pref0 vs ChatGPT Memory (OpenAI)

ChatGPT Memory is a consumer feature built into OpenAI's ChatGPT product. pref0 is a developer API for adding preference learning to any agent. They serve very different audiences.

pref0ChatGPT Memory
AudienceDevelopers building AI agentsChatGPT end users
API accessYes — REST API for any applicationNo — ChatGPT product feature only
What it storesStructured preferences with confidence scoresImplicit memories from chat history
Multi-user supportYes — separate profiles per user IDSingle user per ChatGPT account
Control over extractionTransparent preference profiles you can inspectOpaque — no visibility into how memories are stored
Best forAdding preference learning to your productPersonal ChatGPT experience

Key differences

Developer API vs. consumer product

pref0 is a developer API — you integrate it into your agent to learn preferences for your users. ChatGPT Memory only works inside ChatGPT. There is no API to access ChatGPT's memory system for your own applications.

Multi-tenant vs. single user

pref0 manages preference profiles for thousands of users by user ID. ChatGPT Memory serves a single account holder. If you're building a product with multiple users, ChatGPT Memory isn't an option.

Structured vs. opaque

pref0 gives you structured preferences with confidence scores you can inspect, modify, and inject into prompts. ChatGPT Memory is opaque — you can see saved memories but not how they influence responses or what confidence the system assigns.

When to use each

Use pref0 when...

  • You're building a product or agent that serves multiple users
  • You need API access to preference data
  • You want structured, inspectable preference profiles
  • You want to integrate preference learning into your own application
  • You need confidence scoring that compounds over time

Use ChatGPT Memory when...

  • You're a ChatGPT user wanting personal memory (not a developer)
  • You only use ChatGPT and don't build custom agents
  • You want automatic memory with zero setup for personal use

Frequently asked questions

Can I access ChatGPT Memory via API?

No. ChatGPT Memory is a product feature exclusive to the ChatGPT interface. It is not available through OpenAI's API. If you need memory or preference learning in your own application, you need a tool like pref0.

Is ChatGPT Memory a competitor to pref0?

Not directly. ChatGPT Memory is for end users of ChatGPT. pref0 is for developers building agents. They serve different audiences. If you're building a product, ChatGPT Memory isn't available to you.

Can I use pref0 with the OpenAI API?

Yes. Use the OpenAI API for your LLM and pref0 for preference learning. Send conversations to pref0's /track endpoint, then inject learned preferences into your OpenAI API system prompt.

Other comparisons

vs Mem0vs Zepvs Custom Memoryvs RAGvs LangChain Memoryvs LangMemvs Lettavs Pineconevs CrewAI Memoryvs Semantic Kernel

Not memory. Preference learning.

Your users are already teaching your agent what they want. pref0 makes sure the lesson sticks.

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