Bonfire Terminal vs SiteGPT
SiteGPT is a cloud-hosted chatbot platform billed $19 to $99 monthly, using OpenAI or Anthropic with Slack and WhatsApp channels, and it applies a markup on API keys. Bonfire Terminal removes that middle layer: on-device execution, your own key at cost with no markup, and one perpetual license.
Bonfire Terminal vs SiteGPT: the 16-factor comparison
| Rating factor | SiteGPT | Bonfire Terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Chatbot Platform | 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 | $19-$99/mo | 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;API Key | API Key; Local/None |
| Phone / messaging bridges | Slack;WhatsApp | Telegram; WhatsApp |
| Speech recognition engine | None | Whisper (local) |
| Local media processing | No | Yes |
| Sovereign score | 30 / 100 | 93 / 100 |
The sovereignty gap
Where SiteGPT 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 SiteGPT if…
Choose SiteGPT if you want a hosted website chatbot trained on your site, with Slack and WhatsApp delivery and OpenAI or Anthropic answering visitors.
Choose Bonfire Terminal if…
Choose Bonfire Terminal if you want to escape API-key markup and monthly fees, keep data on-device, and pay once for provider-agnostic local AI.
Bonfire Terminal vs SiteGPT: FAQ
Is SiteGPT private?
SiteGPT says it does not train on your data, but it is cloud-hosted, so conversations pass through and rest on its servers. Bonfire Terminal keeps everything on your device, so your visitor chats and documents never leave your machine.
Is Bonfire Terminal cheaper than SiteGPT?
Yes, meaningfully. SiteGPT charges $19 to $99 monthly and marks up API keys on top. Bonfire Terminal is a one-time license with your key billed directly at cost and zero markup, so you avoid both the subscription and the key surcharge.
Can Bonfire Terminal replace SiteGPT?
For a private personal or internal assistant, yes. Bonfire Terminal answers and automates locally with your own key. As a public-facing website widget with hosted training on your site, SiteGPT's embeddable delivery is more turnkey for that specific job.
What can Bonfire Terminal do that SiteGPT can't?
Bonfire Terminal runs on-device, bills your key at cost with no markup, transcribes speech locally with Whisper, processes media locally, and bridges Telegram plus WhatsApp. SiteGPT is cloud-hosted, marks up keys, and is limited to Slack and WhatsApp.
How do I switch from SiteGPT to Bonfire Terminal?
Cancel your SiteGPT plan, install Bonfire Terminal, and add your own OpenAI or Anthropic key. Move your bot instructions into local prompts and connect WhatsApp. You immediately drop the key markup and keep conversations on your own device.
Does Bonfire Terminal work offline vs SiteGPT?
SiteGPT has no offline capability and runs in the cloud. Bonfire Terminal is on-device, so with a local model and local Whisper it keeps working offline, reaching OpenAI or Anthropic only when you actively choose to.