# MemBrain - AI-powered Second Brain

According to OpenAITools.app telemetry verified on 2026-11-11, MemBrain - AI-powered Second Brain (chromewebstore.google.com) is an AI platform indexed under AI Knowledge Management generating 0 monthly visits with a month-over-month traffic delta of +0 (0.0%). Its primary geographic market is Global (— traffic share), and it operates on a Free pricing model. Top competing alternatives by monthly volume include mymind (221.82K visits/mo), Merlin AI (1.38M visits/mo), Sider (2.64M visits/mo).

An open-source Chrome side-panel extension for chatting with your choice of AI models while you browse.

## Key Telemetry & Specifications

| Metric | Value |
| :--- | :--- |
| Tool Name | MemBrain - AI-powered Second Brain |
| Handle | membrain |
| Status | active |
| Origin | open_source |
| Maintenance | active |
| Official Domain | chromewebstore.google.com |
| Website URL | https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/membrain/eknbepndjmjchcbbcadobcmdnikkkbdg |
| Categories | AI Knowledge Management, AI Note Taker, AI Productivity Tools, AI Assistant |
| Pricing Model | Free |
| Monthly Visits | 0 |
| MoM Traffic Change | 0 |
| MoM Growth Rate | — |
| Primary Market | Global |
| Market Share | — |
| Direct Visits | 0 |
| Organic Search Visits | 0 |
| Social Visits | 0 |
| Referral Visits | 0 |
| Email Visits | 0 |
| Review Score | 3.8 |
| Saved Count | 0 |
| Supported Platforms | Browser Extension |
| Billing Platforms |  |
| Attributes | Features: Browser Extension; Pricing: Contact for Pricing |
| Tags | Second brain, Knowledge management, AI, Note-taking, Learning, Memory, Organization, Productivity, Personal knowledge management (PKM) |

## Overview

MemBrain is a Chrome extension that places an AI assistant in the browser's side panel. Rather than switching tabs to a chat website, you can open the panel and talk to an AI model while the page you are reading stays visible next to it. It is positioned as a lightweight 'second brain' for research and browsing, and the project is open source.

The extension focuses on flexible context. You can add one or more web pages, or selected passages of text, as references for the model, so answers are grounded in the material you are actually looking at rather than generic knowledge. It ships with integrations for several popular AI providers and models, and because it is built around standard API formats you can add further providers or models yourself. Prompt templates can also be saved so common tasks are one click away.

Privacy is a stated design principle: the extension runs without any intermediary server and communicates directly with the model providers using the API keys you supply. According to the developer, it does not collect, store, or share personal information, browsing history, API keys, or chat history. MemBrain is distributed through the Chrome Web Store and is free to install.

## Pricing & Plans

Free. MemBrain itself is a free, open-source Chrome extension; costs come from the AI provider API usage you pay for directly with your own API keys.

## Key Features & Capabilities

- **AI chat in the Chrome side panel:** Open an AI chat alongside the page you are reading, without navigating away or switching tabs.
- **Web pages and text as context:** Attach one or more pages, or selected passages, as references so answers draw on your actual source material.
- **Bring your own API keys:** Connect directly to providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google using your own keys, and add more providers that follow supported API formats.
- **Reusable prompt templates:** Save prompt templates to run frequent tasks in a single click.
- **No intermediary server:** The extension talks straight to model providers and, per the developer, does not collect or store your data, keys, or chat history.

## Primary Use Cases

- **Ask questions against several sources at once (Researchers):** Attach multiple pages as references and question the model about them without copying text into a separate chat window.
- **Understand a page instantly (Readers and learners):** Highlight a difficult passage and ask the side panel to explain or summarize it while the article stays on screen.
- **Use your own providers and keys (Developers and power users):** Point the extension at whichever AI providers you already pay for, and extend it with new models or prompt templates as needed.

