Translation · head to head
DeepL vs Microsoft Translator
Microsoft Translator
Translation
Azure AI Translator, priced at $10 per million characters for standard text translation with volume commitment discounts available
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: DeepL pricing details not displayed on homepage; requires visiting separate pricing page; Microsoft Translator published free-tier detail is thinner than Google’s or Amazon’s clearly stated character allowances, making it harder to estimate cost from public documentation alone.
- They diverge on capability: DeepL covers 30+ languages, Microsoft Translator covers Text translation API.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which DeepL and Microsoft Translator actually diverge.
| Attribute | DeepL | Microsoft Translator |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Per million characters |
| Platforms | Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api | Web, iOS, Android, Windows |
| Founded | 2017 | Unknown |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Translation).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in DeepL
- 30+ languages
- Glossary
- Formal/informal toggle
- Browser extension
- API access
- Desktop app
- Web support
- Desktop support
Only in Microsoft Translator
- Text translation API
- Speech translation
- Custom Translator
- Microsoft Translator app
- Volume commitment pricing
Both cover
- Document translation
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
DeepL
- ai tools managementnot Microsoft Translator
- Workflow automationnot Microsoft Translator
- Reportingnot Microsoft Translator
Microsoft Translator
- A developer already building on Azure who wants translation billed through the same cloud account as other servicesnot DeepL
- An enterprise with high, predictable translation volume that negotiates a commitment-tier discountnot DeepL
- A Microsoft 365 organisation using built-in document and Teams translation without a separate integration projectnot DeepL
- A team needing speech translation as part of a broader Azure AI Speech deploymentnot DeepL
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
DeepL
- Pricing details not displayed on homepage; requires visiting separate pricing page
- Free tier limitations not specified on main site
Microsoft Translator
- Published free-tier detail is thinner than Google’s or Amazon’s clearly stated character allowances, making it harder to estimate cost from public documentation alone.
- Translation quality for major language pairs is broadly comparable to Google Translate and Amazon Translate, so there is little functional differentiation beyond price and Azure ecosystem convenience.
- Commitment-tier discounts require a negotiated minimum spend, so smaller developers without predictable volume do not get Microsoft’s most competitive published rate.
- Custom Translator model training and management add operational complexity beyond simple API calls, requiring parallel training data the buyer must supply and maintain.
- Adopting it while already using a different primary cloud (AWS or Google Cloud) means managing a second cloud billing relationship purely for translation, which is administratively unappealing for some teams.
Pricing, plan by plan
DeepL
Free- FreeFree
- 3 document translations
- 5000 characters
- Starter$8.99/month
- 5 documents/month
- Unlimited text
- Advanced$28.99/month
- 20 documents/month
- Glossary
Microsoft Translator
Free- Microsoft Translator (consumer app)Free
- Free text, voice and camera translation
- Azure AI Translator (standard)$10/month
- $10 per million characters translated
- Free tier for limited monthly volume
- Azure AI Translator (commitment tier)$undefined/month
- Discounted per-character rate for a committed minimum monthly volume, quoted by Microsoft
Which should you pick?
Choose DeepL if
- You need 30+ languages.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api.
- You also want glossary.
Choose Microsoft Translator if
- You need text translation api.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows.
- You also want speech translation.
Questions people ask
- Is DeepL or Microsoft Translator better?
- Neither clearly leads. DeepL starts at Free and Microsoft Translator at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, DeepL or Microsoft Translator?
- DeepL starts at Free and Microsoft Translator at Free.
- Does DeepL or Microsoft Translator run on more platforms?
- DeepL runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api. Microsoft Translator runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows.
- Can I use DeepL for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is DeepL best used for?
- DeepL is most often used for ai tools management, workflow automation, reporting. Of those, ai tools management and workflow automation are not what Microsoft Translator is typically brought in for.
- What can DeepL do that Microsoft Translator cannot?
- DeepL covers 30+ languages, Glossary, Formal/informal toggle, Browser extension. Microsoft Translator covers Text translation API, Speech translation, Custom Translator, Microsoft Translator app. Both handle Document translation.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
DeepL: Does DeepL offer a free version?
Yes. DeepL offers free trial access and a free API key option, plus a paid DeepL Pro subscription tier and Enterprise solutions.
SourceMicrosoft Translator: How does Microsoft’s per-character price compare to Google’s?
Microsoft charges $10 per million characters for standard translation, about half Google’s $20 NMT rate.
DeepL: How many languages does DeepL support?
DeepL supports translation into 100+ languages including popular pairs like English-Chinese, English-French, and Chinese-English.
SourceMicrosoft Translator: Is there a free tier?
Yes, for limited monthly volume, though Microsoft publishes less specific detail on the exact allowance than Google or Amazon do.
DeepL: Does DeepL support voice translation?
Yes. DeepL Voice enables real-time voice translation in virtual meetings and in-person conversations for instant collaboration.
SourceMicrosoft Translator: Can I get a discount for high volume?
Yes, through commitment-tier pricing negotiated with Microsoft for a minimum monthly spend.
Related pages
More on Microsoft Translator
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