By the TraceMind team
TraceMind vs Rewind: What to Use Now That Rewind Is Gone
Rewind recorded your entire system with screenshots and app tracking for AI search. The app shut down on December 19, 2025 after Meta acquired Limitless.
Verdict: choose TraceMind if you want lightweight, private browser recall that keeps working; choose Rewind if you need full-system screen and app capture, which is no longer available since Rewind shut down.
Best for
- →Browser-history recall with a small privacy surface: TraceMind
- →System-wide screen and app timeline: Rewind, now discontinued
- →A recall tool that survives acquisitions (local index): TraceMind
TL;DR
Rewind is gone: the company rebranded to Limitless, pivoted to the Pendant wearable, and after Meta acquired Limitless the Rewind apps stopped working on December 19, 2025. TraceMind covers the browser-history side of what Rewind did, with semantic search and screenshots, stored locally where no acquisition can switch it off.
What is Rewind?
Rewind recorded your screen and app activity to build a searchable timeline of everything on your computer, running continuously with heavy compression and AI over screenshots and transcripts.
The company rebranded to Limitless in 2024 and pivoted to a wearable. Meta acquired Limitless in December 2025; the Rewind Mac, Windows, and iOS apps stopped working on December 19, 2025 and are no longer available to download.
What is TraceMind?
TraceMind indexes supported pages it can access and capture. Excluded domains, unsupported browser pages, private browsing, and failed captures are not guaranteed.
Core capture, indexing, storage, search, screenshots, and analytics run locally on your device. Optional Pro Chat sends your question, prior turns in the current chat, and selected matching excerpts, titles, and URLs directly to the AI provider you choose with your own API key. TraceMind does not proxy or store those requests.
Privacy & Data Storage
| Aspect | TraceMind | Alternative | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where your data lives | On your device (local index) | Was on-device (full-system capture); apps now discontinued | TraceMind |
| Scope | Browser-only recall | Full system recording | TraceMind |
| Data exposure | No screen or mic capture | Continuous screen capture; larger surface | TraceMind |
| Storage | Minimal, page-focused | Large local footprint over time | TraceMind |
| Control | Clear exclusions and retention | Needs strict exclusions to avoid sensitive capture | TraceMind |
Search Capabilities
| Aspect | TraceMind | Alternative | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search scope | Web pages + screenshots | Entire desktop timeline | Depends |
| Search type | Semantic + keyword | Semantic + OCR/ASR over captures | Tie |
| Performance | Lightweight indexing only when browsing | High CPU/storage from constant recording | TraceMind |
| Best for | Daily browsing recall | App-level or meeting recall | Depends |
Features & Controls
| Aspect | TraceMind | Alternative | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recording | Pages only; no audio | Screens + apps (noisy to manage) | TraceMind |
| Background load | Low | High for continuous capture | TraceMind |
| Storage growth | Minimal | Large over weeks/months | TraceMind |
| Cross-platform | Chromium browsers on any OS | macOS/Windows desktop app | Tie |
Pricing
| Plan | TraceMind | Rewind |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No TraceMind page cap; captured history defaults to keep forever and can be shortened. Browser and device storage capacity still applies. | No longer available (had no free tier) |
| Paid | $5/mo or $50/yr | No longer available (was $19/mo+) |
Integrations
Rewind integrated at the OS level for total capture while it existed. TraceMind stays inside the browser for focused recall with a smaller privacy surface.
Ease of Use
TraceMind installs like any extension and stays invisible until you search. Rewind needed OS permissions and continuous recording; its shutdown also shows the platform risk of tools tied to one vendor's roadmap.
Which should you choose?
Choose TraceMind if you…
- ✓You work mostly in the browser
- ✓You want fast recall without system-wide recording
- ✓You prefer lightweight tools that stay private on-device
- ✓You want a recall tool that keeps working regardless of acquisitions, your index is local
Choose Rewind if you…
- •Rewind can no longer be chosen: the apps stopped working on December 19, 2025. If you need system-wide capture today, look at open-source screen-recording tools and weigh the privacy cost carefully
Verdict
Rewind is gone, and its ex-users are exactly who local-first tools exist for. TraceMind keeps its core history index on your device, so core search does not depend on a hosted index. Sandboxed reading snapshots; resource availability depends on what was captured.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rewind still available?
No. Rewind rebranded to Limitless and pivoted to a wearable; after Meta acquired Limitless in December 2025, the Rewind apps stopped working on December 19, 2025 and can no longer be downloaded.
What is the best Rewind alternative for browser history?
TraceMind covers browser-history recall by indexing supported page content, adding on-device semantic search and screenshot previews when capture succeeds. Optional Pro Chat sends your question, prior turns in the current chat, and selected matching excerpts, titles, and URLs directly to the AI provider you choose with your own API key. TraceMind does not proxy or store those requests. For system-wide screen recording you need a separate desktop tool.
Does TraceMind record my screen or audio?
No. TraceMind only indexes web pages you visit with optional page screenshots, never system-wide captures or audio.
Explore other comparisons
🎯 Direct browser history/memory tool
🖥️ OS-level recall tool
📚 Adjacent (bookmarking/PKM)
Try the option that stays on your device
Free includes core AI search. No TraceMind page cap; browser and device storage capacity still applies. No account is needed for Free.
Install TraceMind free