Cortex
Local-first, end-to-end-encrypted memory engine for AI agents that provides persistent, privacy-preserving memory across sessions, using Rust and MCP.
Cortex
What is Cortex?
Cortex vs Similar AI Tools
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How to use Cortex?
- 1Install the cortex-mcp-server via Homebrew (brew install gambletan/tap/cortex-mcp-server) or build from source with Cargo.
- 2Run the server with a database path: cortex-mcp-server ~/.cortex/memory.db.
- 3Register as an MCP server for Claude Code or Claude Desktop.
- 4Use the 30 MCP tools to store, search, and manage memories.
- 5Optionally enable cloud sync for cross-device memory.
Cortex Key Features
- Private by default (local-first, zero telemetry)
- 4-tier memory model (Working, Episodic, Semantic, Procedural)
- Sub-millisecond ingest (156µs) and search (568µs)
- 30 MCP tools for Claude and MCP clients
- Cross-device sync via iCloud/Drive/Dropbox with AES-256-GCM encryption
- Bayesian belief system with self-correction
- People graph with cross-channel identity resolution
- Open-source (MIT license)
Cortex Use Cases
- Give AI persistent memory across sessions
- Personal AI assistant that remembers user preferences and facts
- Cross-device memory for Claude Desktop and Claude Code
- Automatic extraction of facts, relationships, and beliefs from conversations
- Multi-project isolation for developers working with multiple codebases
Cortex Pricing & Free Credits
Cortex currently operates on a Free model.
This tool is completely free to use
Cortex Pros & Cons
Pros
- 100% local, no data sent to third parties
- Fast performance (sub-millisecond operations)
- Rich feature set (4 memory tiers, beliefs, people graph)
- Free and open-source with no usage limits
- Easy integration with MCP-compatible clients
Cons
- Requires Rust setup if not using Homebrew
- One-time model download for semantic search (~30MB)
- Limited to MCP client ecosystem
- No built-in mobile app (browser demo available)
What is Cortex best for?
- Developers building AI agents and assistants
- Users of Claude Desktop seeking persistent memory
- Privacy-conscious individuals who want local AI memory
- Teams requiring cross-device memory sync without cloud dependency
Cortex FAQ
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