Bonfire Terminal vs Mycroft
Mycroft is a free, open-source, privacy-focused voice assistant that runs on-device with local Mimic and DeepSpeech speech and local media support. Bonfire Terminal shares that on-device, privacy-first voice foundation and modernizes it with BYO LLM key at cost, a one-time license, local Whisper speech, and Telegram and WhatsApp bridges.
Bonfire Terminal vs Mycroft: the 16-factor comparison
| Rating factor | Mycroft | Bonfire Terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Voice AI / Speech | AI Terminal / Local Agent |
| Popularity | GitHub 6.6k stars | Growing · indie |
| Hosting architecture | On-Device Local | On-Device Local |
| Licensing model | Open Source | One-Time Perpetual |
| Data / training policy | Privacy-focused; on-device | Fully local — nothing leaves device |
| Offline capability | Partial | 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;Any | OpenAI; Anthropic; Google; Local; Any |
| Auth / permission types | Local/None | API Key; Local/None |
| Phone / messaging bridges | None | Telegram; WhatsApp |
| Speech recognition engine | Mimic/DeepSpeech | Whisper (local) |
| Local media processing | Yes | Yes |
| Sovereign score | 88 / 100 | 93 / 100 |
The sovereignty gap
Where Mycroft 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 Mycroft if…
Choose Mycroft if you want an open-source, privacy-focused voice assistant you can run and extend entirely on your own hardware.
Choose Bonfire Terminal if…
Choose Bonfire Terminal if you want a modern on-device agent with local Whisper, LLM support, and messaging bridges beyond a classic voice assistant.
Bonfire Terminal vs Mycroft: FAQ
Is Mycroft private?
Mycroft is privacy-focused and runs on-device with local speech, keeping voice data on your hardware. Bonfire Terminal shares this local-first stance, running fully on-device with local Whisper and never training on your data, and adds modern LLM-backed capabilities.
Is Bonfire Terminal cheaper than Mycroft?
Mycroft is free and open-source. Bonfire Terminal is a one-time perpetual license, so it costs more upfront, but there is no subscription and your LLM key is billed at provider cost with no markup, keeping any cloud usage cheap.
Can Bonfire Terminal replace Mycroft?
Largely yes for personal voice use. Both are on-device, privacy-focused voice assistants. Bonfire Terminal adds modern LLM support via your key, local Whisper, and messaging bridges, while Mycroft centers on its open-source Mimic and DeepSpeech stack.
What can Bonfire Terminal do that Mycroft can't?
Bonfire Terminal adds BYO LLM support at cost, local Whisper speech, local media processing, and Telegram and WhatsApp bridges. Mycroft offers on-device voice with Mimic and DeepSpeech but no LLM key management or messaging bridges of its own.
How do I switch from Mycroft to Bonfire Terminal?
Install Bonfire Terminal and add your own LLM key at cost, keeping the on-device voice-first workflow and gaining local Whisper, media, and messaging. Keep Mycroft if you prefer its fully open-source Mimic and DeepSpeech voice stack.
Does Bonfire Terminal work offline vs Mycroft?
Mycroft runs on-device and works offline for its local voice features. Bonfire Terminal likewise runs its agent, local Whisper, and media processing on-device, so it works without a connection except when your chosen cloud LLM is called.