Pricing comparison
Real pricing based on monthly character volume. All prices in USD.
| Volume | Google Translate | DeepL | Langbly | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500K chars/mo | $10 | $12.50 | Free | 100% off |
| 1M chars/mo | $20 | $25 | $19 | Save 5% |
| 5M chars/mo | $100 | $125 | $19 | Save 81% |
| 25M chars/mo | $500 | $625 | $69 | Save 86% |
| 100M chars/mo | $2,000 | $2,500 | $199 | Save 90% |
Feature comparison
| Feature | Google Translate | DeepL | Langbly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per 1M characters | $20 | $25 | $3.80–$1.99 |
| Free tier | $300 credit | 500K chars/mo | 500K chars/mo |
| Translation engine | NMT (2020) | NMT + AI | Next-gen AI |
| Formality control | |||
| Context-aware | Limited | ||
| HTML preservation | |||
| Batch requests | |||
| Built-in caching | 7-day TTL | ||
| API key security | In URL | Header | Bearer token |
| Languages | 249 | 33 | 100+ |
| Dutch locale rules | Basic | ||
| Google Translate v2 compatible | |||
| Annual discount | 20% off | ||
| GDPR-friendly | US processing | EU option | EU processing |
Google Translate API: the default choice
Google Cloud Translation API is the most widely used translation API. It supports 249 languages and offers a straightforward REST API. The v2 (Basic) edition charges $20 per million characters with no free tier, just a $300 Google Cloud trial credit for new accounts.
The main advantage of Google Translate is broad language coverage and brand recognition. The downsides: no formality control, no context awareness, API keys exposed in URL parameters, and no built-in caching.
DeepL API: quality-focused alternative
DeepL has earned a reputation for higher translation quality, especially for European languages. Their API Pro plan costs $25 per million characters with a 500K free tier for testing.
DeepL supports only 33 languages but offers formality control and a glossary feature. However, DeepL uses a completely different API format, meaning migration from Google requires rewriting your integration code.
Langbly: the context-aware third option
Langbly uses advanced translation models specifically optimized for translation. This means context-aware translations that understand intent, not just words. Langbly is API-compatible with Google Translate v2, so switching is as simple as changing one URL.
Plans start at $19/month for 5 million characters ($3.80/M), already 81% cheaper than Google. Scale up to 100M characters for $199/month ($1.99/M) and save 90%. That's 81-90% cheaper than Google and 85–92% cheaper than DeepL, with a free tier of 500K characters per month.
Frequently asked questions
Is Google Translate API free?
Google Translate API is not free. It costs $20 per million characters. New Google Cloud accounts get a $300 credit that can be used for translation. Langbly offers a permanent free tier with 500K characters per month.
Is DeepL better than Google Translate?
DeepL generally produces higher quality translations for European languages. However, DeepL only supports 33 languages compared to Google's 249. DeepL is also 25% more expensive at $25 per million characters.
Can I migrate from Google Translate to Langbly without changing my code?
Yes. Langbly uses the same API format as Google Translate v2. You only need to change the base URL and authentication method. The request body and response format are identical.
What is the cheapest translation API?
Langbly plans range from $19/month (5M characters, $3.80/M) to $199/month (100M characters, $1.99/M). That’s 81–90% cheaper than Google Translate ($20/M) and 85–92% cheaper than DeepL ($25/M). There’s also a free tier with 500K characters per month.
Which translation API has the best quality for Dutch?
Langbly uses context-aware translation with custom Dutch locale rules, producing more natural-sounding Dutch translations. Google Translate often uses overly formal language ("uw" instead of "je") and incorrect locale formatting.