Microsoft Azure AI Face

Prebuilt facial recognition and liveness detection for identity verification in apps

Data verified Sep 15, 2026

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About Microsoft Azure AI Face

Azure AI Face (part of Microsoft's Azure AI Vision suite) provides prebuilt facial recognition and liveness-detection APIs for verifying identity without requiring in-house ML expertise. It is billed on a consumption basis, charged per transaction.

Screenshots

Commonly Cited Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Liveness detection achieved a 0% penetration rate in iBeta Level 1 and Level 2 Presentation Attack Detection tests
Free tier offers 30,000 transactions per month

Limitations

Access is gated and limited to Microsoft managed customers and partners via an intake form
Emotion and gender attributes have been retired, and age, smile, facial hair, hair, and makeup are limited

Common Use Cases

Verify user identity
Liveness detection
Touchless access control
Face redaction for privacy

Details

Pricing Model: Freemium
Starting Price: $1 per 1,000 transactions
Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States
Category: Facial Recognition & Biometrics

Who is Microsoft Azure AI Face for?

Developers

Integrate face detection and recognition into apps via the REST API or client SDKs for Java, Swift, and JavaScript.

Identity verification providers

Use verification with liveness detection to confirm a person against a trusted ID image for remote onboarding like banking.

Facilities and access control operators

Enable opt-in face identification for touchless check-in at airports, stadiums, offices, and other buildings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Microsoft Azure AI Face free?

Microsoft Azure AI Face offers a free plan, with paid plans starting at $1 per 1,000 transactions.

Does Microsoft Azure AI Face offer a free trial?

Yes, Microsoft Azure AI Face offers a free trial.

Does Microsoft Azure AI Face have an API?

Yes, Microsoft Azure AI Face provides an API for developers.

What does Microsoft Azure AI Face integrate with?

Microsoft Azure AI Face integrates with Vision Studio, Azure AI services.

Is Microsoft Azure AI Face cloud-based or self-hosted?

Microsoft Azure AI Face is offered as a cloud-based (SaaS) deployment.

What are the downsides of Microsoft Azure AI Face?

Access is gated and limited to Microsoft managed customers and partners via an intake form Also, Emotion and gender attributes have been retired, and age, smile, facial hair, hair, and makeup are limited

Who is Microsoft Azure AI Face best for?

Microsoft Azure AI Face is best suited for Developers, Identity verification providers, Facilities and access control operators.

What can I use Microsoft Azure AI Face for?

Common uses for Microsoft Azure AI Face include verify user identity, liveness detection, touchless access control, face redaction for privacy.

How does Microsoft Azure AI Face compare to Ultralytics?

Microsoft Azure AI Face and Ultralytics are both used for facial recognition & biometrics -- specifically facial recognition tools. See the full side-by-side comparison for pricing and feature differences.