Pricing comparison
Real pricing based on monthly character volume. All prices in USD.
| Volume | Amazon Translate | Langbly | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500K chars/mo | Free (12mo only) | Free forever | No expiry |
| 1M chars/mo | $15 | $19 | N/A |
| 5M chars/mo | $75 | $19 | Save 75% |
| 25M chars/mo | $375 | $69 | Save 82% |
| 100M chars/mo | $1,500 | $199 | Save 87% |
Feature comparison
| Feature | Amazon Translate | Langbly |
|---|---|---|
| Price per 1M chars | $15 | $3.80–$1.99 |
| Free tier | 2M/mo (12 months) | 500K/mo (permanent) |
| Free tier expires? | Yes, after 12 months | Never |
| Languages | 75+ | 100+ |
| Translation engine | NMT | Next-gen AI |
| Context-aware | ||
| Custom terminology | Glossary | |
| Active Custom Translation | ||
| HTML support | ||
| Auto-detect language | ||
| Auth method | AWS IAM / SigV4 | Bearer token |
| Cloud account required | AWS account | None |
| Setup time | 15–30 minutes | 2 minutes |
| API format | AWS SDK only | Google v2 REST |
| Built-in caching | 7-day TTL | |
| Annual discount | 20% off |
Amazon Translate overview
Amazon Translate is AWS's neural machine translation service. It supports 75+ languages and integrates tightly with the AWS ecosystem: S3 for batch translation, Lambda for serverless pipelines, and CloudWatch for monitoring. Amazon also offers Active Custom Translation, which lets you fine-tune translation output using parallel data.
However, Amazon Translate requires a full AWS account with IAM credentials configured. The authentication flow uses Signature Version 4 (SigV4), which is more complex than a simple API key. For developers not already on AWS, the setup overhead can be significant, typically 15-30 minutes before making your first API call.
Amazon's free tier is generous at 2M characters per month, but it expires after 12 months. After that, you pay $15 per million characters with no plan-based discounts at any volume.
Why developers choose Langbly over Amazon Translate
Langbly offers several advantages for developers who want a translation API without the overhead of a cloud platform:
- No AWS account needed: Sign up, get an API key, start translating. No IAM roles, no SigV4 signing, no AWS billing configuration.
- Permanent free tier: 500K characters per month that never expires, unlike Amazon's 12-month limit.
- Better quality: Context-aware translation understands context, tone, and cultural nuances that NMT misses.
- Flat-rate pricing: Predictable monthly plans from $19 to $199 instead of pure pay-per-use billing.
- Google v2 compatible: Standard REST API format, no proprietary SDK required.
When Amazon Translate makes more sense
Amazon Translate is the better choice if you are already deeply invested in AWS. If your translation pipeline uses S3 for document storage, Lambda for processing, and CloudWatch for monitoring, Amazon Translate slots in natively without additional infrastructure.
Active Custom Translation is also a unique feature: it lets you provide parallel training data to improve domain-specific output. This is valuable for highly specialized industries like pharmaceutical or legal translation where standard models fall short.
For everyone else (especially startups, indie developers, and teams not on AWS), Langbly offers a faster, simpler, and more affordable path to high-quality translation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amazon Translate free?
Amazon Translate offers a free tier of 2M characters per month, but it expires after 12 months. After that, you pay $15 per million characters. Langbly offers a permanent free tier of 500K characters per month that never expires.
Do I need an AWS account to use Amazon Translate?
Yes. Amazon Translate requires a full AWS account with IAM credentials and SigV4 authentication. Langbly requires no cloud account, just sign up and use a Bearer token API key.
Is Langbly cheaper than Amazon Translate?
At scale, yes. Amazon charges a flat $15/M characters regardless of volume. Langbly plans range from $3.80/M (Starter) to $1.99/M (Scale), that is 75-87% cheaper than Amazon Translate at equivalent volumes.
Can I migrate from Amazon Translate to Langbly?
Amazon Translate uses the AWS SDK with a proprietary API format, so some code changes are required. However, Langbly uses a standard REST API compatible with Google Translate v2, which most developers find simpler to integrate.
Which has better translation quality: Amazon Translate or Langbly?
Langbly uses advanced AI translation that understands context and intent, producing more natural-sounding output than Amazon's neural machine translation. This is especially noticeable for European languages and marketing content.