> Documentation index: https://rift.sh/llms.txt

# Rift vs AgentFS

AgentFS keeps one agent's files in a single database file. Rift keeps files in sync across machines and owners.

### What AgentFS is

AgentFS is an open-source filesystem for agents from Turso. An agent's files, its key-value state and a log of every tool call live in one SQLite file, so a whole session can be copied, queried or thrown away. An agent can work on a copy of a project while the original stays untouched. It is in beta.

### How they differ

AgentFS holds one agent's state in one database file, and it shares that state as a whole database. Rift moves files between machines and between owners, one folder at a time.

- Identity
  - AgentFS: The agent has none. Processes act as the local user.
  - Rift: A key that each machine and agent makes for itself. No account.

- Smallest share
  - AgentFS: The whole database, as a copy of the file or a sync token.
  - Rift: A folder, a subfolder or one file, as read or write.

- Who checks access
  - AgentFS: The local operating system, or Turso Cloud when the database is synced.
  - Rift: Each machine that receives a file checks the grant itself.

- Who can read your files
  - AgentFS: Whoever holds the database file. It can be encrypted with your own key, which its manual says cannot be combined with cloud sync.
  - Rift: Only the machines you shared with. Rift Cloud holds ciphertext.

- When your machines are off
  - AgentFS: Available only if the database was synced to Turso Cloud.
  - Rift: Files stored in Rift Cloud stay available.

### Which to choose

Choose AgentFS when

- An agent should change files freely while the originals stay untouched.
- You want a record of every tool call next to the files.
- Everything runs on one machine.

Choose Rift when

- Files should move between machines one folder at a time.
- Another person or agent needs some of the files.

Based on the AgentFS manual and Turso's documentation, read in October 2026. Sources: [repository](https://github.com/tursodatabase/agentfs) , [manual](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tursodatabase/agentfs/main/MANUAL.md) , [sync guide](https://docs.turso.tech/agentfs/guides/sync.md).