Bonfire Terminal vs Cosine
Cosine is a cloud-hosted AI coding assistant on monthly subscription, with OpenAI and Anthropic, a no-training-on-user-data policy, and a markup on API keys. Bonfire Terminal removes both the cloud and the surcharge: a one-time-license on-device agent, local-first, with your own LLM key at provider cost and no markup.
Bonfire Terminal vs Cosine: the 16-factor comparison
| Rating factor | Cosine | Bonfire Terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI Coding Assistant | AI Terminal / Local Agent |
| Popularity | Not disclosed | Growing · indie |
| Hosting architecture | Cloud-Hosted | On-Device Local |
| Licensing model | Monthly Subscription | One-Time Perpetual |
| Data / training policy | No training on user data | Fully local — nothing leaves device |
| Offline capability | No | Yes |
| Pricing tier range | Not disclosed | One-time license |
| Execution unit cost | Subscription | Unlimited Local Compute |
| API-key markup | Yes | No — BYO key at cost |
| Supported LLM providers | OpenAI;Anthropic | OpenAI; Anthropic; Google; Local; Any |
| Auth / permission types | OAuth;SSO | API Key; Local/None |
| Phone / messaging bridges | None | Telegram; WhatsApp |
| Speech recognition engine | None | Whisper (local) |
| Local media processing | No | Yes |
| Sovereign score | 24 / 100 | 93 / 100 |
The sovereignty gap
Where Cosine 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 Cosine if…
Choose Cosine if you want a cloud AI coding assistant with OpenAI and Anthropic models and a no-training data commitment.
Choose Bonfire Terminal if…
Choose Bonfire Terminal if you want a private, on-device coding agent with your own key at cost and no markup.
Bonfire Terminal vs Cosine: FAQ
Is Cosine private?
Cosine says it does not train on user data, which is reassuring, but it is cloud-hosted, so code passes through its servers. Bonfire Terminal is local-first: your code stays on-device and only your own key calls leave it, scoring 93/100 for sovereignty.
Is Bonfire Terminal cheaper than Cosine?
Cosine is a monthly subscription with undisclosed pricing and marks up API keys. Bonfire Terminal is a one-time perpetual license, and your own key is billed at provider cost with no markup, so it avoids both the subscription and the surcharge.
Can Bonfire Terminal replace Cosine?
Yes, for coding help. Both use OpenAI and Anthropic, but Bonfire Terminal runs as an on-device agent and terminal, so it can replace Cosine's assistance while keeping code local and eliminating the key markup.
What can Bonfire Terminal do that Cosine can't?
Bonfire Terminal runs on-device with local Whisper speech recognition, local media processing, Telegram and WhatsApp bridges, and no key markup. Cosine is a cloud coding assistant with markup on keys and no messaging bridges, local speech, or offline execution.
How do I switch from Cosine to Bonfire Terminal?
Install Bonfire Terminal, add your own OpenAI or Anthropic key at provider cost, and move your coding prompts into local agent tasks. You drop the markup and keep your code on-device from the first session.
Does Bonfire Terminal work offline vs Cosine?
Cosine has no offline capability and depends on its cloud. Bonfire Terminal runs locally, so terminal, Whisper, and media processing work without internet; only cloud LLM inference requires a connection, and nothing else leaves your device.