Hjarni vs Zep

Zep provides temporal graph memory and an official hosted MCP server. Hjarni provides Markdown notes that people and their connected assistants maintain together.

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Quick answer

Zep provides temporal graph memory, retains original source episodes, and offers an official hosted Context MCP server for assistants such as ChatGPT and Claude. Hjarni provides Markdown notes, shared folders, folder guidance, and note versions through its official hosted MCP server. Choose Zep for graph-based context and temporal relationships. Choose Hjarni for a knowledge base you maintain as documents.

Checked 20 October 2026 against Context MCP server, Original episodes, Source traceability, Pricing and deployment. Plans and features can change.

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Hjarni and Zep feature comparison
Feature	Hjarni	Zep
Primary shape Choose documents and folders or graph-based context according to your workflow.	Markdown knowledge base	Temporal context graph
MCP server Zep now provides hosted MCP access in addition to the separate open-source Graphiti MCP server.	Official, hosted (OAuth)	Official, hosted Context MCP
MCP access Zep enables write tools when the connection allows them; administrators can make a connection read-only.	Read and write notes	Search memory, inspect sources, add memory
Authentication Zep administrators configure a project connection. Custom OIDC requires Enterprise.	OAuth; scoped agent tokens separately	Google Workspace or enterprise identity provider
What is retained Zep preserves source text/JSON/messages verbatim alongside extracted entities, facts, and summaries.	Markdown as saved	Original episodes plus derived graph data
Source inspection Zep can trace graph facts to source episodes. Structured memory does not mean the original wording is discarded.	Open notes and their versions	Episodes and source associations
Sharing Zep shared-graph access depends on project settings and available access policies.	Team folders and per-folder roles	User graphs and accessible shared graphs
Self-hosting Graphiti is an open-source framework, distinct from deploying the managed Zep service in your own cloud.	Hosted service	Graphiti; enterprise BYOC for Zep
Writing surface Hjarni is organized around notes people maintain directly. Zep is organized around context graphs.	Markdown editor, web and mobile	Developer platform and connected assistants
Pricing Zep Free includes 10,000 credits/month, 2 projects, and 1 MCP seat. Paid credits meter episode ingestion; retrieval and storage are unmetered.	Free to 25 personal notes; Pro from $12/mo	Free credits; Flex from $125/month
History Temporal graph history and a note editor restore workflow address different needs.	Note versions and one-click restore	Temporal facts and source episodes
Best fit	Notes and shared documentation	Graph-based agent context

Details behind the comparison

Primary shape: Choose documents and folders or graph-based context according to your workflow.
MCP server: Zep now provides hosted MCP access in addition to the separate open-source Graphiti MCP server.
MCP access: Zep enables write tools when the connection allows them; administrators can make a connection read-only.
Authentication: Zep administrators configure a project connection. Custom OIDC requires Enterprise.
What is retained: Zep preserves source text/JSON/messages verbatim alongside extracted entities, facts, and summaries.
Source inspection: Zep can trace graph facts to source episodes. Structured memory does not mean the original wording is discarded.
Sharing: Zep shared-graph access depends on project settings and available access policies.
Self-hosting: Graphiti is an open-source framework, distinct from deploying the managed Zep service in your own cloud.
Writing surface: Hjarni is organized around notes people maintain directly. Zep is organized around context graphs.
Pricing: Zep Free includes 10,000 credits/month, 2 projects, and 1 MCP seat. Paid credits meter episode ingestion; retrieval and storage are unmetered.
History: Temporal graph history and a note editor restore workflow address different needs.

Hjarni has its own native apps. Free on every plan for iPhone, iPad and Mac and Android. Same account, same notes as the web. An internet connection is required.

Hosted MCP is available in both

Zep's Context MCP server connects off-the-shelf assistants to a user's memory and, when allowed, shared graphs. It supports search, source-episode access, graph navigation, and adding memory. Administrators configure authentication and write permissions. This is separate from the MCP server in the open-source Graphiti project.

Sources and derived facts

Zep stores original episodes verbatim and links derived graph data back to them. Extraction does not replace all source material. Hjarni keeps the saved Markdown as the document itself, with versions you can inspect and restore. Both approaches make review possible; they present different units of knowledge.

Price and deployment

Zep's Free plan includes 10,000 monthly credits, two projects, and one MCP seat. Flex starts at $125/month. Credits are consumed by episode ingestion and processing; retrieval, users, and graph storage are unmetered. Enterprise deployment options include BYOC. Hjarni starts with 25 personal notes and uses flat subscriptions with note quotas; the assistant plan remains separate.

When Hjarni fits

Hjarni fits when your team wants runbooks, decisions, and research to remain readable Markdown documents in folders. It includes a web editor, mobile apps, team roles, folder guidance, and per-note restore. Zep fits when graph relationships and time-aware context are central to the application or assistant workflow.

When to use Zep

You need temporal graph memory and relationship queries
You want source episodes alongside derived graph context
You want a memory backend for applications and connected assistants

When to use Hjarni

You want Markdown notes and folders as your knowledge model
You want people to write and review the same documents assistants use
You want per-note restore, export, and folder guidance

Zep organizes context as a graph. Hjarni organizes it as notes.

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Common questions

What is Zep?

Agent context infrastructure with graph-based retrieval and preserved source episodes. It offers an official hosted Context MCP as well as the separate Graphiti project. See official documentation.

Does Zep have an MCP server?

Yes. Current Zep Context MCP is official and hosted. It supports authorization and enterprise identity options. Graphiti also offers a separate MCP implementation.

How do the prices compare?

Zep’s current plans use ingestion credits and plan-dependent projects or seats; documented retrieval and storage are not separately metered in the same way as ingestion. Hjarni charges for hosted note plans. Check current pricing for the workflow you need.

Does Zep discard the original information?

Its documentation describes preserved source episodes and traceability, alongside extracted graph context. Hjarni stores explicit Markdown notes with versions. Both workflows still benefit from source inspection and retrieval checks.

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