Who hasn’t struggled to understand a PDF article in another language? Sometimes, you’re even fluent in the original language, but the truth is that, depending on the complexity of the topic, reading in your native language is incomparable in terms of comprehension, not to mention idiomatic expressions, which only make sense when fitted into the local context.
Not so long ago we would cut and paste words one by one into web translation software.
And look, I am not even that old!
Now, however, translations have been made so easy with AI translation software for PDFs.
For clients, it's a godsend to be able to upload a PDF and receive such a quick and efficient output in the language needed.
To developers, PDF translation is not without some problems, i.e., maintaining the original layout, graphics, images, and tables. Yet the industry has already seen that a complete tool ought to be capable of processing files.
Fortunately, artificial intelligence has further revolutionized this task, making it even quicker and easier.
In the following list, we introduce 15 of the top AI tools for PDF translation, starting from the simplest possible and most general-purpose ones and moving towards more specialized CAT tools.
1. DeepL Translator
DeepL is probably the most well-known machine translation software available today, especially for quick lookups.
It is leading with its fluency and precision in translated text and beats other products available on the market.
In addition to translating entire documents, DeepL also preserves some (not all) of the original formatting (the structure of topics, especifically), making it a great option for students and freelancers.
It has a free trial version with account registration.
It can translate PDF files into 31 languages, and one can get more than 800 language pairs.
Sadly, Arabic is not among the languages supported by the file translation feature yet, which I think is a drawback.
It back-translates with high fidelity in format and text placement, such as the preservation of headings, symbols, and graphics.
Take a look at this test with an article from our blog post on Leadership Lessons in Translation, which we used to translate the PDF from English to Portuguese.
When you click on "translate," the translated document is automatically downloaded to your device.
2. Google Translate
A classic, I presume? Google Translate supports over 130 languages.
One of the problems with this tool, however, is that it does not retain the original formatting, especially with more complex documents.
I’ve tried a PDF translation, from English to Portuguese.
If we enter the same input type in Google Translate and DeepL, DeepL produces an output more visually similar to the original, though both fail the formatting.
3. ChatGPT
ChatGPT can translate PDFs, but that's not its strong suit.
When you convert the file to text before processing, it provides a good contextual translation, but that's not the idea, is it?
I attempted to translate an environmental science paper from English to Portuguese, and it took 4m25s to respond, more slowly than the site typically responds. I certainly put it through its paces!
It then gave a good translation and managed to maintain the structure of subjects, article references, etc.
I did find, though, that it wasn't complete like with programs that give you a downloadable-ready translated PDF.
Also, attachments are not supported by GPT-4o mini.
I was able to run only one test, but to utilize the Plus plan continuously, one has to pay $20 monthly.
4. Microsoft Translator
The web-based Microsoft Translator does not have a native option to translate PDFs.
However, you can open the PDF in Microsoft Word, where the software converts the file into an editable document by you.
You can then use the built-in translation feature – it utilizes Microsoft Translator – that allows you to translate the content.
Because it is integrated into the Microsoft system, it is easy to utilize it in translating Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents.
It is a simple system, although I personally find it confusing at times.
5. DocTranslator
DocTranslator is an online tool solely developed to translate documents in their original format.
It translates 249 languages and converts PDF files without the need to install any software.
The free version contains file size limits, and the paid version offers more functionality.
The software indicates that document formatting is preserved without registration, but in fact, formatting is partially maintained.
The site interface is not user-friendly, lots of spamming ads.
There is a notable feature of word count monitoring when translating, however, this isn't a very significant advantage.
An advantage lies in the ability to translate from PDF to a Word document as a final operation.
Test out this PDF English-to-French translation example.
6. Reverso Translator
Reverso Translator is noted for providing well-quality translations as well as idiomatic expression and synonym support.
It has a more mature and natural tone of translation.
However, its ability to keep the PDF structure may not be extensive.
It is translated into 26 languages. Free files can have up to 10 pages. There is also a free limit of 2,500 words, which I think renews each day. Starting at €4.21/month.
The layout is plain, neat, and easy to navigate.
Personally, I prefer tools that keep things simple and deliver on what they say.
7. Systran
Systran is a business machine translation facility that is used widely by companies.
The system is particularly well-suited to technical and legal translation, where high accuracy is critical.
The system also has enhanced security to assist in protecting confidential documents.
The site is a more formal site, clearly aimed at the corporate professional.
It has 55 language support.
The free trial lasts 14 days and does not require a credit card.
The PRO offers unlimited text translation, PDF document translation, and more, including domain-specific translation options (Legal, IT, etc.).
After signing up for the free trial, a confirmation email with access to a "translate cloud" is received, where you can upload files.
