The self-hosted
Perspective API
replacement.
Sentence-level precision. Docker Compose. Choose speed, quality, or price — or all three. Your data stays on your infrastructure.
Works with Artalk · Remark42 · Your own CMS
Perspective API is shutting down.
Most alternatives are cloud-only SaaS. Self-hosted operators — news sites, communities, independent publishers — have no drop-in replacement.
Switching to a hosted service means per-comment billing surprises, giving up data sovereignty, and trading one vendor dependency for another. ExtraLenses runs on your infrastructure, under your control.
How it works
Drop-in API compatibility
Swap Perspective API endpoints. No code changes to your moderation logic.
Sentence-level precision
Tags individual sentences, not whole comments. Better signal, fewer false positives.
Self-hosted, Docker Compose
Your data, your infrastructure. One command to deploy.
Why self-hosted matters
Data sovereignty
Comment text never leaves your infrastructure. No third-party processor agreements required for GDPR compliance on your readers’ data.
No per-call billing
Flat annual pricing regardless of comment volume. A traffic spike doesn't become an invoice surprise.
No vendor lockout risk
You've already experienced what happens when a vendor shuts down. Self-hosted means you own the runtime — no sunset risk.
Integrations
Works with any system that currently calls Perspective API — swap the endpoint URL and you're done.
Native plugin. Drop ExtraLenses behind your existing Artalk install.
Plugin port in progress. Same integration pattern as Artalk.
Any comment system can call ExtraLenses directly via a Perspective-compatible REST API.
Pricing
Starts at $500/year per site.
Three tiers for different speed, quality, and cost profiles. Talk to us for your use case.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is a self-hosted alternative to Perspective API?
- ExtraLenses is a self-hosted moderation API that you deploy on your own infrastructure using Docker Compose. It accepts the same request and response format as Perspective API, so existing integrations work with a URL change.
- When does Perspective API shut down?
- Google has announced Perspective API will shut down on December 31, 2026. Any system currently calling the Perspective API will stop receiving moderation scores after that date.
- Does ExtraLenses work with Artalk?
- Yes. ExtraLenses ships a native Artalk plugin that integrates directly with the Artalk comment system. No custom code required on your end.
- Does ExtraLenses work with Remark42?
- A Remark42 plugin is in progress and will ship shortly after the initial release. Any Remark42 install can also call ExtraLenses directly via the REST API in the meantime.
- Is ExtraLenses GDPR compliant?
- Because ExtraLenses runs on your own infrastructure, comment text never leaves your servers. You remain the data controller and processor. No third-party DPA required for the moderation layer.
- How much does self-hosted comment moderation cost?
- ExtraLenses starts at $500/year per site. Three tiers are available for different speed, quality, and cost profiles. Contact us for a quote matching your comment volume and requirements.
- Can I migrate from Perspective API to ExtraLenses?
- Yes. ExtraLenses implements the Perspective API endpoint shape — change the base URL in your config and your existing integration works without code changes. Migration is a config edit, not a project.