---
title: "Platform vs Open Source"
description: "Compare Mem0 Platform and Open Source to choose the right solution for managed hosting or self-hosted deployment."
icon: "code-compare"
---

## Which Mem0 is right for you?

Mem0 offers two powerful ways to add memory to your AI applications. Choose based on your priorities:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card
    title="Mem0 Platform"
    icon="cloud"
    href="/platform/quickstart"
  >
    **Managed, hassle-free**

    Get started in 5 minutes with our hosted solution. Perfect for fast iteration and production apps.
  </Card>

  <Card
    title="Open Source"
    icon="code-branch"
    href="/open-source/python-quickstart"
  >
    **Self-hosted, full control**

    Deploy on your infrastructure. Choose your vector DB, LLM, and configure everything.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

---

## Feature Comparison

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Setup & Getting Started" icon="rocket">
    | Feature | Platform | Open Source |
    |---------|----------|-------------|
    | **Time to first memory** | 5 minutes | 15-30 minutes |
    | **Infrastructure needed** | None | Vector DB + Python/Node env |
    | **API key setup** | One environment variable | Configure LLM + embedder + vector DB |
    | **Maintenance** | Fully managed by Mem0 | Self-managed |
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Core Memory Features" icon="brain">
    | Feature | Platform | Open Source |
    |---------|----------|-------------|
    | **User & agent memories** | ✅ | ✅ |
    | **Smart deduplication** | ✅ | ✅ |
    | **Semantic search** | ✅ | ✅ |
    | **Memory updates** | ✅ | ✅ |
    | **Multi-language SDKs** | Python, JavaScript | Python, JavaScript |
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Advanced Capabilities" icon="sparkles">
    | Feature | Platform | Open Source |
    |---------|----------|-------------|
    | **Multimodal support** | ✅ | ✅ |
    | **Custom categories** | ✅ | Limited |
    | **Advanced retrieval** | ✅ | ✅ |
    | **Memory filters v2** | ✅ | ⚠️ (via metadata) |
    | **Webhooks** | ✅ | ❌ |
    | **Memory export** | ✅ | ❌ |
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Infrastructure & Scaling" icon="server">
    | Feature | Platform | Open Source |
    |---------|----------|-------------|
    | **Hosting** | Managed by Mem0 | Self-hosted |
    | **Auto-scaling** | ✅ | Manual |
    | **High availability** | ✅ Built-in | DIY setup |
    | **Vector DB choice** | Managed | Qdrant, Chroma, Pinecone, Milvus, +20 more |
    | **LLM choice** | Managed (optimized) | OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama, Together, +10 more |
    | **Data residency** | US (expandable) | Your choice |
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Pricing & Cost" icon="dollar-sign">
    | Aspect | Platform | Open Source |
    |--------|----------|-------------|
    | **License** | Usage-based pricing | Apache 2.0 (free) |
    | **Infrastructure costs** | Included in pricing | You pay for VectorDB + LLM + hosting |
    | **Support** | Included | Community + GitHub |
    | **Best for** | Fast iteration, production apps | Cost-sensitive, custom requirements |
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Development & Integration" icon="code">
    | Feature | Platform | Open Source |
    |---------|----------|-------------|
    | **REST API** | ✅ | ✅ (via feature flag) |
    | **Python SDK** | ✅ | ✅ |
    | **JavaScript SDK** | ✅ | ✅ |
    | **Framework integrations** | LangChain, CrewAI, LlamaIndex, +15 | Same |
    | **Dashboard** | ✅ Web-based | ❌ |
    | **Analytics** | ✅ Built-in | DIY |
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

---

## Decision Guide

### Choose **Platform** if you want:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card icon="bolt" title="Fast Time to Market">
    Get your AI app with memory live in hours, not weeks. No infrastructure setup needed.
  </Card>

  <Card icon="shield" title="Production-Ready">
    Auto-scaling, high availability, and managed infrastructure out of the box.
  </Card>

  <Card icon="chart-line" title="Built-in Analytics">
    Track memory usage, query patterns, and user engagement through our dashboard.
  </Card>

  <Card icon="webhook" title="Advanced Features">
    Access to webhooks, memory export, custom categories, and priority support.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Choose **Open Source** if you need:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card icon="lock" title="Full Data Control">
    Host everything on your infrastructure. Complete data residency and privacy control.
  </Card>

  <Card icon="wrench" title="Custom Configuration">
    Choose your own vector DB, LLM provider, embedder, and deployment strategy.
  </Card>

  <Card icon="code" title="Extensibility">
    Modify the codebase, add custom features, and contribute back to the community.
  </Card>

  <Card icon="dollar-sign" title="Cost Optimization">
    Use local LLMs (Ollama), self-hosted vector DBs, and optimize for your specific use case.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

---

## Still not sure?

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card
    title="Try Platform Free"
    icon="rocket"
    href="https://app.mem0.ai/login?utm_source=oss&utm_medium=platform-vs-oss"
  >
    Sign up and test the Platform with our free tier. No credit card required.
  </Card>

  <Card
    title="Explore Open Source"
    icon="github"
    href="https://github.com/mem0ai/mem0"
  >
    Clone the repo and run locally to see how it works. Star us while you're there!
  </Card>
</CardGroup>
