Pricing comparison
Real pricing based on monthly character volume. All prices in USD.
| Volume | DeepL | Amazon | Microsoft | LibreTranslate | Langbly | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M chars/mo | $25 | $15 | $10 | Free* | $19 | |
| 5M chars/mo | $125 | $75 | $50 | Free* | $19 | Save 62–85% |
| 25M chars/mo | $625 | $375 | $250 | Free* | $69 | Save 72–89% |
Feature comparison
| Feature | DeepL | Amazon | Microsoft | LibreTranslate | Langbly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google v2 compatible | |||||
| Migration effort | Full rewrite | Full rewrite | Full rewrite | Full rewrite | Change 1 URL |
| Translation quality | Excellent | Good | Good | Basic | Excellent |
| Languages | 33 | 75 | 135 | 30+ | 100+ |
| Formality control | |||||
| Self-hosted option | |||||
| Free tier | 500K/mo | 2M/mo (12mo) | 2M/mo | Unlimited* | 500K/mo |
| Built-in caching | 7-day | ||||
| Context awareness | Limited | ||||
| API key security | Header | AWS IAM | Header | Optional | Bearer token |
Why switch from Google Translate API?
There are several reasons to look for Google Translate API alternatives:
- Cost: At $20 per million characters, Google is one of the most expensive options. At 25M chars/month, you're paying $500.
- Quality: Google Translate uses 2020-era NMT models. Advanced AI alternatives like Langbly produce more natural output.
- Security: Google's API puts your API key in URL parameters, exposing it in logs and browser history.
- No caching: Every identical request is billed again. Langbly caches translations for 7 days automatically.
Alternative 1: Langbly (best drop-in replacement)
Langbly is the only Google Translate v2-compatible alternative. Migration takes under 10 minutes. Change the base URL and switch from URL-based to header-based authentication. Request format and response shape are identical.
Best for: Teams currently using Google Translate who want better quality at lower cost with minimal migration effort.
Alternative 2: DeepL (best for European languages)
DeepL is known for high-quality translations, especially for European languages like German, French, and Dutch. Their API supports 33 languages with formality control and glossaries.
Best for: European companies that need premium quality and are willing to rewrite their API integration. Costs 25% more than Google but is often worth it for quality.
Alternative 3: Microsoft Translator (best free tier)
Microsoft Translator offers 2 million free characters per month permanently, the most generous free tier among commercial APIs. Supports 135 languages.
Best for: Low-volume use cases and projects that need broad language coverage on a budget.
Alternative 4: Amazon Translate (best for AWS users)
Amazon Translate integrates natively with AWS services. It supports 75 languages and offers formality control and custom terminology. Pricing is $15 per million characters.
Best for: Teams already running on AWS who want tight integration with other AWS services.
Alternative 5: LibreTranslate (best self-hosted)
LibreTranslate is the only open-source option on this list. You can self-host it for free on your own servers. Quality is lower than commercial alternatives, but it's suitable for basic translations and offline use.
Best for: Data-sensitive projects that require on-premises translation, or developers who want full control over the translation stack.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Google Translate API?
For easy migration, Langbly is the best alternative. It uses the exact same API format as Google Translate v2, so you only change the URL. For quality, DeepL is an excellent choice. For budget, Microsoft Translator has the best free tier.
Can I replace Google Translate without changing my code?
Yes, if you switch to Langbly. It is fully compatible with the Google Translate v2 API format. Change the base URL from translation.googleapis.com to api.langbly.com and update the authentication to use a Bearer token. No other code changes needed.
Is there a free alternative to Google Translate API?
LibreTranslate is free and open-source, but quality is lower. Microsoft Translator offers 2M free characters per month. Langbly offers 500K free characters per month permanently. All are better value than Google's $300 trial credit.
Which Google Translate alternative has the best Dutch translations?
Langbly, with its custom Dutch locale rules and advanced AI engine. It handles informal register ("je" vs "u"), Dutch number formatting (1.200,50), and natural phrasing better than all alternatives tested.