The one-time, on-device alternative to Rewind.
Silo Vault is a private knowledge base for macOS: a one-time-purchase alternative to subscription recall tools like Rewind that indexes your documents and an optional, opt-in Timeline of your own work on your Mac, answers with citations that open the source, and lets your AI tools search each vault over a local MCP server.
Silo Vault vs Rewind.
on-device · vs cloud| Dimension | Silo Vault | Subscription recall (Rewind, Limitless) |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | On your Mac by default (Apple Silicon, offline after setup) | Local app; successor moved to cloud |
| Pricing | One-time $19.99 | Monthly subscription |
| Scope | Documents + optional Timeline | Screen/audio recall only |
| Recording | Opt-in, off by default | Continuous capture |
| Cited answers | Yes, citations open the page, scan region or cell range | Search of recordings |
| AI tool access | Local MCP server (stdio, no port) | Not available |
| Account | None required | Required |
| Works without internet | Yes, after the one-time model download | Depends on service |
Cloud column reflects the typical architecture of Rewind and similar hosted tools. Names are trademarks of their owners; not affiliated.
Rewind alternative, answered.
Silo Vault · on-deviceYes, if you want a one-time purchase that keeps your files on your Mac. Silo Vault does the searchable-recall job with an optional, opt-in Timeline of your own activity, and adds a full document knowledge base with cited answers, instead of a monthly subscription.
No. The Timeline is optional and off by default. You turn it on, a menu-bar indicator shows while it captures, and captures are saved only on your Mac. Two things you set up can read parts of it: an AI tool you connect through Connect AI, and, through version 1.12.2, the provider behind your own cloud key when you ask a question with Recall on and RAG off. Silo Vault's core is asking your own documents and folders and getting answers whose citations open the source.
Silo Vault is a single $19.99 purchase with no subscription. Rewind was a monthly subscription, and its successor (Limitless) moved to cloud processing. Silo Vault processes on your Mac by default and charges once.
Yes. Connect AI in the sidebar gives any MCP-compatible coding or chat tool on your Mac a setup block. The tool starts Silo Vault over stdio, with no open port and no remote connection, and can list, search and read your vaults with citations.
Keep your work on your Mac.
Silo Vault: $19.99 one-time · no subscription. No subscription, no account, and nothing uploaded unless you add your own key: an on-device-first alternative to Rewind.