What's the Difference between DeepL's Free Version and Paid Version (DeepL Pro) – Pricing, Security, Character Count

1. What Are the Pricing Plans for DeepL's Paid Version (DeepL Pro)?

DeepL Pro offers three pricing plans, ranging from "Starter" to "Ultimate," with annual contracts and monthly fees ranging from 1,150 yen to 7,500 yen.
None of these plans have a limit on the number of translatable characters.
The main difference between them is the number of files that can be translated.
More details are given down below.

2. What Is the Difference in Security for DeepL's Free Version and Paid Version (DeepL Pro)?

In business settings, one concern when using web translation services like Google or DeepL is security.
Both the free version and DeepL Pro encrypt communication via HTTPS.
However, in the free version, any data sent is subsequently stored on DeepL's servers and kept for a certain period for the improvement of translation algorithms. This means that the original text and the translated text can be appropriated by DeepL, raising concerns about information management risks.
On the other hand, DeepL Pro explicitly states that not only is data encrypted, but no data is stored before or after translation. Therefore, you have no need to worry about information leaks.

Given these points, one could say that using DeepL Pro is essential when translating documents that contain confidential information in a business context.

For more details, check out the post below.

>Is Confidentiality Maintained with DeepL Translations? What About Security?

3. What Is the Difference in the Number of Translatable Characters for DeepL's Free Version and Paid Version (DeepL Pro)?

The main difference between the free version and DeepL Pro is the difference in the number of characters that can be translated.

In the free version, the maximum number of characters that can be translated at once is 1,500.
With DeepL Pro, the number of characters that can be translated is unlimited regardless of which plan you choose.

In addition to the number of characters, the number of terms and glossaries that can be registered also varies by payment.
In the free version, the number of glossaries is one, and the number of terminoloy pairs is 10. This is not enough for business use.
In the case of DeepL Pro, depending on the pricing plan, 1 to 2,000 glossaries with up to 5,000 term pairs each can be registered.

4. What Is the Difference in the Number of Translatable Files for DeepL's Free Version and Paid Version (DeepL Pro)?

The free version has limitations on the number of files that can be translated and on file size.
You can translate 3 files per month, with a maximum size of 5MB per file.
Additionally, the translated files are protected and cannot be edited. Even if the text contains mistranslations or expressions that you want to adjust, you cannot make corrections. So in short, if you just want to get a rough idea of a file's content, translating without the ability to make corrections may be all you need, but if your reason for translating materials requires accuracy, it may be inadequate.

For DeepL Pro, the number of files that can be translated per month ranges from 5 to 100, depending on the pricing plan. The file size limit also varies, at 10 MB per file for Starter, 20 MB for Advanced, and 30 MB for Ultimate.
Additionally, the translated files are editable.

The types of files that can be translated are Word files (*.docx), PowerPoint files (*.pptx), and PDFs, for both the free version and DeepL Pro. Translation of Excel files (*.xlsx) is not supported.

Simple workarounds for how to translate Excel files (*.xlsx) are explained in the following post.

>How to Translate Excel Files with DeepL

5. How to Use DeepL for Business

When it comes to professional business use, considering aspects such as information leak prevention and the volume of content that can be translated, we recommend using DeepL Pro.

If you are considering using DeepL Pro, in addition to applying directly to DeepL, there is also the option to use the translation software service "MTrans for Office," which is equipped with the DeepL translation engine.
MTrans for Office allows one-click translation within Office software and can use not only the DeepL translation engine but also Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI translation engines. Beyond translation, depending on the prompts, it can generate, rewrite, and proofread text, supporting work efficiency and multilingual correspondence.
MTrans for Office also offers a 14-day free trial. Please feel free to contact us.

Features of MTrans for Office

① Unlimited number of translatable files and glossaries with a flat-rate plan
② One-click translation from Office products!
③ Secure API connection
・For customers who want further enhancements, SSO and IP restrictions are also available

④ Japanese-language support by a Japanese company
・Support for security check sheets is also available
・Payment by bank transfer is available

MTrans for Office is an easy-to-use translation software for Office.