A Privacy-First Microsoft Recall Alternative
Microsoft Recall pioneered the idea of a searchable visual memory of your screen — but it works by continuously snapshotting everything you do in the background, which raised serious privacy and security concerns. It's also tied to Copilot+ PCs running Windows.
SnapZyn takes the searchable-memory idea and inverts the privacy model: nothing is captured unless you deliberately take a screenshot. Captures are stored locally in your browser, OCR runs on-device, and AI only runs when you ask. It works on any OS through Chrome.
| Feature | SnapZyn | Microsoft Recall |
|---|---|---|
| What gets captured | Only screenshots you intentionally take | Continuous automatic background snapshots |
| Where data is stored | Local IndexedDB in your browser | Local, but always-on capture |
| Platform | Chrome on macOS, Windows, Linux, ChromeOS | Copilot+ PCs (Windows) only |
| OCR / text search | On-device OCR, searchable | Yes |
| Ask-your-library AI | ⌘J semantic search, opt-in | Recall search |
| Always-on surveillance risk | None — capture is user-triggered | Captures everything by default |
| Price | Free tier + $19 lifetime Founder's License | Bundled with Copilot+ PC |
The verdict
If you want a searchable record of everything on your screen automatically and you're on a Copilot+ PC, Recall does that. If the always-on capture is exactly what worries you, SnapZyn gives you the same find-it-later superpower with a deliberate, local-first, user-triggered model — on any computer.
Frequently asked questions
Does SnapZyn record my screen in the background like Recall?
No. SnapZyn never captures anything automatically. A screenshot only exists because you pressed the shortcut or clicked capture. There is no always-on recording.
Do I need a Copilot+ PC or special hardware?
No. SnapZyn is a Chrome extension and runs on any computer with desktop Chrome — macOS, Windows, Linux, or ChromeOS. On supported hardware it can even run AI locally via Chrome's Gemini Nano.
Try SnapZyn free
Local-first screenshot search and AI debug. Works on Chrome everywhere.
Add to Chrome — It's free