OpenAI Moderation API Alternative: Is It Free?
OpenAI's omni-moderation endpoint is free and an excellent baseline. But it has a fixed category set, no custom policies, and no data-residency option. This guide covers exactly when teams outgrow it, and how Paxmod compares as an OpenAI moderation API alternative.
OpenAI Moderation is a free, self-serve API with fixed harm categories. That makes it a strong prototype filter. Live Unity and Roblox chat often needs gaming-specific policy, kids-oriented controls, and clearer chat ops tooling, which is where Paxmod focuses. Studios like Foxie Games, TVO, PikPok, and yondr run live chat through Paxmod.
The friction shows up later. You want to block something OpenAI does not have a category for, such as PII sharing, spam, or attempts to move a conversation off-platform. You want to write your own rule in plain language. You need per-category thresholds, or you need end-user content to stay in an EU or UK region for GDPR. That is the point where an alternative earns its cost.
Is the OpenAI Moderation API free? Pricing and limits
Yes, per OpenAI docs: the moderation endpoint is free to use. Throughput still depends on your OpenAI usage tier rate limits. The endpoint supports text and image (no audio), with 20 MB image limit. OpenAI docs state: do not send CSAM.
Gaming chat fit
OpenAI Moderation works as a generic REST call from any backend, including Unity servers. It is a general safety classifier, not a gaming chat product with kids-oriented workflows. No gaming-specific policy packs, slang models, or Roblox TextFilter layering guides from OpenAI. Paxmod targets live multiplayer chat with ~500ms latency, gaming slang handling, and COPPA-oriented controls.
Paxmod vs OpenAI Moderation: Quick Comparison
| Capability | Paxmod | OpenAI Moderation |
|---|---|---|
| Text + image moderation | ||
| Custom policy in plain English | ||
| PII detection & redaction | ||
| Spam detection | ||
| Configurable per-category thresholds | ||
| Evasion-resistant normalization | ||
| EU / UK data residency | ||
| Price | From $29/mo (50K incl.) | Free |
| Best for | Custom rules, compliance, UGC platforms | Baseline safety on a budget |
OpenAI returns category scores you can threshold client-side, which is why thresholds and normalization are marked partial rather than absent.
Which one is right for you?
Stay on OpenAI Moderation if...
- OpenAI's built-in categories match your policy
- You want a free baseline and can threshold scores yourself
- You have no data-residency or PII requirements
Move to Paxmod if...
- You need a custom rule OpenAI has no category for
- You need PII or spam detection
- You need EU/UK data residency for GDPR
- You want to write policy in plain English, not code categories
How hard is it to switch?
Moving is a single REST call. You send the message to Paxmod's endpoint with your API key and read back a flag, a score, and a reason per category. If you are using OpenAI moderation today, the integration point in your code is the same: one request before you accept user content. You can also keep OpenAI as a free first pass and route only the ambiguous cases to Paxmod's Advanced policy mode.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OpenAI's moderation API free?
Yes. The omni-moderation endpoint is free and covers text and images across a fixed set of safety categories. Teams move to an alternative when they need custom policies, categories it does not cover, or data residency.
What is the best alternative to the OpenAI moderation API?
Paxmod is built for teams that have outgrown OpenAI's fixed categories. It adds custom plain-English policies, PII and spam detection, per-category thresholds, evasion-resistant normalization, and EU/UK data residency, across text and images, from $29/month with 50,000 messages included.
Does Paxmod support custom moderation policies?
Yes. In Advanced mode you write your policy in plain English and an LLM enforces it on every request, with no model training. This is the main thing OpenAI's endpoint does not do.
Does Paxmod offer EU or UK data residency?
Yes. End-user content can be stored in an EU or UK region for GDPR-sensitive platforms. The OpenAI moderation endpoint does not offer a regional data-residency option.
Outgrown OpenAI's moderation categories?
Try Paxmod with a 14-day free trial (10,000 messages, all features). Write your policy in plain English and moderate text and images from one API.