What is the key difference between Vestige and Lean Memory?

Vestige belongs to the Knowledge & Memory category with local stdio execution, while Lean Memory belongs to the Knowledge & Memory category with local stdio execution.

How do I install Vestige or Lean Memory 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 Vestige and Lean Memory free or paid?

Vestige operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). Lean Memory operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

Vestige lists 6 tools with 2 views and 600 GitHub stars. Lean Memory lists 6 tools with 2 views and 47 GitHub stars.

Can I use both Vestige and Lean Memory 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.

How do I install Vestige or Lean Memory in Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Windsurf?

Both servers follow the standard Model Context Protocol configuration format. Simply copy the JSON block from the configuration section above and paste it into your AI client's mcpServers configuration object (for instance in claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json ), then completely restart or refresh the application.

Are Vestige and Lean Memory free to use, or do they require API keys?

Vestige is listed under a Free / Open Source model with No auth required . Lean Memory operates under a Free / Open Source model with No auth required . If environment variables are required (such as API keys), be sure to define them under the env key in your MCP client's configuration file.

Can I run both Vestige and Lean Memory at the same time in my AI client?

Yes! MCP clients support multi-server orchestration. You can include both samvallad33-vestige and wuesteon-lean-memory as distinct keys inside the single mcpServers object in your configuration file. Your AI assistant will automatically select and call the appropriate tool from either server during chat sessions.

Which MCP server has higher directory engagement and quality ratings?

On AllMCPs, Vestige has a Quality Score of 49 /100 ( Fair ) with 2 views, 0 installs, and 600 GitHub stars. Lean Memory holds a Quality Score of 53 /100 ( Good ) with 2 views, 0 installs, and 47 GitHub stars.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

Vestige vs Lean Memory

In-depth architectural comparison of the Vestige and Lean Memory 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

Vestige

Knowledge & Memory · Local stdio

Quality: 49/100 (Fair) | Auth: No auth required

Lean Memory

Knowledge & Memory · Local stdio

Quality: 53/100 (Good) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose Vestige if you need specialized Knowledge & Memory tools running via a local process. Choose Lean Memory 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 Vestige 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: Local SQLite storage with no cloud dependency, FSRS-6 spaced repetition scheduling for memory fading, Contradiction detection with claim_contradicts_memory status.

Explore Vestige Details

Choose Lean Memory 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).
You have access to required keys: LM_DATA_ROOT, ANTHROPIC_API_KEY.
Primary tools included: Single SQLite file per namespace for isolated memory storage, Hybrid dense (embedding) and sparse (FTS5) search retrieval, Add-only memory history with point-in-time querying.

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	Vestige samvallad33 Knowledge & Memory	Lean Memory Wuesteon Knowledge & Memory
Summary	Local-first cognitive memory for AI agents. FSRS-6 scheduling, smart ingest, SQLite storage, portable sync, embedded dashboard, and optional Cognitive Sandwich hooks for Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, and other MCP clients.	Embedded, local-first agent memory in a single SQLite file per namespace (vec0 + FTS5 hybrid retrieval). ADD-only history queryable as-of any past time; offline sleep-time maintenance stages dedupe/summarize/evict proposals a human reviews. No Docker, no server, no cloud key. pip install 'lean-memory[mcp]'
Category & Scope

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

Vestige Tools (6)

Local SQLite storage with no cloud dependency

FSRS-6 spaced repetition scheduling for memory fading

Contradiction detection with claim_contradicts_memory status

Backward causal memory reach and contrast analysis

Embedded dashboard for monitoring and visualization

Prebuilt single 25MB Rust binary for multiple OS

Lean Memory Tools (6)

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).

Vestige Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "samvallad33-vestige": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "samvallad33-vestige"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Lean Memory Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "wuesteon-lean-memory": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "lean-memory"
      ],
      "env": {
        "LM_DATA_ROOT": "YOUR_LM_DATA_ROOT_HERE",
        "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY": "YOUR_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

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

More alternatives to Vestige More alternatives to Lean Memory Knowledge & Memory category hub