AgentIndex icon
AgentIndex
rtfm logo
rtfm
★ 26
vs
deep-research logo
deep-research
★ 4.7k

rtfm vs deep-research

rtfm: RTFM is a local, open-source retrieval layer that indexes everything in a project (code, docs, PDFs, etc.) so that AI agents can find the right context instantly without hallucinations or cloud costs. It integrates with Claude Code and other MCP clients, supports multiple formats, and provides fast search with progressive disclosure.; deep-research: Deep Research is an AI-powered tool designed to generate comprehensive research reports rapidly, leveraging advanced AI models and internet connectivity. It prioritizes user privacy by processing and storing all data locally.

01

TL;DR

rtfm logo
rtfmRAG / Knowledge Base · ★ 26

Legal and regulatory document retrieval with support for specialized formats

Read rtfm full review →
deep-research logo
deep-researchRAG / Knowledge Base · ★ 4.7k

Rapidly generate in-depth research reports for personal and professional use.

Read deep-research full review →
02

Side-by-Side Comparison

Field
rtfm logortfm
deep-research logodeep-research
Category
RAG / Knowledge Base
RAG / Knowledge Base
Stars
★ 26
★ 4.7k
License
MIT
MIT
Install Command
pip install rtfm-ai && cd your-project && rtfm init
docker run -d --name deep-research -p 3333:3000 xiangfa/deep-research
Updated
1d ago
4mo ago
Open Source
Yes
Yes
Website
↗ Visit
↗ Visit
GitHub
↗ GitHub
↗ GitHub
Tags
ai-agents, claude, claude-code
AI Research, LLM, Privacy-focused
03

Features

rtfm logortfm
01Full-text, semantic, and hybrid search with progressive disclosure
02Multi-format indexing with 22 built-in parsers (code, docs, PDFs, etc.)
03Local, free, and open-source (MIT license)
04Knowledge graph with wikilinks and import edges, plus version history
05Seamless MCP integration (native Claude Code plugin and manual install)
deep-research logodeep-research
01Rapidly generates comprehensive research reports in minutes.
02Ensures privacy by processing and storing all data locally in the browser.
03Supports a wide range of mainstream large language models (LLMs).
04Integrates with various web search engines for enhanced information gathering.
05Allows uploading and processing local files to build a knowledge base.
04

Use Cases

rtfm logortfm
↳Legal and regulatory document retrieval with support for specialized formats
↳Research projects combining code, papers, and datasets
↳Any project mixing code with domain-specific documents (FinTech, HealthTech, etc.)
deep-research logodeep-research
↳Rapidly generate in-depth research reports for personal and professional use.
↳Serve as a deep research as a service (SaaS) platform via SSE API.
↳Integrate deep research functionality into other AI applications using MCP.
FAQ

FAQ

What is the difference between rtfm and deep-research?
Both rtfm and deep-research are in the RAG / Knowledge Base category. rtfm has 26 stars, while deep-research has 4.7k stars.
Which is better, rtfm or deep-research?
The best choice depends on your use case. Choose rtfm if Legal and regulatory document retrieval with support for specialized formats, and deep-research if Rapidly generate in-depth research reports for personal and professional use..
Is rtfm free or open source?
Yes, rtfm is open source on GitHub (MIT).
Is deep-research free or open source?
Yes, deep-research is open source on GitHub (MIT).
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Related

Alternatives to rtfm →Alternatives to deep-research →rtfm details →deep-research details →