DeepL vs Google Translate: Which is Better in 2025
DeepL and Google Translate are the world's two main translators. Each has strengths. Let's figure out when to use which.
Quick verdict
- DeepL — for European languages (German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian). Sounds more natural.
- Google Translate — for rare and Asian languages (Thai, Vietnamese, Swahili). Supports more languages.
Translation quality
In professional translator tests, DeepL usually wins on English↔German, English↔French pairs by a large margin. Texts sound more natural, less "officialese".
Google Translate excels at technical texts and rare language pairs. Translating Thai to Hindi? Google has no real competition.
Supported languages
| Service | Languages |
|---|---|
| Google Translate | ~133 |
| DeepL | ~33 |
| Our translator | 45+ |
Free version limits
DeepL Free: 5000 chars per translation, no monthly limits in web version. API — 500,000 chars/month.
Google Translate: up to 5000 chars at once, no serious restrictions in web version.
Our translator: 5000 chars per request, no monthly limits, free forever.
Paid versions
DeepL Pro: $9.99/month — removes limits, adds privacy (doesn't save texts), Word/PDF file support.
Google Translate API: paid for developers — $20 per million chars.
Privacy
Google uses your translations for model training. DeepL Free too. DeepL Pro promises not to save data. For confidential documents — Pro version or local translator like LibreTranslate (free, but needs a server).
Interface features
DeepL: offers alternative translations for each word — click to choose another option. Great for verification.
Google Translate: supports photo translation (via app), voice input, whole website translation.
Alternatives
- LibreTranslate — open-source, free, self-hostable
- DeepL — premium quality for European languages, but paid without ads
- Microsoft Translator — built into Windows and Office
- Our translator — uses Google, LibreTranslate, and MyMemory simultaneously — choose the best result
Main advice
Don't stick to one translator. For important texts, always check with 2-3 different systems. On our site you can do this in one click — switch API and see different translations of the same text.