Bonfire Terminal vs Wave Terminal
Wave Terminal is an open-source, on-device AI-enabled terminal, free to run, local with BYO key across major providers and partial offline use. It is a modern terminal with AI helpers built in. Bonfire Terminal is a deeper sovereign terminal agent, local-first, one-time license, with messaging bridges, speech and keys at raw cost.
Bonfire Terminal vs Wave Terminal: the 16-factor comparison
| Rating factor | Wave Terminal | Bonfire Terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI Terminal | AI Terminal / Local Agent |
| Popularity | GitHub 22k stars | Growing · indie |
| Hosting architecture | On-Device Local | On-Device Local |
| Licensing model | Open Source | One-Time Perpetual |
| Data / training policy | Local; BYO key | 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 | No | No — BYO key at cost |
| Supported LLM providers | OpenAI;Anthropic;Local;Any | OpenAI; Anthropic; Google; Local; Any |
| Auth / permission types | Local/None;API Key | API Key; Local/None |
| Phone / messaging bridges | None | Telegram; WhatsApp |
| Speech recognition engine | None | Whisper (local) |
| Local media processing | No | Yes |
| Sovereign score | 72 / 100 | 93 / 100 |
The sovereignty gap
Where Wave Terminal 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 Wave Terminal if…
Choose Wave Terminal if you want a free, modern open-source terminal with graphical widgets and lightweight AI assistance built in.
Choose Bonfire Terminal if…
Choose Bonfire Terminal if you want a deeper sovereign agent with messaging bridges, local speech and media processing.
Bonfire Terminal vs Wave Terminal: FAQ
Is Wave Terminal private?
Wave Terminal is local with BYO keys, being open source, so it can be private, though prompts go to your chosen provider. Bonfire Terminal is likewise local-first, keeping your data and BYO provider key on your own device by default.
Is Bonfire Terminal cheaper than Wave Terminal?
Wave Terminal is free open source but bills pay-per-token through your BYO key for AI features. Bonfire Terminal is a one-time perpetual license, with LLM usage through your own key at raw provider cost, no markup or subscription.
Can Bonfire Terminal replace Wave Terminal?
Yes, for users wanting a deeper AI agent in the terminal. Wave Terminal adds lightweight AI helpers to a modern terminal. Bonfire Terminal makes a full sovereign agent the core experience, with bridges and speech Wave lacks.
What can Bonfire Terminal do that Wave Terminal can't?
Bonfire Terminal adds Telegram and WhatsApp bridges, local Whisper speech, and local media processing to the terminal. Wave Terminal offers AI assistance but no messaging bridges, speech engine, or media handling of its own.
How do I switch from Wave Terminal to Bonfire Terminal?
Install Bonfire Terminal and add your existing BYO key, which carries over since both are local and provider-flexible. Your terminal AI tasks move to Bonfire, now backed by a deeper sovereign agent with bridges and speech.
Does Bonfire Terminal work offline vs Wave Terminal?
Wave Terminal offers partial offline use with local models. Bonfire Terminal is likewise local-first, running its agent, Whisper speech, and media processing on-device, so its core features keep working offline when configured with a local model.