# Maximem Synap vs Zep

Zep pioneered temporal knowledge graphs for agent memory with Graphiti. Maximem Synap is the agentic context management system that scored 92% on LongMemEval (and 93.2% on LoCoMo) where Zep scored 63.8%, with retrieval at 15ms.

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Strong Partial / Limited No / Weak Not verified / Not published

### Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature

Maximem Synap

Zep

LongMemEval (independently verified)

Best 92%

Not applicable Not verified

LongMemEval (self-reported)

Best 92%

Partial 63.8%

P50 retrieval latency

Best 15ms

Not applicable Not published

Open-source eval harness

Best Full config published

No No

Context management paradigm

Best Active: captures, compacts, recalls per agent

Partial Semi-active: auto-extracts, explicit retrieval

Ingestion approach

Best Extract-first: multi-stage pipeline

Best Extract-first: temporal graph built

Pipeline customization per agent

Best Custom architecture per agent via YAML

No Universal graph pipeline

Data connectors

Best Connectors for structured data sources

No Text ingestion only

Memory types

Best 5 structured: facts, preferences, episodes, emotions, temporal

Partial Entities + relationships + episodes

Context compaction

Best 4 strategies + quality validation score

Partial Graph-based, no validation score

Contradiction handling

Best Explicit detection & resolution (HITL when needed)

Best Old facts invalidated, not deleted (audit trail)

Temporal awareness

Best Full bitemporal awareness

Best Full bitemporal model

Entity resolution

Best Automatic, multi-strategy

Best Automatic with temporal tracking

Memory scoping mechanism

Best Intelligent & automated

Partial Semi-automated

Scoping levels

Best Org hierarchy: User → Customer → Client

Partial User + group

Context sharing in agent-swarm systems

Best Native: shared context + agent-specific memories

Partial Multiple agents query same graph

SDK languages

Best Python + JavaScript

Partial Python (Graphiti)

Framework integrations

Best 22 frameworks

Partial 4+ frameworks

Async-first SDK

Best Non-blocking, returns immediately

Partial Async episode processing

Last updated: April 2026. Benchmarks sourced from Synap's open-source LongMemEval and LoCoMo harness and vendor documentation. Feature availability may change.

01/Why Synap

## Why Teams Choose Maximem Synap Over Zep

### Different strengths, different design centers.

Zep and Synap are architecturally distinct. Zep is built around Graphiti, a temporal knowledge graph. Synap is built around a multi-stage ingestion pipeline with per-agent customization. Both systems take extraction seriously, but they optimize for different things.

### Synap's accuracy advantage holds on standardized evaluation.

On LongMemEval, Synap scored 92%. Zep's reported score is 63.8% from third-party evaluation (not yet verified on Synap's harness). The gap likely stems from how each system handles retrieval at scale. Synap's per-agent pipeline customization means retrieval logic adapts to what matters for a given domain. Zep's universal graph pipeline applies the same traversal strategy regardless of agent type.

### Per-agent customization changes production outcomes.

Every agent in Zep uses the same Graphiti pipeline. In Synap, each agent gets a custom context architecture via YAML: storage, extraction, retrieval, and retention settings are tuned per domain. A customer support agent and a voice concierge get different pipelines because they have different context needs.

### Latency is published and verifiable.

Synap runs at 15ms P50. Zep does not publish latency numbers. For latency-sensitive use cases, published and verifiable latency is a production requirement.

### Where Zep has the edge.

Zep's temporal knowledge graph and bitemporal model are mature. Both Synap and Zep support bitemporal awareness, but Zep's implementation through Graphiti (temporal validity windows, fact invalidation with audit trail) has been in production longer. Zep also offers VPC deployment for teams that need their data in a private cloud environment.

Benchmark note: Zep's LongMemEval score of 63.8% is from third-party reporting. It has not been verified on Synap's standardized harness. We will update this page when independent verification is available.

## Compare Synap against other alternatives

[Synap vs Mem0](https://www.maximem.ai/compare/maximem-synap-vs-mem0)[Synap vs Letta](https://www.maximem.ai/compare/maximem-synap-vs-letta)[Synap vs Supermemory](https://www.maximem.ai/compare/maximem-synap-vs-supermemory)[Synap vs Cognee](https://www.maximem.ai/compare/maximem-synap-vs-cognee)[Synap vs Evermind](https://www.maximem.ai/compare/maximem-synap-vs-evermind)[Best Zep alternatives](https://www.maximem.ai/zep-alternatives)[Synap vs all alternatives](https://www.maximem.ai/compare/maximem-synap-vs-mem0-vs-zep-vs-letta-vs-supermemory-vs-cognee-vs-evermind)

## Ready to evaluate Synap against Zep?

Free tier, no credit card. Open-source SDK and a published eval harness.

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## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is Maximem Synap a Zep alternative?

Yes. Both systems take extraction seriously and both support bitemporal awareness, but Synap adds per-agent pipeline customization, published 15ms P50 latency, and a higher independently measured LongMemEval score (92% vs 63.8% third-party).

### Does Synap use a knowledge graph like Zep's Graphiti?

Synap uses a multi-stage extract-first pipeline with entity resolution and temporal awareness, not a single unified knowledge graph. The retrieval logic is customized per agent via YAML configuration rather than applied uniformly across all agents.

### When should I pick Zep over Synap?

Pick Zep if you need a mature temporal knowledge graph with a longer production track record, or if VPC deployment in a specific private cloud environment is a hard requirement today.

[Learn more about Maximem Synap](https://www.maximem.ai/synap)·[Best Zep alternatives](https://www.maximem.ai/zep-alternatives)·[Compare Synap against all alternatives](https://www.maximem.ai/compare/maximem-synap-vs-mem0-vs-zep-vs-letta-vs-supermemory-vs-cognee-vs-evermind)·[How we measure memory quality](https://www.maximem.ai/measuring-agent-memory)·[What switching from Zep actually costs](https://www.maximem.ai/tco?mode=switch&from=zep_flex)·[Or build it yourself?](https://www.maximem.ai/build-vs-buy-agent-memory)

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Source: [https://www.maximem.ai/compare/maximem-synap-vs-zep](https://www.maximem.ai/compare/maximem-synap-vs-zep)