Hive (now Deploy) vs Reality Defender
Two AI detectors, compared using only what each vendor says on its own pages. Witness is a third option, so we keep this to stated facts.
Side by side
| Hive (now Deploy) | Reality Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Trust and Safety teams at platforms who need to identify synthetic images, video and audio at scale (stated: improve verification, reduce AI slop in feeds, flag artificial or exploitative media). | Organizations that detect deepfakes in audio, video and images, identify AI callers, and add detection to live calls, meetings and applications (contact center fraud, hiring, identity, media verification). |
| Media covered | Image, Video, Audio | Image, Video, Audio |
| Free option | Free detection tools are stated (Hive Detect web tool, X Bot, Chrome Extension). Pricing page states the AI image and video detection API as contact sales; Developers plan is pay-as-you-go. A free API tier for AI detection is not stated on page. | yes: RealAPI Free plan, $0/month, 50 image scans per month, up to 3 seats; audio and video are on paid plans (audio trial via sales). |
| Pricing | Developers Pay-as-you-go usage billing; Enterprise Custom pricing | RealAPI Free $0/month; RealAPI Business $399 (labelled 'Annual Billing'); RealAPI Enterprise Custom pricing |
| API | yes | yes |
| Browser extension | yes: Chrome Extension stated on the product page | Not stated on their page |
Read from vendor pages on 2026-11-13. Check their sites for current details.
Read this before relying on any detector
- Witness reports a likelihood with a confidence score. It does not prove anything on its own.
- No detector catches every image. New generators can be missed until detection catches up, and heavy compression or screenshots can lower confidence.
- A real photo can be flagged and an AI image can pass. Treat a result as one input, alongside the source, context and other checks.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Hive (now Deploy) or Reality Defender?
It depends on your use. Hive (now Deploy) describes itself as built for trust and Safety teams at platforms who need to identify synthetic images, video and audio at scale. Reality Defender describes itself as built for organizations that detect deepfakes in audio, video and images, identify AI callers, and add detection to live calls, meetings and applications.
Is there a third option?
Witness focuses on quick, plain-language checks of images and video in the browser or by API. See the comparison pages.
Sources
- hivemoderation.com/ai-generated-content-detection read 2026-11-13
- hivemoderation.com/pricing read 2026-11-13
- deploy.com/pricing read 2026-11-13
- realitydefender.com/ read 2026-11-13
- realitydefender.com/pricing read 2026-11-13
- realitydefender.com/product/realapi read 2026-11-13
Competitor details come from each vendor's own public pages on the dates shown. Products change, so check the vendor's site before you decide.
Related
Don't guess. Witness it.
Free to try. No account needed for your first scans. Witness gives a likelihood with a confidence percentage, not a certainty.