Bonfire Terminal vs Automa
Automa is an open-source, on-device browser-automation extension, free to run, executing workflows fully locally in the browser and offline, OpenAI-backed. It automates web tasks visually. Bonfire Terminal is a broader sovereign terminal agent, local-first, one-time license, provider-agnostic, with messaging bridges, speech and keys at raw cost.
Bonfire Terminal vs Automa: the 16-factor comparison
| Rating factor | Automa | Bonfire Terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Automation/RPA | AI Terminal / Local Agent |
| Popularity | GitHub 21.5k stars | Growing · indie |
| Hosting architecture | On-Device Local | On-Device Local |
| Licensing model | Open Source | One-Time Perpetual |
| Data / training policy | Runs locally in browser | Fully local — nothing leaves device |
| Offline capability | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing tier range | Free (OSS) | One-time license |
| Execution unit cost | Unlimited Local Compute | Unlimited Local Compute |
| API-key markup | No | No — BYO key at cost |
| Supported LLM providers | OpenAI | OpenAI; Anthropic; Google; Local; Any |
| Auth / permission types | Local/None | API Key; Local/None |
| Phone / messaging bridges | None | Telegram; WhatsApp |
| Speech recognition engine | None | Whisper (local) |
| Local media processing | No | Yes |
| Sovereign score | 70 / 100 | 93 / 100 |
The sovereignty gap
Where Automa 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 Automa if…
Choose Automa if you want a free, local browser extension to visually automate repetitive web tasks and scraping.
Choose Bonfire Terminal if…
Choose Bonfire Terminal if you want a general private on-device agent with bridges and speech beyond browser automation.
Bonfire Terminal vs Automa: FAQ
Is Automa private?
Automa is private, being open source and running workflows locally in your browser with no cloud dependency. Bonfire Terminal matches this local-first privacy as a general agent, keeping your data and BYO provider key on your own device.
Is Bonfire Terminal cheaper than Automa?
Automa is free open source running local compute. Bonfire Terminal charges a one-time perpetual license, but it is a full AI agent rather than a browser extension, and any LLM usage runs through your own key at raw cost, no markup.
Can Bonfire Terminal replace Automa?
Partly, since Automa specializes in visual in-browser automation. Bonfire Terminal is a general agent that acts through natural language across tasks. If you want broad sovereign capabilities rather than browser-only automation, Bonfire fits your needs.
What can Bonfire Terminal do that Automa can't?
Bonfire Terminal supports any provider and adds Telegram and WhatsApp bridges, local Whisper speech, and local media processing. Automa is an OpenAI-backed browser extension with no messaging bridges, speech engine, or media handling of its own.
How do I switch from Automa to Bonfire Terminal?
If you used Automa for web tasks, install Bonfire Terminal and add any provider key. Bonfire executes agentic tasks locally as a sovereign on-device agent, replacing browser-only workflows with broader natural-language automation.
Does Bonfire Terminal work offline vs Automa?
Both work offline. Automa runs locally in the browser, and Bonfire Terminal is local-first, running its agent, Whisper speech, and media processing on-device, so core functionality persists without connectivity when a local model is configured.