PrivacyProxy vs Microsoft Presidio

Self-hosted open-source library vs. hosted GDPR-compliant proxy. What fits your team?

View Comparison

Quick Verdict

Presidio is an excellent open-source library - but you have to host, configure, and maintain it yourself. PrivacyProxy uses Presidio under the hood and offers it as a ready-to-use service.

PrivacyProxy: Hosted + Ready Presidio: Self-Hosted + Free
Presidio
vs
PrivacyProxy
Technical Note

PrivacyProxy uses Presidio under the hood - together with spaCy and GLiNER for maximum detection. We offer the same technology as a hosted, pre-configured service.

Build vs. Buy

Presidio is the "build" option - flexible, free, but effort for setup, hosting, and maintenance. PrivacyProxy is the "buy" option - we use Presidio + spaCy + GLiNER and deliver it as a ready-to-use, EU-hosted service.

What's the Difference?

Microsoft Presidio

Open-source PII detection library from Microsoft. Python-based, uses spaCy for NER. You install, configure, and host everything yourself. Free but requires infrastructure and maintenance.

github.com/microsoft/presidio

PrivacyProxy

Hosted proxy service combining Presidio + spaCy + GLiNER. 420+ pre-configured patterns for EU-27. Just change the base_url - done.

privacyproxy.dev

Feature Comparison

Feature Presidio PrivacyProxy
Type Python Library Hosted Service
Hosting Self-hosted (your infra) Germany (Managed)
Setup pip install + configuration + deployment Just change base_url
PII Patterns Standard set (extensible) 420+ pre-configured (EU-27)
Languages English (others via spaCy) 22 languages (EU-27)
Cost Free + infrastructure €29-99/mo (all-inclusive)
Maintenance You (updates, scaling) Us (managed)
LLM Integration Manual (your own code) Drop-in proxy (OpenAI-compatible)

When to Choose Which?

Choose Presidio if...

  • You have a DevOps team for hosting
  • Maximum control over PII patterns matters
  • You want no recurring costs
  • On-premise deployment is required

Choose PrivacyProxy if...

  • You don't have time for self-hosting
  • You want to start immediately (3 lines of code)
  • EU-27 languages and patterns matter
  • You prefer a managed service

Presidio Power Without Self-Hosting

We use Presidio + spaCy + GLiNER and host it for you in Germany. From €29/mo.

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