Bonfire Terminal vs Capacity Desktop
Capacity Desktop is a cloud-hosted no-code builder on a freemium plan with free access plus paid credits. Bonfire Terminal is a different proposition: a sovereign on-device AI agent, licensed once perpetually, running your own LLM key at cost with no markup instead of consuming metered cloud credits.
Bonfire Terminal vs Capacity Desktop: the 16-factor comparison
| Rating factor | Capacity Desktop | Bonfire Terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Category | No-Code Builder | 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 | Free + paid credits | One-time license |
| Execution unit cost | Subscription | Unlimited Local Compute |
| API-key markup | N/A | No — BYO key at cost |
| Supported LLM providers | Not disclosed | OpenAI; Anthropic; Google; Local; Any |
| Auth / permission types | Username-Password | API Key; Local/None |
| Phone / messaging bridges | None | Telegram; WhatsApp |
| Speech recognition engine | None | Whisper (local) |
| Local media processing | Not disclosed | Yes |
| Sovereign score | 29 / 100 | 93 / 100 |
The sovereignty gap
Where Capacity Desktop 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 Capacity Desktop if…
Choose Capacity Desktop if you want a no-code cloud builder with a free tier and credit-based scaling to assemble apps visually.
Choose Bonfire Terminal if…
Choose Bonfire Terminal if you want a local AI agent and terminal, licensed once, with no cloud credits and data kept on-device.
Bonfire Terminal vs Capacity Desktop: FAQ
Is Capacity Desktop private?
Capacity Desktop is cloud-hosted with an unstated data policy, so your projects and data live on its servers. Bonfire Terminal runs on-device, keeping everything on your machine and calling only the LLM key you control, with no cloud platform holding your work.
Is Bonfire Terminal cheaper than Capacity Desktop?
Capacity Desktop is free with paid credits that accrue as you build. Bonfire Terminal is a one-time perpetual license, then your own key at cost with no markup. For steady use, buying once avoids the metered credits and recurring spend.
Can Bonfire Terminal replace Capacity Desktop?
Partly. Capacity Desktop is a visual no-code builder; Bonfire Terminal is an AI agent and terminal that automates tasks through natural language and your own keys. They overlap on automation but target different building styles, so the fit depends on your workflow.
What can Bonfire Terminal do that Capacity Desktop can't?
Bonfire Terminal runs on-device with no-markup key billing, local Whisper speech recognition, local media processing, and Telegram plus WhatsApp bridges. Capacity Desktop is a cloud no-code builder without local execution, on-device speech and media, or messaging bridges.
How do I switch from Capacity Desktop to Bonfire Terminal?
Install Bonfire Terminal, add your own LLM key, and rebuild the automations you created in Capacity to run locally through the agent. You drop the credit-based cloud model and keep your data and logic on your own machine.
Does Bonfire Terminal work offline vs Capacity Desktop?
Capacity Desktop is cloud-hosted with no offline capability. Bonfire Terminal runs on-device, with local Whisper and media processing usable without internet; only remote LLM calls need connectivity, and those go directly to the key you own.