Bonfire Terminal vs Refact
Refact is an open-source AI coding assistant with 3.5k stars, hybrid-hosted, free to self-host or paid in the cloud, private with no training on your code. Bonfire Terminal broadens the idea into a sovereign agent and terminal: local-first, running on your own key without markup, and sold once as a perpetual license.
Bonfire Terminal vs Refact: the 16-factor comparison
| Rating factor | Refact | Bonfire Terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI Coding Assistant | AI Terminal / Local Agent |
| Popularity | GitHub 3.5k stars | Growing · indie |
| Hosting architecture | Hybrid | On-Device Local |
| Licensing model | Open Source | One-Time Perpetual |
| Data / training policy | Self-host private; no training on code | 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;SSO | API Key; Local/None |
| Phone / messaging bridges | None | Telegram; WhatsApp |
| Speech recognition engine | None | Whisper (local) |
| Local media processing | No | Yes |
| Sovereign score | 73 / 100 | 93 / 100 |
The sovereignty gap
Where Refact 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 Refact if…
Choose Refact if you want a dedicated AI coding assistant with in-IDE completion and the option to self-host privately.
Choose Bonfire Terminal if…
Choose Bonfire Terminal if you want a broader local AI agent and terminal, not just an in-editor coding helper.
Bonfire Terminal vs Refact: FAQ
Is Refact private?
Refact is private when self-hosted and states it doesn't train on your code; its cloud tier shifts processing to Refact's servers. Bonfire Terminal is local-first by default, keeping all agent activity and code on your device without a hosted option.
Is Bonfire Terminal cheaper than Refact?
Refact is free to self-host with a paid cloud subscription. Bonfire Terminal is a one-time perpetual license running your own key at cost with no markup, so it avoids recurring subscription fees over the long run.
Can Bonfire Terminal replace Refact?
Partially. Refact specializes in in-IDE code completion, which Bonfire Terminal doesn't replicate as an editor plugin. As an agentic terminal it handles many coding tasks, but developers wanting inline autocompletion may keep Refact alongside it.
What can Bonfire Terminal do that Refact can't?
Bonfire Terminal bridges to Telegram and WhatsApp, transcribes speech with local Whisper, and processes media on-device beyond coding. Refact centers on code assistance and doesn't provide messaging bridges, speech recognition, or media handling.
How do I switch from Refact to Bonfire Terminal?
If you used Refact's self-hosted models, reuse those or your own provider key in Bonfire Terminal. Install it, connect the key, and use its agent for coding and broader tasks; keep Refact for IDE autocomplete if you still want it.
Does Bonfire Terminal work offline vs Refact?
Refact offers partial offline support when self-hosted. Bonfire Terminal runs its agent and local Whisper on-device and works fully offline with a local model, needing a connection only for optional cloud LLM calls.