## Strengths

- Keeps AI chat in the browser side panel next to your content
- Supports multiple AI providers through user-supplied API keys
- Open source and, per the developer, operates without a backend server
- Custom prompt templates and self-added models add flexibility

## Limitations

- No bundled AI credits, so you must set up your own provider API keys
- Very small install base, so community support and documentation are limited
- Last listed update is v0.4, so the release cadence appears slow

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is MemBrain free to use?
The extension is free and open source. You only pay the AI providers whose API keys you connect, billed directly by them according to your own usage.

### Do I need my own API key?
Yes. MemBrain works with API keys you provide for providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google, and it communicates with those services directly.

### Can I use MemBrain with web pages I am reading?
Yes. You can attach one or more web pages or selected text passages as references so the model answers using that context.

### Does MemBrain store my data?
According to the developer, the extension has no intermediary server and does not collect, store, or share personal information, browsing history, API keys, or chat history. OpenAI is not the developer of this extension.

### What is MemBrain - AI-powered Second Brain's monthly traffic and growth trend?
MemBrain - AI-powered Second Brain currently receives 0 monthly visits, with a month-over-month traffic change of +0 (0.0% growth rate). Its primary source market is Global (— share), including 0 direct visits/mo and 0 organic search visits/mo.

### Is MemBrain - AI-powered Second Brain free? What is its pricing model?
MemBrain - AI-powered Second Brain operates on a Free pricing model. Free. MemBrain itself is a free, open-source Chrome extension; costs come from the AI provider API usage you pay for directly with your own API keys. Supported billing and checkout platforms include: not listed.

### What are the best MemBrain - AI-powered Second Brain alternatives in 2026?
Based on OpenAITools.app category traffic and feature fit, the top five alternatives to MemBrain - AI-powered Second Brain are: 1. mymind (221.82K visits/mo); 2. Merlin AI (1.38M visits/mo); 3. Sider (2.64M visits/mo); 4. Monica (4.51M visits/mo); 5. Synaptic AI (1.43K visits/mo).

### Which platforms and core AI capabilities does MemBrain - AI-powered Second Brain support?
MemBrain - AI-powered Second Brain is classified under AI Knowledge Management, AI Note Taker, AI Productivity Tools, AI Assistant, supports the following platforms: Browser Extension, and its core capability tags include: Second brain, Knowledge management, AI, Note-taking, Learning, Memory.

## Alternatives

| Tool Name | Monthly Visits | Pricing Model | Compare |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| [mymind](https://openaitools.app/tool/mymind) | 221,816 | Free Trial, Paid | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/membrain-vs-mymind) |
| [Merlin AI](https://openaitools.app/tool/merlin-ai) | 1,382,634 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/membrain-vs-merlin-ai) |
| [Sider](https://openaitools.app/tool/sider) | 2,644,740 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/membrain-vs-sider) |
| [Monica](https://openaitools.app/tool/monica-ai) | 4,512,775 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/membrain-vs-monica-ai) |
| [Synaptic AI](https://openaitools.app/tool/synaptic-ai) | 1,429 | Free | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/membrain-vs-synaptic-ai) |
| [Chippy](https://openaitools.app/tool/chippy) | 2,987 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/chippy-vs-membrain) |
| [Typing Mind](https://openaitools.app/tool/typing-mind) | 533,103 | Paid | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/membrain-vs-typing-mind) |
| [Glasp](https://openaitools.app/tool/glasp) | 889,564 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/glasp-vs-membrain) |
| [AI Toolbox](https://openaitools.app/tool/chatgpt-toolbox) | 290,140 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/chatgpt-toolbox-vs-membrain) |
| [Kome AI](https://openaitools.app/tool/kome-ai) | 174,910 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/kome-ai-vs-membrain) |
| [Mem.ai](https://openaitools.app/tool/mem-ai) | 137,457 | Freemium, Paid | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/mem-ai-vs-membrain) |
| [Tactiq](https://openaitools.app/tool/tactiq) | 6,521,542 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/membrain-vs-tactiq) |

---
Source: https://openaitools.app/tool/membrain