Bonfire Terminal vs Hyper
Hyper is an open-source, on-device terminal built on web technologies, free and fully private, popular for its extensibility. Bonfire Terminal is a terminal too, but a sovereign AI one: it adds a local-first LLM agent, Telegram and WhatsApp bridges, and local Whisper atop BYO-key at cost with a one-time license.
Bonfire Terminal vs Hyper: the 16-factor comparison
| Rating factor | Hyper | Bonfire Terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI Terminal | AI Terminal / Local Agent |
| Popularity | GitHub 44.7k stars | Growing · indie |
| Hosting architecture | On-Device Local | On-Device Local |
| Licensing model | Open Source | One-Time Perpetual |
| Data / training policy | Fully local/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 | None | 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 Hyper 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 Hyper if…
Choose Hyper if you want a highly customizable, extensible terminal with a rich ecosystem of themes and plugins.
Choose Bonfire Terminal if…
Choose Bonfire Terminal if you want an AI-powered terminal with local models, bridges, and Whisper beyond customization.
Bonfire Terminal vs Hyper: FAQ
Is Hyper private?
Yes. Hyper runs locally and is fully private, being a terminal emulator with no data collection. Bonfire Terminal shares that local-first stance for its AI layer, keeping prompts, media, and transcripts on your device.
Is Bonfire Terminal cheaper than Hyper?
Hyper is free open source. Bonfire Terminal is a one-time paid license, so not cheaper than free, but it adds an AI agent, bridges, Whisper, and media processing that Hyper does not include.
Can Bonfire Terminal replace Hyper?
Bonfire Terminal can serve as your terminal while adding AI, so it can replace Hyper for many users. Hyper's strength is its plugin ecosystem and theming, so heavy customizers may still prefer it.
What can Bonfire Terminal do that Hyper can't?
Bonfire Terminal adds a local AI agent, Telegram and WhatsApp bridges, local Whisper speech recognition, and local media processing. Hyper is a customizable terminal emulator without AI, messaging, voice, or media capabilities.
How do I switch from Hyper to Bonfire Terminal?
Install Bonfire Terminal, use it as your terminal, and add an LLM key to enable the agent. Bring your shell configuration across, then decide whether to keep Hyper for its plugins.
Does Bonfire Terminal work offline vs Hyper?
Both run offline on-device. Hyper needs no network, and Bonfire Terminal keeps its terminal, Whisper, and media processing working offline; only remote LLM provider calls in Bonfire require connectivity.