Azure Moderation API Alternative

Azure Content Safety is one API.
OpenModeration is the platform.

Azure Content Safety gives you good moderation APIs, but turning them into a working moderation workflow takes real engineering time. OpenModeration gives you the API and human review by our team, rules and logs around it.

Book a call Try it free

Migrate from Azure in under an hour

One standardized call replaces the Content Safety endpoint. Scores come back in one format, with thresholds you control.

Cross-checked AI: our own moderation AI, with delicate cases arbitrated by other AI models.
Pre-filter blocks obvious spam before any AI call.
EU hosting by default, with on-premise deployment possible on request: let's talk.

javascript

# Azure Content Safety (direct)
const endpoint = "https://<resource>.cognitiveservices.azure.com/";
const res = await fetch(endpoint + "/contentsafety/text:analyze?api-version=2024-02-01", {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: { 'Ocp-Apim-Subscription-Key': '...' },
  body: JSON.stringify({ text, categories: ['Hate','SelfHarm','Sexual','Violence'] })
});
// Result: Azure-specific format, 4 categories, per-region deployment

# OpenModeration (unified)
const result = await fetch('https://api.openmoderation.com/v1/moderation', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer om_key_...' },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    input: text,
    categories: ['hate', 'harassment', 'sexual', 'violence', 'self-harm', 'spam'],
    threshold: 0.5
  })
});
// Plus: pre-filter, dual threshold, auto-actions, audit trail, team dashboard

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	Azure Content Safety	OpenModeration
Moderation Scope	Microsoft models only	Its own moderation AI, cross-checked by other AI models on delicate cases
Operational Interface	API only. Requires building your own review UI	Doubtful cases handled by our team; a dashboard where you see every decision in real time
Rule Engine	Custom logic must be built and maintained in-house	Three built-in layers: word filters, score thresholds, and your own rules in plain language
Vendor Lock-in	High (tied to Microsoft ecosystem)	Low: model-agnostic engine, better models plugged in as they come out
Data Sovereignty	Data processed on Microsoft infrastructure	Built and hosted in the EU for GDPR/DSA compliance; on-premise deployment possible on request
Pricing Model	Per-request API billing	Public pricing: free up to 1,000 comments analysed per month, Pro at €99 per month

The hidden cost of "API-only" moderation

Calling Azure Content Safety is the easy part. Before moderators can use it, your engineers still have to build:

✕ A dashboard for human moderators to review edge cases
✕ A rule engine to translate AI scores into automated actions (hide, delete, flag)
✕ Audit logging systems to prove DSA compliance to regulators
✕ Fallback logic in case Azure APIs experience downtime

The OpenModeration advantage

OpenModeration runs its own moderation AI and adds everything around it:

✓ Doubtful cases are handled by our team. You see every decision in real time and can step in whenever you want.
✓ Rules set with three tools (forbidden words, category thresholds and your own rules in plain language), with no code.
✓ Delicate cases cross-checked by other AI models, and better models plugged in as they come out.
✓ An audit trail that logs every AI and human decision.

Azure Content Safety alternative: FAQ

How much does Azure Content Safety cost vs OpenModeration?

Azure AI Content Safety bills per 1,000 text records (one record is up to 1,000 characters) after a free tier of 5,000 records a month, at a rate that depends on your Azure region. OpenModeration is free up to 1,000 comments analysed per month. Managed cloud starts at €99/month for 10,000 comments.

How do I move from Azure Content Safety to OpenModeration?

One standardized POST /v1/moderation call replaces the Content Safety endpoint. You don't retrain anything: our own moderation AI is set up on your rules and your use cases, and delicate cases are cross-checked by other AI models.

Will I be stuck on one model, as with Azure?

No. The OpenModeration engine is model-agnostic: when a better or cheaper AI model comes out, our team plugs it in quickly. Responses keep the same standardized format, so nothing changes on your side.

What do I gain beyond Azure's raw scores?

You get the rest of the workflow: a pre-filter, dual thresholds (auto-approve, review by our team, auto-reject), no-code rules, a dashboard where you see every decision in real time, and a DSA-ready audit trail with exportable reports.

Can my data stay in the EU instead of Microsoft's cloud?

Yes. OpenModeration is built and hosted in the European Union, and on-premise deployment is possible on request.