Bonfire Terminal vs 9router
9router is a cloud-hosted LLM router on a freemium, pay-per-token model, letting you reach any provider through an API key. Bonfire Terminal also supports any provider via your own key, but runs on-device under a one-time perpetual license and bills that key at cost with no markup.
Bonfire Terminal vs 9router: the 16-factor comparison
| Rating factor | 9router | Bonfire Terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Other | AI Terminal / Local Agent |
| Popularity | Not disclosed | Growing · indie |
| Hosting architecture | Cloud-Hosted | On-Device Local |
| Licensing model | Freemium | One-Time Perpetual |
| Data / training policy | Not disclosed | Fully local — nothing leaves device |
| Offline capability | No | Yes |
| Pricing tier range | Pay-per-token | One-time license |
| Execution unit cost | Pay-Per-Token | Unlimited Local Compute |
| API-key markup | Not disclosed | No — BYO key at cost |
| Supported LLM providers | Any | OpenAI; Anthropic; Google; Local; Any |
| Auth / permission types | API Key | API Key; Local/None |
| Phone / messaging bridges | None | Telegram; WhatsApp |
| Speech recognition engine | None | Whisper (local) |
| Local media processing | No | Yes |
| Sovereign score | 31 / 100 | 93 / 100 |
The sovereignty gap
Where 9router lands on each weighted pillar (its bar) — the red marker is Bonfire's score. Auto-derived from the 16 factors above.
Which should you choose?
Choose 9router if…
Choose 9router if you want a cloud gateway that routes prompts across many LLM providers with simple pay-per-token billing.
Choose Bonfire Terminal if…
Choose Bonfire Terminal if you want multi-provider access from a local agent, with your data on-device and your key billed at cost.
Bonfire Terminal vs 9router: FAQ
Is 9router private?
9router is a cloud-hosted routing layer with an unstated data policy, so your prompts pass through its infrastructure before reaching providers. Bonfire Terminal routes to providers from on-device, so your data goes only to the LLM key you control, with no intermediary gateway.
Is Bonfire Terminal cheaper than 9router?
9router is pay-per-token through a cloud gateway that can add routing overhead. Bonfire Terminal is a one-time perpetual license and calls your own key at cost with no markup, so you pay providers their raw token price directly rather than through a router.
Can Bonfire Terminal replace 9router?
For most users, yes. Bonfire Terminal reaches any provider through your key while adding a full local agent. 9router is a routing convenience layer; Bonfire folds multi-provider access into an on-device tool with no cloud middleman and no markup.
What can Bonfire Terminal do that 9router can't?
Bonfire Terminal is a complete local agent with no-markup key billing, local Whisper speech recognition, local media processing, and Telegram plus WhatsApp bridges. 9router is a cloud token router without local execution, speech, media, messaging bridges, or on-device data handling.
How do I switch from 9router to Bonfire Terminal?
Install Bonfire Terminal, add the provider API keys you already use, and point the local agent at them directly instead of through 9router. You keep multi-provider flexibility while dropping the cloud gateway and its per-token routing.
Does Bonfire Terminal work offline vs 9router?
9router is cloud-hosted with no offline capability. Bonfire Terminal runs on-device, with local Whisper and media processing usable without internet; only the final LLM call needs connectivity, and that reaches your own provider key directly rather than a router.