I found the cloud easy and very professional.
8. Smartcat
Smartcat combines artificial intelligence and human proofreading.
The software is ideal for professional translators and companies, as it offers real-time collaboration and translation memory use in an attempt to maintain text consistency.
The collaboration TMS mode is an interesting feature.
There is only one condition, however, that I find too limiting: to access the free trial (14 days), you need to sign up with a professional email address.
9. MateCat
MateCat is a totally free tool that relies on AI to accelerate the translation process.
It can handle 82 file formats, from PDFs to Google Drive files.
It provides an easy-to-use workspace for expert translators.
A key highlight is the feature to select the subject matter of the document – a considerate addition because knowing the niche aids in producing more contextually-aided translations.
The collaborative translation memory feature is also a good plus.
In as much as AI PDF translation tools for FREE, I would rate it a ten.
The one limitation is that it translates block by block of paragraphs, thus you cannot download the translated text as a PDF.
If what you want is to have an available download translation file and print it out, then this is not your best tool.
10. Bureau Works
The editor of the Bureau Works uses artificial intelligence to facilitate translation accuracy and efficiency.
Generative Language Engine (GLE), Quality Professor, Translation Smells, and Translation Critic support translators and reviewers in their work and ensure that the quality of translations is high.
PDF is one of the other supported file types.
It offers a 14-day free trial.
The website offers freelance translators and company plans.
If you are looking for a professional tool, it is worth joining the community of Bureau Works, which often shares information on translation market trends and AI advancements
11. SDL Trados Studio
SDL Trados Studio is popular among professional translators.
It supports the use of translation memories and customized glossaries, which introduce more consistency and quality to the translated content.
The user interface is highly professional in appearance and offers a free 30-day license.
12. PROMT Translator
PROMT Translator provides a secure and efficient means to translate files.
It supports offline translation, ensuring confidentiality for sensitive files.
It is widely used in businesses handling sensitive data, as indicated by its slogan: "The best way to translate sensitive or private data."
It supports more than 40 languages.
13. Lingvanex Translator
Lingvanex uses AI to translate texts, audio, and documents efficiently.
It also has an offline mode for use without the internet.
The subscription plan costs on a monthly basis and offers 20 document translations per month and supports 109 languages.
The first document is available for free to test, and the premium plans start at $10/month.
14. Transifex
Transifex is a one-stop collaborative platform that uses AI coupled with human revision to deliver high-quality translations.
It is heavily utilized by businesses handling digital content localization.
The plans start at $120/month.
15. Pairaphrase
Pairaphrase is a service intended for business that requires instant and secure translation of documents.
It provides end-to-end encryption to ensure security.
GENERAL COMPARISON
Free Usage
All services have at least a limited basic free version, or have a free trial of a few days. Most necessitate an email sign-up in order to start testing, which is a universal requirement.
Then, most tools have monthly and annual paid subscriptions (Premium/ PRO), excluding MateCat and Google Translator, which remain free on the internet.
Academic Articles and Papers
PDF translation is most sought after for scholarly and scientific articles. Academic article tests follow a similar pattern, with the provision of a translated file that is also faithful to the original structure – keeping graphics and images in their places and sometimes even retaining the same font. Simplest tools are even able to do this job.
We have not given here the screenshots of the translated scholarly articles due to copyright concerns.
Images and Graphics
One limitation of these tools is that they do not translate text within images embedded in the PDF document, such as comics or diagrams. I attempted this, and the tools struggle to recognize characters within images, even for one-bit languages.
But while the figures themselves are not translated, the captions are, as they are recognized as text.
In order to translate text into images, the most suitable thing to do would be to save the images (or screenshots) and translate them separately with the help of a tool that will read text from images.
Translation of images is a stand-alone feature that such tools are not trained in. But even a basic smartphone camera is now capable of reading text from images.
Which is the Best AI Tool?
The most suitable AI tool for PDF translation is dependent on your needs.
We included in this list examples ranging from basic PDF translation software to complex solutions, which include translation memories, glossaries, and team translation work environments.
Basic software like DeepL, Google Translator, Microsoft Translator, and Reverso can properly translate PDF document text.
In case your goal is only translating an article or a short PDF, these products suffice.
However, if you need a more business-level solution with unlimited file uploads, project history, and advanced functionality, paying for a product like Bureau Works with a monthly subscription can be justified, as it gives a complete translation project environment.
Precious data is often stored in PDFs, and this is among the most sought-after formats for sharing knowledge online.
Choosing the right tool for your objective is key for translators, students freelancers, and businesses that seek to broaden the limits of knowledge access.
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