Softwr

Translation · head to head

DeepL vs Smartling

DeepL logo

DeepL

Translation

AI-powered language translation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Smartling logo

Smartling

Translation

Enterprise translation management sold alongside first-party language services priced per word

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only DeepL has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: DeepL pricing details not displayed on homepage; requires visiting separate pricing page; Smartling translation memory is retained for only 180 days on the Core tier, so the asset that would make a future migration cheap expires on the plan most likely to be used by a team testing the water.
  • They diverge on capability: DeepL covers 30+ languages, Smartling covers Translation memory.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DeepL and Smartling actually diverge.

Attributes where DeepL and Smartling differ
AttributeDeepLSmartling
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, Mobile, ApiWeb, API
Founded2017Unknown

Identical on both: 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
  • Document translation
  • Glossary
  • Formal/informal toggle
  • Browser extension
  • API access
  • Desktop app
  • Web support

Only in Smartling

  • Translation memory
  • Visual context CAT editor
  • Configurable workflows
  • First-party language services
  • Linguistic quality assurance
  • Connectors and API

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

DeepL

  • ai tools managementnot Smartling
  • Workflow automationnot Smartling
  • Reportingnot Smartling

Smartling

  • A company that wants one supplier answerable for both the translation platform and the quality of the translated outputnot DeepL
  • Marketing sites where a translator needs to see the rendered page, not a spreadsheet of strings, to get tone and length rightnot DeepL
  • Replacing a platform vendor plus several separate agencies with a single contract and a single invoicenot DeepL
  • Content operations at a volume where per-word rates are the dominant cost and the tooling fee is noisenot 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

Smartling

  • Translation memory is retained for only 180 days on the Core tier, so the asset that would make a future migration cheap expires on the plan most likely to be used by a team testing the water.
  • The platform subscription is not published while the per-word service rates are, so you can model the variable cost precisely and cannot model the fixed cost at all until you have been through a sales sizing exercise.
  • The vendor earns on words routed through it, so the commercial relationship rewards volume flowing to Smartling rather than volume being avoided through better reuse of existing memory.
  • Per-word pricing multiplies by target language, so adding a market to a product that ships in twelve languages costs a thirteenth of the current translation bill rather than a marginal amount.
  • Minimum contract term, minimum annual spend and whether individual connectors carry their own charge are all absent from the public site, so three of the numbers that determine total cost only appear inside a proposal.

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

Smartling

On request
  • Core$undefined/year
    • Subscription price not published
    • Basic workflow, user and project management
    • Browser CAT editor with visual context
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Subscription price not published
    • Fully configurable dynamic workflows
    • Translation memory with unlimited storage
  • Language services, charged separately per word$undefined/year
    • Machine translation from 0.0075 USD per word
    • AI translation from 0.06 USD per word
    • AI translation with human review from 0.12 USD per word

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 document translation.
DeepL review

Choose Smartling if

  • You need translation memory.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want visual context cat editor.
Smartling review

Questions people ask

Is DeepL or Smartling better?
Neither clearly leads. DeepL starts at Free and Smartling at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DeepL or Smartling?
DeepL has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for DeepL and On request for Smartling.
Does DeepL or Smartling run on more platforms?
DeepL runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api. Smartling runs on Web, API.
Can I use DeepL for free?
Yes. DeepL has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Smartling starts at On request.
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 Smartling is typically brought in for.
What can DeepL do that Smartling cannot?
DeepL covers 30+ languages, Document translation, Glossary, Formal/informal toggle. Smartling covers Translation memory, Visual context CAT editor, Configurable workflows, First-party language services.

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.

Source
Smartling: Is there a free plan?

The Core tier is advertised as free to start, but translation memory is kept for only 180 days on it and any production deployment is a quoted subscription. Treat it as an evaluation route, not a plan.

DeepL: How many languages does DeepL support?

DeepL supports translation into 100+ languages including popular pairs like English-Chinese, English-French, and Chinese-English.

Source
Smartling: What does the platform actually cost?

Smartling does not publish it. The published figures are per-word service rates. Expect an annual subscription sized against your content volume, workflows and language count, quoted after a scoping call.

DeepL: Does DeepL support voice translation?

Yes. DeepL Voice enables real-time voice translation in virtual meetings and in-person conversations for instant collaboration.

Source
Smartling: Can I use Smartling with my own translators?

Yes, the platform works with your own vendors and freelancers. You then pay for software and forgo the services revenue the pricing model is built around, which weakens your negotiating position on the subscription.

Smartling: What happens to my translation memory if I leave?

Translation memory is exportable, but on Core it only covers the previous 180 days, so leaving after two years on the entry tier means most of the asset is already gone.

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