Source availability
- Screenpipe
- Source available; personal use is free and commercial use requires a license
- Microsoft Recall
- Not available
VS
Product comparison · reviewed August 1, 2026
Screenpipe vs Microsoft Recall: which is right for your workflow?
cross-platform open-source vs windows-only built-in feature. A side-by-side look at scope, data control, platform support, and extensibility—without pretending one product is best for everyone.
Same criteria
Both products are evaluated against the same feature and deployment questions.
Trade-offs included
Microsoft Recall's strengths are shown alongside Screenpipe's.
No winner score
The right choice depends on the job, risk model, and operating environment.
The practical differences
Where the products differ
Start with the criteria that can actually change your decision. Marketing category labels are less useful than concrete operating constraints.
Platform Support
- Screenpipe
- Mac, Windows, Linux + iPhone & Android (Q3)
- Microsoft Recall
- Windows 11 Copilot+ only
Works on Any Computer
No special hardware required
- Screenpipe
- Available
- Microsoft Recall
- Not available
Screen Recording
- Screenpipe
- Continuous video
- Microsoft Recall
- Periodic screenshots
Audio Recording
- Screenpipe
- Available
- Microsoft Recall
- Not available
Data Storage
- Screenpipe
- 100% local
- Microsoft Recall
- Local
Side by side
Screenpipe vs Microsoft Recall
Capabilities can change. Treat this as an evaluation starting point and verify purchase-critical requirements with each vendor.
| Criterion | Screenpipe | Microsoft Recall |
|---|---|---|
| Source availability | Source available; personal use is free and commercial use requires a license | Not available |
| Platform Support | Mac, Windows, Linux + iPhone & Android (Q3) | Windows 11 Copilot+ only |
| Works on Any ComputerNo special hardware required | Available | Not available |
| Screen Recording | Continuous video | Periodic screenshots |
| Audio Recording | Available | Not available |
| Data Storage | 100% local | Local |
| API AccessBuild custom tools and integrations | Available | Not available |
| Custom Plugins | Available | Not available |
| App Exclusions | User controlled | Apps can force-block |
Decision guide
Choose based on the job
Choose Microsoft Recall if
- Deep Windows integration
- Natural language search
- Enterprise features with Microsoft Purview
- No additional software to install
- Automatic sensitive content filtering
Choose Screenpipe if
- You need continuous screen and audio context, not only meeting notes or active-window context.
- You want local-only capture and search as a supported operating mode.
- Your team uses a mix of macOS, Windows, and Linux.
- You need an auditable, source-available capture engine and an API for agents or internal workflows.
Context
Key trade-offs in detail
The best windows recall alternative runs on any OS
The best windows recall alternative should not require special hardware or a specific operating system. screenpipe runs on Mac, Linux, and Windows on any machine, no Copilot+ PC or NPU required. It captures your full screen and audio continuously, locally, and gives you open-source code you can audit. Windows Recall gives you none of that.
Works on any computer
Microsoft Recall requires a Copilot+ PC with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU). screenpipe runs on any Mac, Windows, or Linux computer, including that 5-year-old laptop. No special hardware, no artificial limitations.
Privacy controversies
Recall's initial announcement sparked massive privacy backlash. Security researchers demonstrated vulnerabilities, and Microsoft delayed launch to add safeguards. While improved, you are still trusting Microsoft with a feature that screenshots everything you do. screenpipe is open-source: every line of code is auditable.
Audio matters
Recall only captures screenshots. It has no audio recording. This means no meeting transcriptions, no voice note search, no capturing what was said in a call. screenpipe records both screen and audio, giving you complete context of your digital life.
Cross-platform freedom
Recall locks you into Windows 11 on specific hardware. If you use a Mac at home and Windows at work, or prefer Linux, Recall offers nothing. screenpipe works everywhere your workflow takes you.
FAQ
Questions worth asking
Disclosure: this comparison is written and maintained by Screenpipe, not an independent review publication.
Are Screenpipe and Microsoft Recall direct substitutes?+
Microsoft Recall is a Windows 11 Copilot+ PC feature that captures periodic screenshots and uses AI to let you search and revisit past on-screen activity with natural language. The overlap depends on the job you are buying for: Screenpipe focuses on continuous, searchable screen and audio context, while Microsoft Recall may be a better fit for the narrower workflows described above.
Where is Microsoft Recall stronger?+
Microsoft Recall is a credible choice for teams that value deep windows integration, natural language search, enterprise features with microsoft purview. Those strengths should be weighed against the deployment, data-control, platform, and extensibility differences in the table.
Where is Screenpipe stronger?+
Screenpipe is designed for continuous screen and audio capture, local-only capture and search, cross-platform deployment, and programmatic access through its local API and MCP integrations. Those advantages matter most when privacy, broad work context, or custom automation is the buying criterion.
Is this an independent comparison?+
No. Screenpipe publishes this page. We include Microsoft Recall's strengths, avoid a numeric winner score, and state the criteria so readers can verify the claims that matter to them. Product capabilities change, so confirm critical details with each vendor before purchasing.
Evaluate with your own data
Try Screenpipe before you decide.
Install it, test the workflows that matter, and compare the result against your real requirements—not a vendor scorecard.