Microsoft Recall saves snapshots of your screen so you can search for anything you saw. Microsoft has made it private by design. Snapshots stay encrypted on your own drive, behind Windows Hello, and Microsoft says it does not get them.
The catch is the hardware. Recall needs a Copilot+ PC with a 40 TOPS NPU. Off Grid AI Desktop (OGAD) Pro gives you the same local memory on most Windows PCs, on Macs and on Linux, and it adds meetings, approved actions and a chief of staff.
Get Pro for $79.99 once · Download Off Grid AI
Four questions to ask any memory app
- Capture. What does it save, and when?
- Storage. Where does the history live?
- Inference. Which model reads it, and where does that model run?
- Actions. Can it do work for you, and who approves it?
Recall and OGAD both keep capture, storage and inference on your computer. The difference is where they run and what they do after they remember.
Off Grid AI and Microsoft Recall side by side
| Off Grid AI Pro | Microsoft Recall | |
|---|---|---|
| Capture | Sampled screen moments, after you choose Resume capture | Snapshots of your screen, after you turn it on |
| Storage | On your disk | Encrypted on your local drive |
| Inference | Local models you download in the app | On the PC |
| Hardware | Most Windows PCs, Apple silicon Macs and Linux computers that run a small vision model | Copilot+ PC, 40 TOPS NPU, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB storage |
| Exclusions | Exclude apps, pause, delete moments | Filter apps and websites; sensitive info filter on by default |
| Meetings | Recorded without a bot, transcribed locally | Not listed |
| Actions | Gmail, Linear, Jira and Notion, sent only with your yes | Click to Do on what is on screen |
| Computers | Mac (Apple silicon), Windows, Linux | Windows 11 only |
| Price | $79.99 once, or $7.99 a month | Included with Windows 11 on a Copilot+ PC |
Checked 30 October 2026 against Microsoft's Recall support page and Recall developer overview. Off Grid AI's price is a limited-time lifetime offer, down from $119.
Where the two really differ
Hardware. Recall needs a Copilot+ PC that meets the Secured-core standard. You also need BitLocker or Device Encryption, Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security with a biometric option, and at least 50 GB free to turn it on. OGAD needs no NPU. Any PC that runs a small local vision model can use it.
Speed during the day. On Windows and Linux, OGAD has an Overnight mode. It saves screenshots as you work and runs the heavy analysis from 03:00 to 08:00. Your PC stays fast by day, and your Day view is ready by morning. Read the full guide: a private Microsoft Recall alternative on Windows.
What comes after search. Recall is built for search and a timeline, with Click to Do on what you see. OGAD also writes a journal, tracks People, records your meetings and drafts follow-ups for you to approve.
Your other computers. Recall is Windows only. OGAD runs on Mac and Linux too, and one Pro key covers up to 5 devices.
How OGAD remembers your day
- Open Replay and choose Resume capture. The status shows Capturing. Choose Pause capture at any time.
- OGAD saves sampled moments from your screen to your disk.
- A local vision model reads each moment and writes a short note: the app, the project and the people.
- Open Day for a journal, a timeline and your to-dos. Ask a question and get the answer with its source.
You can exclude apps and delete any moment. See how to delete saved screen activity.
Memory is one part of Pro
- Meetings. Calls recorded without a bot, transcribed and summarised on your computer.
- Actions you approve. Replies and issues through Gmail, Linear, Jira and Notion, sent only with your yes.
- God, your chief of staff. A morning brief, meeting prep and what people owe you.
- Reflect. Where your day went, by project, app and person.
- Vault, Clipboard and Sync. Encrypted secrets, a searchable clipboard, and your phone and computer in sync, device to device.
When Microsoft Recall is the better pick
If you already own a Copilot+ PC, Recall costs nothing extra and needs no model download. Its security is built into Windows: encrypted snapshots, Windows Hello for every launch, and the Pluton security processor. It filters passwords and card numbers by default, and IT admins can manage it with policy.
If you have a Copilot+ PC and only want to search your past screens, try Recall first. If you want screen memory on any PC, Mac or Linux computer, with meetings and approved actions, use OGAD.
Get started
- Download OGAD for Mac, Windows or Linux.
- Get Pro and enter your key.
- In Models, download a vision model and a text model.
- In Replay, choose Resume capture. On Windows or Linux, choose Overnight if you want the analysis at night.
- Tomorrow, open Day and ask about yesterday.
FAQ
Does Microsoft Recall send my snapshots to Microsoft?
Microsoft's support page says Recall saves snapshots encrypted on your local drive and does not share them with Microsoft or third parties. Screenshots you attach to feedback are sent.
Which PCs can run Microsoft Recall?
A Copilot+ PC that meets the Secured-core standard, with a 40 TOPS NPU, 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. You also need BitLocker or Device Encryption and Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security.
Is there a Microsoft Recall alternative for older PCs, Mac or Linux?
Yes. Off Grid AI Desktop Pro saves sampled screen moments on your disk and reads them with a local model. It runs on Windows PCs without an NPU, on Mac (Apple silicon) and on Linux.
Is Microsoft Recall on by default?
No. Saving snapshots is off by default. You turn it on in Settings or when you first open Recall. Off Grid AI capture is also off until you choose Resume capture.
How much does Off Grid AI cost?
On 30 October 2026 Off Grid AI Pro is $79.99 once for lifetime access, a limited-time price, or $7.99 a month. It covers up to 5 devices.
Get Off Grid AI Pro and keep a private memory on the computer you already own.
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