The Apiary
- license cost
- + $0, AGPL-3.0
- cost driver
- + low-cost object storage on Deeplake
- cost scales with usage
- + barely
- API key required for everyday use
- + no
- where it runs
- + your own cloud
Free to run. No paywall. No per-seat license.
The Apiary is open source under AGPL-3.0-or-later. Install it, run it yourself, and keep your memory on hardware you control. There is no tier to unlock and nothing metered by seat.
DownloadIs it free, and what does it actually cost to run?
Most tools in this space either charge per seat or bill you per token and per query as your memory grows. The Apiary does neither. It is free software, and the only running cost is the storage underneath it, which is small because it is just object storage, not a database server you have to size and pay for.
is it free? yes, AGPL-3.0-or-laterwhat does it cost to run? close to nothingare there hidden costs? nodo I need an API key? not for everyday use
Where the cost actually comes from
$0 license
The software
The Apiary is open source and free to run. No per-seat fee, no tier, no feature gated behind a plan.
low
Storage
Deeplake runs over low-cost object storage in your own cloud, so keeping notes around does not run up a bill the way a database server does.
0 keys needed
Everyday memory
Capture, recall, and priming, the features you use every session, need no AI model or API key of their own.
2 optional
Model-based extras
Turning sessions into summaries and skills, and the self-tidying loop, can use a model. Both are opt-in, so you decide when to spend.
You decide when to spend, if ever.
Everyday memory, saving a note, recalling it, and priming a new session with the right context, runs without touching a model or an API key. Two extras sit on top and are entirely optional. Turning a session into a summary or a shareable skill can use a model. The self-tidying loop that merges duplicates and drops stale notes can use a model too. Both are off unless you turn them on, and both only spend when you tell them to.
See how honeycomb works27.5%
reduction in token spend
1.4x
faster LLM responses
6+
harnesses supported
based on Hivemind benchmarks
Signing in is free. Hosting is yours.
Signing in creates a free Deeplake account, no card required. From there, Deeplake can run in your own cloud account, which means the storage behind your memory is your own infrastructure cost, visible and predictable, not a line item hidden inside someone else's subscription. You already pay for object storage somewhere. This adds almost nothing to it.
Read the security modelNear-zero storage versus billed-by-usage memory
A hosted memory tool that bills per token or per query gets more expensive the more you use it, by design. The Apiary is built the other way, storage is cheap, so using your memory more does not mean paying more for it.
| The Apiary | usage-priced hosted memory | |
|---|---|---|
| license cost | yes. $0, AGPL-3.0 | partial. per-seat plan |
| cost driver | honeycomb advantage. low-cost object storage on Deeplake | no. per token / per query |
| cost scales with usage | yes. barely | no. yes, directly |
| API key required for everyday use | yes. no | partial. usually |
| where it runs | yes. your own cloud | partial. vendor's cloud |
Cost-shape comparison, not a vendor benchmark. Your own bill depends on your cloud provider's object storage rates and how much you choose to use the two optional model-based features.
Common questions
Is The Apiary free?
Yes. It is open source under AGPL-3.0-or-later and free to run yourself. No per-seat license, no tier, no feature behind a paywall.
What does it actually cost to run?
Almost nothing for everyday use. Deeplake stores your memory on low-cost object storage in your own cloud, so holding notes around does not run up a bill. Your cost is that storage, plus the two optional model-based features if you turn them on.
Are there hidden costs?
No. Signing in creates a free Deeplake account. Hosting Deeplake in your own cloud is your own infrastructure cost, the same as storage you already pay for, and it stays visible.
Do I need an API key?
Not for everyday use. Capture, recall, and priming need no model or API key. Turning sessions into summaries and skills, and the self-tidying loop, are optional and opt-in.
How does this compare to a hosted memory tool that charges per token or per query?
That kind of tool bills you more the more you use it. The Apiary keeps memory on near-zero-cost object storage, so using it more does not scale your bill the same way.
Free to run, near-zero to keep.
Install the whole stack with one command and keep your memory on storage you own. No license fee, no paywall.
Windows (PowerShell): irm https://get.theapiary.sh/install.ps1 | iex
Download