Comparison

On-device AI vs cloud AI assistants

On-device AI runs on your own computer and keeps your data and passwords local, while cloud AI runs on a company's servers and requires sending your information to them. For tasks involving your accounts and private files — like banking, tax filing, and sending reports — on-device AI such as BackBrain is the safer choice because credentials never leave your machine.

The core difference

A cloud AI assistant runs on a remote company's servers. To act on your behalf, it needs your data — and often your passwords — sent to it over the internet. An on-device (local) AI assistant like BackBrain runs on your own computer, so your files, sessions, and credentials stay where they already are.

Side-by-side comparison

Capability	Cloud AI assistant	On-device AI (BackBrain)
Where it runs	Remote servers	Your own computer
Your passwords	Uploaded to the service	Kept in BackBrain's built-in encrypted vault
Access to your files & phone	Limited or none	Direct, on your device
Works offline	No	Core actions run locally
Acts inside your real accounts	Rarely, and risky	Yes, with your approval
Ongoing cost	Usually a subscription	Free beta, no subscription

When is cloud AI fine?

Cloud assistants are excellent for open-ended conversation, drafting text, and answering general questions — work that does not involve your private accounts. The risk appears the moment a task needs your banking login, tax portal password, or personal files.

When should you choose on-device AI?

Choose a local assistant whenever a task touches sensitive accounts or data: filing taxes, downloading bank statements, sending financial reports, or anything where uploading a password to a third party would be unacceptable. BackBrain is built specifically for this category — real execution on your machine, with a human approval step before any critical action. It signs in from BackBrain's built-in encrypted vault, so the credentials never leave your computer.

Get BackBrain to do this for you

BackBrain is in free private beta for Windows and Android. Reserve early access.

Reserve Early Access

Frequently asked questions

Is on-device AI safer than cloud AI?

For tasks involving your accounts and private files, yes. On-device AI like BackBrain keeps your passwords and data on your own computer, while cloud AI requires sending them to a remote service.

Can cloud AI assistants log into my bank for me?

Most cannot, and doing so would mean uploading your banking password to a third-party server. BackBrain performs the login locally instead, signing in from BackBrain's built-in encrypted vault so the credentials never leave your device.

Does on-device AI work without internet?

BackBrain runs its core intelligence and actions locally, so much of its work continues without a constant cloud connection. A site it operates may still need the internet to load, but your data is processed on your machine.