3 ways to translate a PDF online for free

  • Translating PDF online is essential for students and researchers who need to access documents in other languages.
  • Tools like DeepL and Google Translate enable fast and effective translations at no cost.
  • OnlineDocTranslator is ideal for maintaining the original format when translating documents.
  • It is important to consider the limitations of each tool, such as file size and accuracy in technical texts.

Person translating documents with tablet and smartphone

We have all had the need at some point translate a PDF online, and when it arrives we realize that it is not something simple. Because this format was created precisely to limit as much as possible the possibilities of manipulating its content.

But don't worry, because on the Internet we find solutions for everything. If you need to translate a document in PDF format and you want to do it without having to invest in a specific translation tool, you can do it with the solutions that we are going to show you below.

When can it be useful to translate a PDF?

There are many circumstances in which this need may arise. For example:

  • Academic documents. Students and researchers often need to access articles, theses or research papers that are available online in PDF format, but written in another language.
  • Business materials. Companies that work internationally often create PDF documents for their contracts, business proposals, presentations, etc., and it is very useful for them to be able to create a single document and then automatically translate it into other languages.
  • Manuals and guides. It is not unusual for some user manuals or technical operating procedure guides to be in other languages. If you have the file in a PDF, you can quickly translate it and fully understand what it says.
  • Legal documentation. When it comes to legal matters, it's crucial to understand the content of the documents you're working with, and something as simple as an online PDF translation can help avoid misunderstandings.
  • Marketing content. For companies looking to expand their business beyond national borders, a little help in translating brochures can't hurt.

The best tools to translate a PDF online for free

Here are several applications that you can use at no cost and that will help you translate documents in PDF format. The good thing is that you don't have to go to the trouble of extracting the text and then translating it, in most cases you can upload the PDF file and get your translation in a few seconds.

DeepL

Deepl software for desktop

This translation service has become very popular because it is quite reliable. As a tool for translating documents in PDF format, the following can be highlighted:

  • User-friendly interface. It is very simple and intuitive. You will quickly see where the files are uploaded and then you just have to choose the source language and the target language.
  • Translation quality. DeepL uses Artificial Intelligence and advanced natural language processing techniques, allowing it to make more fluent and contextual translations than those we get with other tools. This is especially useful when you are working with technical or complex documents.
  • Format support. Beyond PDF, this system can also work with files in formats such as . Docx, .pptx and .txt.
  • Data Protection. The platform ensures that all uploaded files are deleted once the translation is done, which improves user security and privacy.

The limitations are that in the free version we cannot work with very large files, for which a Pro subscription is required. On the other hand, in some cases the conversion of PDF to text may affect the format of the document.

DeepL Test

Google Translate

How to translate a PDF online in Google Translate web

Google Translate is one of the most well-known and widely used machine translators in the world, but not everyone knows that it is also useful when it comes to translating a PDF online. Here are its strengths:

  • Simple interface. It is very easy to use, all you have to do is upload the PDF file to the platform, select the source and target language and let the tool do its job.
  • Wide language coverage. It supports over 100 languages, making it one of the most versatile online translation systems.
  • Integration with other services. Translate integrates with other Google services like Drive, so you can translate your PDF files directly from your cloud storage.
  • Translation quality. Google Translate is much more efficient today than it was a few years ago, because it now integrates AI and machine learning. As a result, translations are more accurate, especially for short sentences.

There are also some limitations. One of the most important is that the files we work with cannot exceed 10 MB. Also, when translating, the original formatting of the document may be lost, and if there are tables or images, they will probably not be translated correctly.

Try Google Translate

OnlineDocTranslator as a tool to translate a PDF online

OnlineDocTranslator website for translating documents

This tool has been specifically designed for the translation of documents in different formats, including PDF. Among its features and functionalities we highlight the following:

  • Intuitive interface. It is very easy to use and the translation process is straightforward. Simply upload the file and indicate the source and target languages ​​and the system will get to work.
  • File formats. In addition to PDF, it can work with other formats such as .docx, .pptx and .txt, making it a very versatile tool.
  • Translation quality. It can be said that it is variable, because it uses automatic translation engines to carry it out. In simple translations it usually gives good results, but it is not as efficient when working with more technical or specialized texts.
  • Format preservationOne of its strong points is that it is able to maintain the original format when converting, which is something that not all tools of this type achieve.

Among its weak points, it should be noted that the size limit of the file to be translated varies depending on the format we use. In addition, as we have pointed out before, it is not too precise when faced with more complex language.

Try OnlineDocTranslator

Any of these three online PDF translation tools can help you when you need to change a document in this format from one language to another. It is true that none of them are perfect, there are always limitations, but they are very useful, so we encourage you to try them.


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