Bonfire Terminal vs @capgo/capacitor-llm
@capgo/capacitor-llm is an open-source local LLM runner plugin for Capacitor apps, fully on-device and private with genuine offline support. Bonfire Terminal is a complete sovereign terminal rather than a plugin: same on-device privacy, plus bring-your-own-key models, messaging bridges, local Whisper, and a one-time perpetual license.
Bonfire Terminal vs @capgo/capacitor-llm: the 16-factor comparison
| Rating factor | @capgo/capacitor-llm | Bonfire Terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Local LLM Runner | AI Terminal / Local Agent |
| Popularity | GitHub 43 stars | Growing · indie |
| Hosting architecture | On-Device Local | On-Device Local |
| Licensing model | Open Source | One-Time Perpetual |
| Data / training policy | Fully on-device private | 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 | N/A | No — BYO key at cost |
| Supported LLM providers | Local | 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 | 75 / 100 | 93 / 100 |
The sovereignty gap
Where @capgo/capacitor-llm 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 @capgo/capacitor-llm if…
Choose @capgo/capacitor-llm if you are building a mobile Capacitor app and need a free, on-device local LLM plugin.
Choose Bonfire Terminal if…
Choose Bonfire Terminal if you want a finished on-device terminal with bridges, Whisper, and a perpetual license rather than an app plugin.
Bonfire Terminal vs @capgo/capacitor-llm: FAQ
Is @capgo/capacitor-llm private?
Yes, fully. @capgo/capacitor-llm runs LLMs on-device with no cloud dependency, so data stays private. Bonfire Terminal offers the same local-first privacy across a whole terminal, keeping everything on the machine and scoring 93/100 for sovereignty.
Is Bonfire Terminal cheaper than @capgo/capacitor-llm?
@capgo/capacitor-llm is free and open source, so it costs nothing to add to an app. Bonfire Terminal is a one-time perpetual license with no key markup, which is cheaper than subscriptions but not free like an OSS plugin.
Can Bonfire Terminal replace @capgo/capacitor-llm?
Only partly. @capgo/capacitor-llm is a developer plugin embedded inside a Capacitor mobile app; Bonfire Terminal is a standalone terminal. If you wanted on-device inference for personal use rather than in-app, Bonfire replaces it; app developers keep the plugin.
What can Bonfire Terminal do that @capgo/capacitor-llm can't?
Bonfire Terminal bridges Telegram and WhatsApp, transcribes with local Whisper, processes media locally, and supports bring-your-own cloud keys alongside local models. @capgo/capacitor-llm focuses solely on running local models inside an app, with none of those extras.
How do I switch from @capgo/capacitor-llm to Bonfire Terminal?
If you used the plugin for personal on-device inference, install Bonfire Terminal and load your local models directly. You keep offline privacy and gain bridges, Whisper, and media tools. App developers embedding inference would keep the plugin.
Does Bonfire Terminal work offline vs @capgo/capacitor-llm?
Both work fully offline. @capgo/capacitor-llm runs models on-device with genuine offline support, and Bonfire Terminal is local-first with local Whisper and media processing, so neither one depends on a live network connection to function.