AI Agent

Alma

Alma is a local-first MCP server that gives AI agents a private, consent-based memory of your personal facts and preferences.

What is Alma?

Alma is an open-source, local-first MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that stores a persistent self-model for AI agents, including your name, role, working style, and preferences. It keeps data on your machine, exposes only approved parts, and makes all changes auditable.

Alma vs Similar AI Tools

Pricing ModelFreeFreeFree, Free TrialFree, Paid
Free Credits
Key Features
  • Local-first, data stays on your machine
  • Consent-based reads and writes with human approval tokens
  • Append-only event log for auditability and reversibility
  • On-device text extraction from screen without saving screenshots
  • Semantic search by meaning, not just keywords
  • Commitment detection with due-date reminders
  • Plain English strategy description
  • Real historical market data
  • Models slippage, stops, and fills
  • Scans skills and MCP servers against ATR rules before loading
  • Real-time runtime protection against prompt injection and hijacks
  • Signed audit-ready evidence for compliance (EU AI Act, NYDFS, DORA)
Pros
  • Strong privacy: data stays local and consent-based
  • Open source and auditable
  • Fully on-device processing ensures complete privacy
  • Free and open source with no subscription
  • Easy natural language interface
  • Realistic backtesting with slippage and funding
  • Open source with MIT license
  • Real-time detection and prevention
Cons
  • Experimental project, APIs may change
  • Requires Rust toolchain to build
  • Mac-only, requires macOS 15+ and Apple Silicon
  • Permission re-authorization needed after updates (macOS limitation)
  • Limited free trial (250 calls, 30 days)
  • Usage beyond trial requires contacting support
  • Enterprise features require paid tiers
  • Setup may require technical expertise
Best For
  • Developers building privacy-conscious AI agents
  • Users who want persistent agent memory without vendor lock-in
  • Individuals who want to remember everything they see on their Mac
  • Professionals and students needing to track commitments and changes
  • Crypto traders
  • Quantitative researchers
  • Developers building and deploying AI agents
  • Enterprises needing audit-ready AI security

How to use Alma?

  1. 1Build from source with Cargo: 'cargo build --release'
  2. 2Run guided setup: './target/release/alma quickstart'
  3. 3Connect to a host: './target/release/alma connect cursor --apply --global' or './target/release/alma connect claude --apply'
  4. 4Agents interact via MCP using tools like 'alma_get_reading' and 'alma_propose_facet'

Alma Key Features

  • Local-first, data stays on your machine
  • Consent-based reads and writes with human approval tokens
  • Append-only event log for auditability and reversibility
  • Portable export as JWS-signed bundles
  • Companion TUI for browsing and managing facets
  • MCP protocol over stdio with scoped readings

Alma Use Cases

  • Give AI agents consistent memory across different chats and tools
  • Store personal preferences like name, role, and working style
  • Enable privacy-respecting agent personalization
  • Port self-model between vendors without vendor lock-in

Alma Pricing & Free Credits

Alma currently operates on a Free model.

This tool is completely free to use

Open Source

Free

Self-hosted, no usage limits. Build from source.

Alma Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Strong privacy: data stays local and consent-based
  • Open source and auditable
  • Vendor-independent portable self-model
  • Granular access control for agents

Cons

  • Experimental project, APIs may change
  • Requires Rust toolchain to build
  • No packaged releases yet
  • Technical setup needed

What is Alma best for?

  • Developers building privacy-conscious AI agents
  • Users who want persistent agent memory without vendor lock-in
  • Anyone needing local-first personal context for AI tools

Alma FAQ

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