> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs-beta.getzep.com/v3/zep-vs-graphiti/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs-beta.getzep.com/_mcp/server.

# Zep vs Graphiti

> Compare the open-source Graphiti framework with Zep's managed Context Lake for unified enterprise context.

Graphiti is the open-source temporal knowledge graph framework that turns data into a temporal Context Graph. It builds graphs for subjects such as users, customers, teams, and topics.

Zep is the unified context layer for enterprise data. It uses Graphiti inside a managed system for extraction and retrieval. The Context Lake manages millions of Context Graphs on Konig, Zep's graph database service.

Graphiti provides the graph framework. Zep operates Context Graphs as a managed, governed service.

| Aspect                 | Graphiti (open source)                                            | Zep (managed, enterprise scale)                                                                                                                                                |
| ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **What it is**         | A temporal knowledge graph framework that you operate             | A managed Context Lake for unified enterprise context                                                                                                                          |
| **Extraction & graph** | Entity and edge extraction, bi-temporal model, fact invalidation  | Adds Observations, graph analysis, and proprietary extraction LLMs, reranker, and embedding models                                                                             |
| **Graph storage**      | Pluggable backends, including Neo4j, FalkorDB, and Amazon Neptune | Konig, Zep's graph database service, with a managed runtime                                                                                                                    |
| **Retrieval**          | Hybrid retrieval with vector, full-text, and graph methods        | Managed graph search and Context Block assembly                                                                                                                                |
| **Users & storage**    | Build your own                                                    | Managed users, threads, and message storage                                                                                                                                    |
| **Developer tools**    | Build your own; MCP server for Claude, Cursor, and other clients  | Dashboard with graph visualization, debug logs, and API logs; SDKs for Python, TypeScript, and Go                                                                              |
| **Governance**         | Self-managed                                                      | [Team access](/role-based-access-control), [policy-based context access](/policy-based-access-control), source traceability, Audit Logs, API Logs, and customer-key encryption |
| **Compliance**         | Self-managed                                                      | SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA                                                                                                                                                           |
| **Deployment**         | Self-hosted                                                       | Cloud / BYOK / BYOC                                                                                                                                                            |

## When to choose which

**Choose Graphiti** if you want a flexible OSS core and you are comfortable building and operating the surrounding system.

**Choose Zep** if you want managed enterprise context graphs, agent memory, or customer and account context with governance and support.

> Graphiti is an open-source temporal knowledge graph framework. Zep is the unified context layer for enterprise data.