Pricing & Hardware Guide

Pay once for hardware.
Software is free.

Praefex Companion is a personal AI that runs on hardware you own. It remembers every conversation permanently, adapts to how you think, and operates under 33 fixed constitutional rules. The software is provided free of charge with no planned subscription fees. You only pay for the hardware and any optional setup services.

Quick Comparison

How Praefex stacks up.

Feature ChatGPT (Cloud) Typical Local Setup Praefex Companion
Memory Resets every chat Manual / Fragile Permanent encrypted memory
Data Ownership Company trains on it You manage 100% yours — stays on your hardware
Rules / Behavior Changes when they want None 33 fixed, published, auditable rules
Cost Structure $20–$200+/year Free + effort Pay once for hardware — software free
Verifiability None Low Cryptographic audit trail + consensus

Hardware Tiers

Choose your setup.

Tier 1 — Personal Starting at $169

For everyday use — your private AI that never forgets.

  • Runs efficient 7B–13B models: fast and responsive for daily questions, notes, and personal assistance.
  • Minimum specs: 16GB RAM, 128GB storage, x86_64 or ARM64 device.
  • Example hardware: Beelink Mini S12 Pro ($169), Raspberry Pi 5 setups (~$120), used/refurbished Mini PCs ($100–$399).
  • What you get: Permanent encrypted memory, all 33 constitutional rules, Praefex Wire access from your phone and laptop, personality adaptation. Single-node operation.
Encrypted Memory 33 Rules Praefex Wire Single Node

Break-even vs ChatGPT Plus ($20/month): Approximately 8 months on a $169 system.

Tier 2 — Professional Starting at $449

For professionals and creators who need stronger reasoning.

  • Runs 70B-class models that deliver strong analytical capability on many tasks (performance varies by model and task complexity).
  • Recommended specs: 32–64GB RAM, modern CPU (AMD Ryzen 5/7, Intel 12th gen+, Apple M2/M4).
  • Example hardware: Beelink SER7/SER9 ($449–$599), Mac Mini M4 Pro ($1,399), or use your existing capable PC.
  • What you get: Everything in Tier 1 plus advanced personality engine, Praefex Wire mesh (up to 5 devices), fast vector search.
  • Includes built-in energy governance layer that helps monitor power states and reduce inefficient throttling.
70B Models Advanced Personality Engine Wire Mesh (5 devices) Vector Search Energy Governance

Break-even vs ChatGPT Pro: Typically under 3 years on a $449 system.

Tier 3 — Enterprise Starting at $1,959

For businesses who need verifiable AI with audit trails.

  • Runs 70B+ models with distributed consensus across multiple nodes.
  • Primary node (48–128GB RAM) + 2–4 additional compute nodes.
  • Example configs: Beelink SER9 (64GB) + 2× RPi5 — $1,959  |  Mac Mini M4 Pro (64GB) + 2× Beelink — $2,137
  • What you get: Everything in Tier 2 plus 3+ node consensus, tamper-evident cryptographic audit ledger, ARCHANGEL fleet supervision, advanced energy efficiency governance.
  • In internal testing on AMD Ryzen 7 hardware, the energy layer achieved up to 48× better energy efficiency per watt on specific workloads.
  • Security: Based on internal analysis, exceeds NIST 800-53 Tier 2 with 7 additional structural protections. Not independently audited. Formal compliance assessments available for enterprise customers.
Multi-Node Consensus Cryptographic Audit Ledger ARCHANGEL Supervision NIST 800-53 Tier 2+ Advanced Energy Governance

Built-In Energy Intelligence

Your hardware, running smarter.

Praefex helps your hardware run smarter. The same governance system that enforces constitutional rules also governs power management decisions. It learns workload patterns and helps prevent common efficiency losses. Results are based on specific workload testing and vary by hardware, workload, and configuration.

Bring Your Own Hardware

The software is free to download.

The software is free to download and run on any compatible device. Minimum: 16GB RAM, 128GB storage, x86_64 or ARM64. Recommended: 32GB+ RAM and a modern CPU.

Setup Services

Optional help getting started.

Self-Install

Free

Download, follow the guide, and have your Companion running in under an hour on any supported device.

Guided Setup

$99 one-time

One-on-one remote session. We walk you through installation, configuration, and your first conversation.

Managed Setup

$249 one-time

We handle everything — hardware selection, remote configuration, testing, and initial memory seeding. You just start talking.

Founders Circle

Optional membership for early supporters.

$29
per month — optional

Priority updates, direct support access, early access to new features, and roadmap input. For those who want to be close to the project as it grows.

Important Notes

What you should know.

Early Access

Reserve Your Companion.

Limited pre-configured Mac Mini bundles. Early access Q2 2026. Software is free forever.

Reserve Your Companion →