---
title: "Locke vs Private AI"
description: "Private AI is a developer-focused PII redaction API with on-premise options. Locke is an end-user, local-first privacy layer for AI prompts. Which fits your need — confirm specifics with each vendor."
url: "https://sonomos.ai/compare/sonomos-vs-private-ai/"
source: "https://sonomos.ai/compare/sonomos-vs-private-ai/"
---

# Locke vs Private AI

Private AI is a well-regarded PII detection and redaction company. Its developer-oriented API identifies, redacts and replaces personal data across many entity types, languages and file formats. It supports cloud and on-premise / in-VPC deployment, which makes it a strong building block for engineering teams adding redaction to their own pipelines. The key difference is intent. Private AI is infrastructure you integrate into a product. Locke is an end-user privacy layer that acts the moment someone is using an AI tool. (Deployment options evolve; confirm current specifics with Private AI directly.)

## When Private AI fits

- You are a developer or platform team that needs a redaction API to embed in your own application or data pipeline.
- You need to redact PII/PHI/PCI across many languages and file types programmatically, at scale.
- You can run the service in your own environment (on-premise or VPC) and want full control over deployment.

## When Locke fits

- You want a finished end-user control that acts when a person pastes into ChatGPT, Claude, or another AI tool, not an API to build with.
- You want detection and masking to run on the individual's device with nothing to integrate or operate.
- You want a per-user Early Access desktop app (Locke), free for one person, rather than usage-based API infrastructure.

## Side-by-side

| Dimension | Locke | Private AI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Product shape | End-user privacy layer at the point of AI use. | Developer API / infrastructure for redaction pipelines. |
| Who deploys it | Individuals and teams install and run it themselves. | Engineering teams integrate it into apps or workflows. |
| Where processing runs | On the user's device, before the prompt is sent. | In the cloud or in your own on-premise / VPC deployment. |
| Entry point | Locke Free costs nothing (Early Access); Teams starts at $14.99 per seat a month. | API service. Contact vendor for current pricing and terms. |
| Best for | Stopping prompt leakage for the person using AI. | Building redaction into your own software at scale. |

## Bottom line

Private AI and Locke aren't really the same kind of product. Private AI is excellent redaction infrastructure for teams building their own pipelines, with the flexibility of on-premise deployment. Locke is a finished, local-first control for the person actually using an AI tool. If you're building a product that needs redaction, look at Private AI. For the prompts your team types every day, use Locke. Verify current capabilities with each vendor.

[Download Locke](https://sonomos.ai/downloads/)[See the Locke demo](https://sonomos.ai/locke/#demo)[See pricing](https://sonomos.ai/pricing/)[Talk to the team](https://sonomos.ai/contact/)

## Related comparisons

- [Locke vs Nightfall AI](https://sonomos.ai/compare/sonomos-vs-nightfall-ai/)
- [Locke vs Strac](https://sonomos.ai/compare/sonomos-vs-strac/)
- [Locke vs Cyberhaven](https://sonomos.ai/compare/sonomos-vs-cyberhaven/)

[View all comparisons](https://sonomos.ai/compare/)

## Further reading

- [The Best AI Privacy Tools for ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini (2026)](https://sonomos.ai/blog/best-ai-privacy-tools-chatgpt-claude-gemini-2026/)
- [AI Data Leakage: 7 Ways Sensitive Information Escapes to LLMs (and How to Stop It)](https://sonomos.ai/blog/ai-data-leakage-7-ways-sensitive-info-escapes-to-llms/)
- [What Is PII Redaction? A Plain-English Guide for AI Users](https://sonomos.ai/blog/what-is-pii-redaction-ai/)