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Why an alternative to Azure OpenAI?
Azure OpenAI runs on Microsoft infrastructure and closed models. If you want open models, full EU hosting and no US cloud provider in the chain, HostYourAI is a drop-in alternative: the same OpenAI-compatible API, but on infrastructure you control inside Europe.
What is different?
- Open models (Llama, Qwen, Mistral, DeepSeek) instead of closed
- European GPUs; your data never leaves the EU
- Drop-in OpenAI- and Anthropic-compatible
- Pay-as-you-go per token or dedicated GPU per hour
- Data Processing Agreement available, subprocessor list public
Migrate without a rewrite
Because we are OpenAI-compatible, you change only the base URL and the API key. Your existing integration keeps working, so you migrate in minutes.
How to switch
Migrating does not take weeks. Your existing OpenAI SDK keeps working: set the base URL to our Router and use your HostYourAI key.
from openai import OpenAI
client = OpenAI(
base_url="https://hostyourai.com/api/v1",
api_key="hyai-...",
)
resp = client.chat.completions.create(
model="llama-3.3-70b",
messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}],
)
print(resp.choices[0].message.content)Pick an open model from the Model Garden, test in the Playground and track usage and cost per request. For a step-by-step walkthrough, read the guide Migrate your OpenAI client to the EU Router.
Azure OpenAI next to HostYourAI
| Azure OpenAI | HostYourAI | |
|---|---|---|
| Models | Closed (GPT-4o and relatives) | Open: Llama, Qwen, Mistral, DeepSeek |
| Provider | Microsoft, United States | Dutch company |
| Data location | EU region possible, but the provider falls under US legislation | EU GPUs, no US cloud in the chain |
| API | OpenAI shape | OpenAI and Anthropic shape, drop-in |
| Auditability | Black box | Open weights, reproducible behaviour |
| Pricing model | Per token, quotas and reservations | Per token or dedicated per hour, prepaid without minimum |
Questions about the Azure OpenAI alternative
Does Azure not have EU regions too?
It does, and that helps for data residency. But Microsoft remains a US provider subject to US access legislation such as the CLOUD Act. If you do not want that residual risk, you need a chain without a US party.
Are open models good enough to replace GPT-4o?
For most business tasks, such as summarising, classification, RAG and chat, modern open models like Llama 3.3 70B perform strongly. Compare them yourself in the Playground before you switch.
Do I have to rewrite my code?
No. The API is OpenAI-compatible: you change the base URL and the key. Frameworks such as LangChain and LlamaIndex work along directly.
Can I run Azure and HostYourAI side by side?
Yes. Because both speak the OpenAI shape, you can route per workload or per environment and migrate gradually.
What about contracts and compliance?
A Data Processing Agreement is available and the subprocessor list is public. For sector-specific requirements see healthcare, finance and government.
What does it cost?
Pay-as-you-go per token from one prepaid balance, or a dedicated GPU per hour. Rates are on the pricing page.
