
- No. It needs a computer.
- Can I use screenpipe commercially?
- Only under conditions. The page shows MIT, but the actual terms — the AI model this page runs, or the provider's own terms — attach restrictions. Check the provider's terms before using it at work.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| screenpipe (this page) | Not needed | Required | No | No | With conditions |
| typebot.io | Not needed | Not needed | Yes | No | With conditions |
| Pinokio | Not needed | Not needed | Yes | No | Yes |
| n8n-ai-automations | Not needed | Required | Yes | No | Not verified |
"Sends data out" means your input is uploaded to someone's server. Pick "No" when the material cannot leave your organisation.