Pricing comparison
Real pricing based on monthly character volume. All prices in USD.
| Volume | Google Translate | DeepL | Langbly | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500K chars/mo | $0 | Check live plan | $0 | Both included |
| 1M chars/mo | $10 | Check live plan | $2.50 | Save 75% vs Google |
| 5M chars/mo | $90 | Check live plan | $22.50 | Save 75% vs Google |
| 25M chars/mo | $490 | Check live plan | $122.50 | Save 75% vs Google |
| 100M chars/mo | $1,990 | Check live plan | $497.50 | Save 75% vs Google |
Feature comparison
| Feature | Google Translate | DeepL | Langbly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per 1M characters | $20 after monthly credit | Plan-dependent | $5 after 500K/mo |
| Included/evaluation usage | 500K/mo | Developer: 1M total | 500K/mo |
| Translation engine | NMT (2020) | NMT + AI | Next-gen AI |
| Formality control | |||
| Context-aware | Limited | ||
| HTML preservation | |||
| Batch requests | |||
| Built-in caching | Up to 1 hour | ||
| API key security | In URL | Header | Bearer token |
| Languages | 249 | 33 | 100+ |
| Dutch locale rules | Basic | ||
| Google Translate v2 compatible | |||
| Monthly base fee | $0 | Plan-dependent | $0 |
| GDPR-friendly | US processing | EU option | EU processing |
Google Translate API: the default choice
Google Cloud Translation API is widely used and offers a straightforward REST API. The v2 (Basic) edition lists $20 per million text characters after a monthly $10 credit covering the first 500,000 characters.
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. Its former API Free and API Pro plans can no longer be purchased; new API customers use Developer for evaluation or Growth for recurring production usage.
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.
Langbly charges $5 per million additional input characters with no base fee after the first 500,000 monthly characters. At 5M total characters the current Langbly and Google standard-text totals are $22.50 and $90. DeepL requires its live Growth subscription and overage for a fair comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Is Google Translate API free?
Google Cloud Translation covers the first 500,000 characters each month through a $10 monthly credit, then charges $20 per million for standard NMT. Langbly also includes the first 500,000 input characters each month.
Is DeepL better than Google Translate?
DeepL has an established reputation for European language pairs, but quality depends on the content. Compare DeepL’s current language list and live Growth pricing with Google using a representative test set.
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 includes the first 500,000 input characters each month and charges $5 per million additional input characters. That published usage rate is 75% lower than Google Basic’s $20 rate after its same included volume. DeepL requires its live Growth subscription and overage for comparison.
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.