If glocalization is your goal, language barriers are the last thing you want holding your app or website back. Cue translation APIs (application programming interfaces): the behind-the-scenes heroes that transform monolingual masterpieces into multilingual marvels.
Translation APIs enable programs to directly integrate machine translation services into their code, acting as a bridge between your app and language processing engines. Whether you’re building a multilingual chatbot, localizing a website, or developing a global social media platform, they translate text that resonates with users in their native language.
In this guide, we'll explore six of the best translation APIs on the market to help you find the right fit for your project.
Best translation APIs
Smartling API
Smartling takes translation to the next level with a comprehensive, cloud-based platform that integrates advanced machine translation services with human expertise. By combining the efficiency of artificial intelligence (AI) with the nuanced touch of native translators, Smartling goes beyond simple translation—it fully localizes content to appeal to diverse audiences.
With features like a centralized content management system, real-time reporting, and dynamic workflows that keep content flowing, Smartling keeps your team aligned, whether managing large-scale e-commerce projects or refining marketing copy for an email campaign. The platform’s REST API is a powerful tool for developers, offering scalable web services and open-source SDKs for languages like Java, Python, and PHP.
Security is a cornerstone of Smartling's API, which transmits data via HTTPS in JSON formats to provide peace of mind for businesses handling sensitive information. Smartling also integrates with key platforms such as Contentful, Zendesk, and WordPress, making it easier to translate within your existing tech stack and manage content across multiple channels.
For businesses looking to expand globally, Smartling’s API serves as a flexible, scalable solution that’s ideal for large-scale enterprises.
Pricing
Smartling offers various tiers to accommodate different needs and budgets. For specific pricing details, request a demo. The homepage also features a cost-savings calculator to determine how much you can save by switching to Smartling.
Amazon Translate API
Amazon Translate, a sophisticated machine translation service from the e-commerce giant, brings the power of Amazon Web Services to the world of language processing. This versatile language translation API handles several content formats, including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, making it a one-stop shop for all your translation needs.
Amazon’s TranslateText API can handle real-time and batch translations, and its natural language processing (NLP) capabilities enable it to go beyond basic translation. It also analyzes customer sentiment across various languages, making it a powerful tool for businesses managing large amounts of user-generated content or cross-lingual feedback.
For businesses that need speedy, accurate translations and real-time language processing, Amazon Translate offers scalability and reliability. It's particularly useful for managing diverse content formats at scale, from documents to customer feedback.
Pricing
Amazon Translate operates on a flexible pay-as-you-go pricing model. They also offer a free API translation tier, ideal for small projects or trial purposes, making it accessible for businesses to test its capabilities before scaling up. For more detailed pricing information, Amazon provides custom quotes upon request.
DeepL
DeepL has earned a reputation for delivering accurate translations in the competitive field of AI-powered language tools. This high-powered translator doesn't just translate text—it understands context and nuance, delivering results that often impress human translators.
The platform supports a wide range of file types, including Word, PowerPoint, PDFs, and HTML, offering versatility that makes it a valuable asset for businesses handling diverse document formats. DeepL also boasts intelligent language detection, automatically recognizing languages and simplifying the process for users, minimizing manual work and reducing potential errors.
Pricing
DeepL’s API comes with a 30-day free trial; subscriptions range from $8.74 monthly for the Starter plan to $57.49 for the Ultimate plan.
Google Cloud Translation API
The Google Translate API translates text by harnessing the power of Google's machine learning expertise. This versatile language API for translation enables developers to integrate seamless, real-time translations into applications.
Among its standout features is its support for thousands of language pairs, making it particularly well-suited for global projects. Whether you need to build a real-time chat translation tool or process large volumes of documents, Google Translate offers robust capabilities to meet your needs.
One standout feature is its support for thousands of language pairs, making it ideal for global projects. Whether you're building a real-time chat translator or need to process large batches of documents, the Google Translate API rises to the challenge.
Users consider it one of the best translation services because of its continuous improvement. As Google refines its machine learning algorithms, the translation quality improves over time, ensuring that users benefit from the latest advancements in AI-driven translation technology.
Pricing
Like other translation APIs on this list, Google uses a pay-as-you-go model, allowing you to scale your usage as needed. It also provides a free Google Translate API tier, perfect for small projects or initial testing, allowing you to explore its capabilities before committing to a paid plan.
Microsoft Text Translate API
Part of Microsoft Azure AI Services, the Microsoft Translator API brings powerful machine translation capabilities to developers within the Microsoft ecosystem. This versatile translator offers real-time and batch processing, automatic language detection, and transliteration support. The API is a good choice for projects that need seamless integration with other Microsoft tools.
Pricing
The Microsoft Translator API also uses a pay-as-you-go model. The first 2 million characters per month are free, with standard translation priced at $10 per million characters after that. Custom translation is available at $40 per million characters.
Systran Translate API
Systran’s neural machine translation platform converts text using advanced algorithms for real-time translations across text, video, and images. It goes beyond basic text conversion, offering specialized features like document summarization. The API is particularly well-suited for developers who work with complex media formats or need large-scale, real-time translation.
Pricing
Systran’s paid plans start at $15.49 monthly for approximately 600 pages of text.
What’s the best translation API for my needs?
Choosing a winning translation API is like finding the ideal dance partner—it's all about finding the right match for you. Consider these factors to ensure the API keeps up with your linguistic tango:
- Language support: Does the API offer all the language pairings your business requires? The more, the merrier.
- Content type: APIs are like specialists—some shine in tech-speak, others in marketing or medical content. Find one that plays to your strengths.
- Customization: Look for APIs that can learn your lingo, especially if it involves many technical terms. Think of it as teaching that dance partner your signature moves.
- Volume: Whether you're translating three words or 3 million, pick an API that can handle the load.
- Security: Your data is precious. Make sure your API keeps it safe, following top-tier security protocols.
Elevate your global strategy: Free translation solution guide
Going global requires more than just accurate translations—it demands a comprehensive strategy that aligns with your business objectives and technological infrastructure.
Smartling’s advanced translation solutions combine AI-powered capabilities with the expertise of native linguists, helping you produce linguistically accurate and culturally nuanced translations at scale.
To help guide you, we're offering a free eBook: "What To Look for in a Translation Solution: A Buyer's Guide." It covers nine essential features to consider when selecting a translation solution, including:
- AI-driven translation capabilities
- Workflow management and automation
- Integrations with your existing tech stack
- Stringent quality control
Translating at scale allows you to break through language barriers and unlock international opportunities. Download the Buyer’s Guide and gain insights into choosing a translation solution that will propel your brand above and beyond borders.
