Google Cloud Translation is an API-based service for translating websites, apps, documents, user comments, and media workflows. It supports 189 languages and lists website and document translation, translation memory, glossary tools, and API access. Basic and Advanced editions are available, with Advanced adding customization features. Adaptive Translation uses LLMs and small datasets to shape output to a content's style and tone. Document translation supports DOCX, PPT, and PDF. Translation Hub manages large document volumes and organisational workflows, and its Advanced option supports human review and editing. Client libraries are available for common programming languages. Connections with Speech-to-Text, Transcoder, and Cloud Text-to-Speech support transcript, subtitle, and voice-over workflows. Billing varies with content volume, API method, and translation model. The first 500,000 API characters per month are free across Basic and Advanced, excluding LLMs; monthly free credit is up to $10 and does not roll over. The listed Neural Machine Translation text rate is $20.00 USD per month for 500,000 to 1 billion characters per month; document translation is $0.08 USD per page. Only successful translations returned from a failed operation are charged.
Who it is for
It suits developers and organisations building translation into websites, apps, documents, or media workflows. Teams handling large document volumes or needing customization and human review can also consider the listed Advanced and Translation Hub capabilities.
What is good
- Supports 189 languages.
- First 500,000 monthly API characters are free, excluding LLMs.
- Advanced adds customization features.
- Document formats include DOCX, PPT, and PDF.
- Failed operations charge only successful returned translations.
What to know first
- Monthly free credit is capped at $10 and does not roll over.
- LLM use is excluded from the free character allowance.
- Billing depends on volume, API method, and model.
Verdict
Google Cloud Translation offers multiple translation workflows through an API, with an allowance for standard API characters and separate billing considerations for other methods and models. Review the applicable method and model rates, since charges depend on usage and the monthly free credit does not carry over.
Google Cloud Translation plans and pricing
All plansCompared on translation software
- Free plan
- Yes
- Document translation
- Yes
- API access
- Yes
- Translation memory
- Yes
