Pricing comparison
Real pricing based on monthly character volume. All prices in USD.
| Volume | Langbly | Amazon | Azure | You Save | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500K chars/mo | $0 (free) | $10 | Free (12mo) | Free (2M) | Always free |
| 5M chars/mo | $19 | $100 | $75 | $50 | Save 62–81% |
| 25M chars/mo | $69 | $500 | $375 | $250 | Save 72–86% |
| 100M chars/mo | $199 | $2,000 | $1,500 | $1,000 | Save 80–90% |
Feature comparison
| Feature | Langbly | Amazon | Azure | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per 1M chars | $3.80–$1.99 | $20 | $15 | $10 |
| Free tier | 500K/mo forever | $300 credit | 2M/mo (12mo) | 2M/mo |
| Languages | 100+ | 249 | 75 | 135 |
| Translation quality | Next-gen AI | NMT | NMT | NMT |
| Custom terminology | Glossary | Glossary | Custom terminology | Custom translator |
| HTML support | ||||
| Auto-detect language | ||||
| Batch translation | S3-based | Blob-based | ||
| API format | Google v2 | Google v2 | AWS SDK | Azure REST |
| Auth method | Bearer token | API key/OAuth | IAM/SigV4 | Subscription key |
| Setup complexity | 2 minutes | 5 minutes | 15 minutes | 10 minutes |
| Context-aware |
Google Translate API vs Amazon Translate: Key differences
Both are solid cloud translation APIs, but they have distinct strengths:
Google Translate API supports the most languages (249), has the simplest API, and is the most widely integrated. At $20/M characters, it's a known quantity that "just works."
Amazon Translate is cheaper ($15/M), offers custom terminology, and integrates deeply with the AWS ecosystem (S3, Lambda, etc.). However, AWS's IAM authentication is significantly more complex than Google's API key approach.
Why Langbly beats both
Langbly offers advantages over both cloud giants:
- 81–90% cheaper than Google: Plans from $19/mo (5M chars) to $199/mo (100M chars) vs Google’s $100–$2,000
- Better quality: Context-aware translation understands context, tone, and cultural nuances
- Simpler migration: Google v2 compatible API, so if you use Google, migration takes minutes
- No cloud lock-in: Works with any infrastructure, no AWS/GCP dependency
- Built-in caching: 7-day TTL means repeated translations are free
When to stick with Google or Amazon
Choose Google if: You need 200+ languages, are already in the Google Cloud ecosystem, or need the absolute most battle-tested API.
Choose Amazon if: You're all-in on AWS, need S3-based batch translation, or want custom terminology for specialized domains.
Choose Langbly if: Cost matters, quality matters, and you want the simplest possible API with the best translation quality.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amazon Translate cheaper than Google Translate?
Yes. Amazon charges $15/M characters vs Google's $20/M. But Langbly is cheaper than both: plans range from $19/month (5M chars, $3.80/M) to $199/month (100M chars, $1.99/M). That's 75-87% cheaper than Amazon and 81-90% cheaper than Google.
Can I switch from Google Translate to Langbly easily?
Yes! Langbly is Google Translate v2 compatible, same request format, same response format. Change the URL and add a Bearer token header. Most migrations take under 10 minutes.
Is Amazon Translate better quality than Google?
For most language pairs, quality is comparable. Google has a slight edge for rare languages. Amazon has better custom terminology support. Langbly beats both for European languages (especially Dutch) due to advanced context awareness.
Which has the better free tier?
Amazon offers 2M free characters/month for 12 months. Google gives a $300 credit. Azure offers 2M/month permanently. Langbly offers 500K/month permanently, no expiration, no credit card required.