pref0 vs Custom Memory Systems

Many teams build custom memory systems for their agents. pref0 replaces the preference-learning portion with a purpose-built API that handles extraction, scoring, and compounding.

pref0Custom Memory
Development timeMinutes — 2 API endpointsWeeks to months of engineering
Preference extractionAutomatic via LLM analysisManual implementation required
Confidence scoringBuilt-in, compounds automaticallyMust be designed and implemented
Correction detectionAutomatic — corrections score higherMust be built from scratch
MaintenanceManaged serviceOngoing engineering effort
CustomizationPredefined preference categoriesFully custom to your needs

Key differences

Build time

A custom memory system that handles preference extraction, confidence scoring, and cross-session compounding takes significant engineering effort. pref0 provides all of this out of the box with 2 endpoints.

Extraction quality

pref0 uses specialized LLM prompts tuned for preference extraction and correction detection. Building equivalent quality in a custom system requires extensive prompt engineering and iteration.

Flexibility

Custom systems offer unlimited flexibility. pref0 is opinionated about preference structure and confidence scoring. If you need a very custom data model, a custom system may be necessary.

When to use each

Use pref0 when...

  • You want preference learning without building it yourself
  • You don't have the engineering time for a custom solution
  • pref0's preference model fits your use case
  • You want battle-tested extraction and confidence scoring
  • You'd rather focus on your agent's core functionality

Use Custom Memory when...

  • You need a highly custom data model for preferences
  • You have strict data residency requirements
  • You want full control over the extraction logic
  • Preferences are a core competitive advantage and you need deep customization

Frequently asked questions

Can I migrate from a custom system to pref0?

Yes. Start sending conversations to pref0's /track endpoint. pref0 will build preference profiles from scratch. You can run both systems in parallel during migration.

Does pref0 handle all types of memory?

No. pref0 specifically handles preference learning. If you need fact storage, conversation history, or other types of memory, you'll still need those parts of your custom system.

What if pref0's preference model doesn't fit my needs?

pref0 extracts key-value preferences with confidence scores. If you need a fundamentally different data model, a custom system is the right choice.

Other comparisons

Not memory. Preference learning.

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