DeepL is a German machine translation service known for fluent, natural translations, especially between European languages. Besides translating text, it translates Word, PowerPoint and PDF files while preserving formatting, has desktop and mobile apps, and offers a widely used API for developers. It also has a text improvement feature (tone and fluency editing), currently available for a limited set of languages. What sets it apart from general assistants like ChatGPT is that it is built specifically for translation: fast, consistent and keeping the file's format.

What is DeepL good for?#

  • Translating emails and business correspondence: someone working with German, French or English-speaking clients gets a fluent, natural draft.
  • Translating files while preserving formatting: translate a catalog or a Word contract and the tables and formatting stay in place.
  • Reading non-English sources: a researcher or student turns a paper in German or French into English for a general understanding.
  • Automatic translation in a site or app: a developer uses its API to translate product descriptions for a store's foreign-language version.
  • A first draft of a translation: for general texts you get an initial draft that then needs editing.

Strengths and weaknesses#

Strengths:

  • Very natural translation in European languages.
  • File translation that preserves formatting.
  • Custom glossaries and a choice of formal or informal tone in supported languages.
  • A stable, well-documented API with a free quota to start.
  • A clearer privacy policy on the paid plan.

Weaknesses:

  • Language coverage and extras such as glossaries and tone control are uneven across languages.
  • Quality on specialist text and slang is not consistent in every language.
  • Unlike chatbots, you can't give it context or style instructions.
  • On the free plan, texts may be retained to improve the service.

Free version and pricing#

DeepL has a free plan that offers text translation with a length limit and a limited number of file translations. The API also has a free monthly quota. Paid subscriptions include more text and files, glossaries and a guarantee that texts are deleted from the servers. Check the official site for current prices.

Language support#

DeepL's strength is greatest in the European languages it was originally built for; for other languages, quality on general text can be acceptable, but for technical and literary text it often doesn't reach that level, and extras like glossaries may not be available. For specialist translation, general assistants that you can give context and a glossary often produce better results.

DeepL alternatives#

  • ChatGPT: you can explain context, tone and a glossary; it is more flexible for many language pairs.
  • Claude: strong at translating long texts and preserving the author's tone.
  • Gemini: good translation with connection to Google tools.
  • QuillBot: a simpler translator alongside an English rewriting tool.

For an accurate translation method, see Technical translation with AI, without the translated feel, and for connecting it in code, Your first AI API connection with PHP.