Bonfire Terminal vs Onyx
Onyx is an open-source, hybrid RAG and enterprise-search platform, free to self-host with a paid cloud, Slack and Discord connectors, local-model support and an 82 Sovereign Score. It centers on knowledge search. Bonfire Terminal is a sovereign terminal agent, local-first, one-time license, with Telegram and WhatsApp bridges and no-markup keys.
Bonfire Terminal vs Onyx: the 16-factor comparison
| Rating factor | Onyx | Bonfire Terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Category | RAG/Knowledge | AI Terminal / Local Agent |
| Popularity | GitHub 32k stars | Growing · indie |
| Hosting architecture | Hybrid | On-Device Local |
| Licensing model | Open Source | One-Time Perpetual |
| Data / training policy | Self-host = fully private | Fully local — nothing leaves device |
| Offline capability | Partial | Yes |
| Pricing tier range | $0 self-host / paid cloud | One-time license |
| Execution unit cost | Subscription | Unlimited Local Compute |
| API-key markup | No | No — BYO key at cost |
| Supported LLM providers | OpenAI;Anthropic;Local;Any | OpenAI; Anthropic; Google; Local; Any |
| Auth / permission types | API Key;OAuth;SSO | API Key; Local/None |
| Phone / messaging bridges | Slack;Discord | Telegram; WhatsApp |
| Speech recognition engine | None | Whisper (local) |
| Local media processing | Partial | Yes |
| Sovereign score | 82 / 100 | 93 / 100 |
The sovereignty gap
Where Onyx 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 Onyx if…
Choose Onyx if you want an open-source enterprise search assistant that indexes company knowledge and answers across Slack and Discord.
Choose Bonfire Terminal if…
Choose Bonfire Terminal if you want a private, general on-device agent with WhatsApp bridging, speech and media processing.
Bonfire Terminal vs Onyx: FAQ
Is Onyx private?
Onyx is private when self-hosted, being open source with local-model support; its cloud tier is vendor-managed. Bonfire Terminal shares this local-first stance and keeps your data and BYO provider key on your own device across all its features.
Is Bonfire Terminal cheaper than Onyx?
Onyx is free to self-host with subscription cloud pricing. Bonfire Terminal is a one-time perpetual license with no recurring fees, and any LLM usage flows through your own key at raw provider cost with no markup.
Can Bonfire Terminal replace Onyx?
Partly, since Onyx specializes in enterprise knowledge search. Bonfire Terminal is a general agent that can search and act, with messaging bridges. If you want a broad sovereign agent rather than a dedicated RAG search tool, Bonfire fits.
What can Bonfire Terminal do that Onyx can't?
Bonfire Terminal adds Telegram and WhatsApp bridges, local Whisper speech, and local media processing. Onyx connects Slack and Discord for search but offers no WhatsApp or Telegram bridge, no speech engine, and no media handling.
How do I switch from Onyx to Bonfire Terminal?
Install Bonfire Terminal, point it at a local model or add any provider key, and connect the Telegram or WhatsApp bridge. Search-style questions you asked Onyx become natural-language tasks in Bonfire, now running on-device as a full agent.
Does Bonfire Terminal work offline vs Onyx?
Onyx is partially offline-capable when self-hosted with local models. Bonfire Terminal is local-first, running its agent, Whisper speech, and media processing on-device, so core functionality keeps working offline when a local model is configured.