Zep vs Cognee (2026)

Zep

by Zep AI

Cognee

by Topoteretes

Pros

• ✓Temporal knowledge graph automatically tracks how facts change over time: when information is updated or contradicted, Zep invalidates outdated facts while preserving historical context, making it more accurate than vector-only memory systems for complex multi-session agent workflows
• ✓Benchmark-leading retrieval with 80.32% accuracy at 189ms on LoCoMo and 63.8% on LongMemEval versus mem0's 49%, delivering measurably better temporal reasoning at lower latency using single-shot retrieval with no slow agentic tool-call loops
• ✓Graphiti MCP server gives Claude Desktop, Cursor, and other MCP clients persistent knowledge graph memory across sessions with Python, TypeScript, and Go SDKs, webhook support, and no agent framework lock-in, backed by Fortune 500 customers including AWS and Samsung

Limitations

• ⚠Steep pricing jump from free tier (1,000 credits per month for prototyping) to Flex at $125 per month ($104 annual) with no intermediate tier: early-stage teams and lower-volume projects that outgrow free credit limits face a significant cost increase with no middle-ground option
• ⚠Credit-based pricing makes costs difficult to forecast at production scale: Episodes consume 1 credit per 350 bytes with auto-topup charges at 20% of monthly allocation, requiring careful per-request credit monitoring to avoid unexpected billing
• ⚠Self-hosted Graphiti requires Docker, FalkorDB or Neo4j, and LLM API key management: teams seeking a fully managed zero-infrastructure MCP memory solution face meaningful setup and operational overhead before reaching production

Pros

• ✓Knowledge graph available at every pricing tier including the free self-hosted tier. Unlike Mem0, which gates graph memory behind the $249/month Pro plan, Cognee gives teams full graph capabilities from day one without a paid upgrade.
• ✓ECL pipeline builds self-improving memory that gets sharper with use. Rated responses feed back into graph edge weights, so accuracy improves over time rather than staying static like vector-only systems.
• ✓Official MCP server with 14 specialized tools works with Claude Desktop, Cursor, Continue, Cline, and Roo Code. Supports both standalone mode for individual developers and API mode for teams sharing a single knowledge graph across multiple AI clients.

Limitations

• ⚠Python-only SDK limits integration options. TypeScript, Go, or other language-based agent stacks cannot use Cognee natively, narrowing its addressable developer audience compared to Mem0 which supports both Python and JavaScript.
• ⚠Smaller ecosystem than Mem0: {{github_stars}} GitHub stars versus Mem0's 48,000+ means less community content, fewer pre-built examples, and a smaller pool of developers who have solved common integration problems.
• ⚠No published LongMemEval benchmark score. Mem0 scores 49% and Hindsight scores 91.4% on temporal reasoning benchmarks, but Cognee has not published equivalent scores, making objective capability comparison difficult for procurement teams.