Pricing comparison
Real pricing based on monthly character volume. All prices in USD.
| Volume | DeepL | Langbly | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500K chars/mo | Free | Free | Both free |
| 1M chars/mo | $25 | $19 | Save 24% |
| 5M chars/mo | $125 | $19 | Save 85% |
| 25M chars/mo | $625 | $69 | Save 89% |
| 100M chars/mo | $2,500 | $199 | Save 92% |
Feature comparison
| Feature | DeepL | Langbly |
|---|---|---|
| Price per 1M characters | $25 | $3.80–$1.99 |
| Free tier | 500K chars/mo | 500K chars/mo |
| Translation engine | NMT + AI hybrid | Next-gen AI |
| Languages supported | 33 | 100+ |
| Context-aware translation | Limited | |
| Formality control | ||
| Glossary support | ||
| HTML preservation | ||
| Batch requests | ||
| Built-in caching | 7-day TTL | |
| API format | Proprietary | Google Translate v2 |
| Custom locale rules | Dutch, expanding | |
| Annual discount | 20% off | |
| GDPR / EU processing | EU (Pro) | EU processing |
DeepL API: the quality benchmark
DeepL earned its reputation by consistently outperforming Google Translate on European language pairs, particularly German, French, and Dutch. The API Pro plan costs $25 per million characters and includes features like formality control, glossary management, and document translation. A free tier offers 500K characters per month for testing.
The main limitation is language coverage: DeepL supports only 33 languages, compared to 100+ at Langbly and 249 at Google. If you need translation for Thai, Vietnamese, Arabic, or many African languages, DeepL is not an option. The API also uses a proprietary request format, meaning migration to or from DeepL requires code changes.
At $25 per million characters with no volume discounts, costs scale linearly. A team translating 25M characters per month pays $625; at 100M characters, the bill reaches $2,500.
Langbly: advanced translation at a fraction of the cost
Langbly uses advanced translation models purpose-built for translation. Unlike traditional NMT systems that translate sentence by sentence, Langbly's next-generation engine understands context across paragraphs, idiomatic expressions, and cultural nuance. This produces translations that read as if written by a native speaker, not a machine.
Langbly supports 100+ languages with the same advanced engine on every plan, including the free tier. Pricing is plan-based with built-in volume discounts: $19/month for 5M characters ($3.80/M) up to $199/month for 100M characters ($1.99/M). That is 85% cheaper than DeepL at the Starter level and 92% cheaper at scale.
For Dutch translation specifically, Langbly applies custom locale rules that handle formal/informal register, decimal formats, date formats, and currency notation according to Dutch conventions, something neither DeepL nor Google offers natively.
DeepL vs Langbly: key differences
The core difference is architecture. DeepL started as a neural machine translation system and has gradually added AI capabilities. Langbly is built on next-generation AI from the ground up, meaning every translation benefits from full contextual understanding. In practice, this matters most for marketing copy, product descriptions, and any content where tone and intent are important.
On API compatibility, DeepL uses a proprietary format that locks you into their ecosystem. Langbly uses the Google Translate v2 format, which is the most widely adopted translation API specification. If you ever need to switch providers, Langbly integrations port directly to Google Translate or any other v2-compatible service.
DeepL’s advantage is its established reputation and the glossary feature for enterprise terminology management. For teams that have already built DeepL-specific integrations, the switching cost is real. However, for new projects or teams looking to reduce costs, Langbly offers better value with broader language support.
Frequently asked questions
Is DeepL API free?
DeepL offers a free API plan with 500K characters per month. It is limited to 33 languages and excludes document translation and some advanced features. Langbly also offers 500K free characters per month with no feature restrictions and 100+ languages.
Is DeepL better than Google Translate?
DeepL generally produces higher-quality translations for European languages like German, French, and Dutch. However, it only supports 33 languages compared to Google’s 249, and costs 25% more at $25/M vs $20/M. Langbly combines advanced AI-quality translations with 100+ languages at $3.80–$1.99/M.
Is there a cheaper alternative to DeepL API?
Yes. Langbly offers advanced AI translations at $3.80–$1.99 per million characters, which is 85–92% cheaper than DeepL’s $25/M rate. Langbly supports 100+ languages (vs DeepL’s 33) and includes built-in caching to further reduce costs on repeated translations.
How many languages does DeepL support?
DeepL supports 33 languages, focused primarily on European and a few East Asian languages. This is significantly less than Google Translate (249), Microsoft Translator (130+), or Langbly (100+). If you need Arabic, Thai, Hindi, or many other languages, DeepL is not an option.
Can Langbly replace DeepL?
Yes, for most use cases. Langbly offers comparable or better translation quality through its advanced AI engine, supports 100+ languages vs DeepL’s 33, and costs 85–92% less. The main trade-off is that migration requires adapting to the Google Translate v2 API format, which typically takes 1–2 hours.