What is the key difference between Agent Recall and Ctxfile?

Agent Recall belongs to the Knowledge & Memory category with local stdio execution, while Ctxfile belongs to the Knowledge & Memory category with local stdio execution.

How do I install Agent Recall or Ctxfile in Claude Desktop or Cursor?

Copy the mcpServers JSON configuration snippet provided on this page into your claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json file and restart your AI client.

Are Agent Recall and Ctxfile free or paid?

Agent Recall operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). Ctxfile operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

Agent Recall lists 6 tools with 2 views and 369 GitHub stars. Ctxfile lists 6 tools with 3 views and 4 GitHub stars.

Can I use both Agent Recall and Ctxfile together in the same MCP host?

Yes! MCP hosts like Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and VS Code support configuring multiple servers under the mcpServers object simultaneously.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

Agent Recall vs Ctxfile

In-depth architectural comparison of the Agent Recall and Ctxfile MCP servers. Compare execution transports, security boundaries, tool capabilities, quality scores, and ready-to-paste client installation snippets for Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.

At a Glance & Executive Verdict

Agent Recall

Knowledge & Memory · Local stdio

Quality: 52/100 (Good) | Auth: No auth required

Ctxfile

Knowledge & Memory · Local stdio

Quality: 57/100 (Good) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose Agent Recall if you need specialized Knowledge & Memory tools running via a local process. Choose Ctxfile if your workspace requires Knowledge & Memory integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose Agent Recall when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Knowledge & Memory domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
Primary tools included: Structured corrections ledger, Cross-session and cross-project persistence, Heeded versus recurred outcome tracking.

Explore Agent Recall Details

Choose Ctxfile when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Knowledge & Memory domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
Primary tools included: Snapshots plans, ranked files, Git state, and optional summaries, Saves sessions and continues threads with provenance-labeled history, Maintains durable work identities across agents and machines.

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	Agent Recall Knowledge & Memory	Ctxfile ctxfile Knowledge & Memory
Summary	Correction-first agent memory. Precision KPI tracks if agents heed warnings. 5 layers, local-only.	Local-first MCP server that snapshots your project's working state — files, git, plan, and decisions — into one structured context object and hands it to any MCP client in a single call. Save a session in one agent, continue it in another. Zero network calls by default; read-only over your project. Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP client. npx -y ctxfile
Category & Scope

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

Agent Recall Tools (6)

Structured corrections ledger

Cross-session and cross-project persistence

Heeded versus recurred outcome tracking

Five-layer memory system

Keyword and RRF retrieval

Local storage with zero cloud by default

Ctxfile Tools (6)

Snapshots plans, ranked files, Git state, and optional summaries

Ready-to-Paste Client Configurations

Paste either (or both) of these JSON server blocks into your client config file (e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json).

Agent Recall Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "agent-recall": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "agent-recall-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Ctxfile Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ctxfile-ctxfile": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "ctxfile"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Agent Recall is categorized under Knowledge & Memory and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, Ctxfile belongs to Knowledge & Memory using local stdio subprocess. Select Agent Recall when you need capabilities focused on knowledge & memory and Ctxfile when you require tools for knowledge & memory.

More alternatives to Agent Recall More alternatives to Ctxfile Knowledge & Memory category hub