In today’s globalized marketplace, the need for accurate and nuanced translation services has never been greater. For professional linguists seeking freelance opportunities, a multitude of online platforms offer a gateway to connect with clients across the world. This guide explores some of the most reputable websites specializing in freelance translation jobs, empowering you to find the perfect platform to launch or expand your translation career.
Websites to Get Freelance Translation Jobs
1. Gengo
Gengo integrates API with its platform, creating streamlined workflows for businesses and translators.
While we love them specifically for SEO services, Gengo also has solutions for translation from English to 58 languages for industries including eCommerce, travel and hospitality, tech and software, and even legal paperwork.
Types of Translation: Human Translation, Machine Translation, Post-Edited Machine Translation.
Supported Languages: Arabic, Bengali, Bulgarian, Burmese, Catalan, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English (British), Estonian, Finnish, Flemish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Irish English, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Malay, Marathi, Norwegian, Pashto, Persian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Europe), Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Serbian (Cyrillic), Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish (Latin America), Spanish (Mexico), Spanish (Spain), Swahili, Swedish, Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese.
Qualifications: Work with anyone who can pass translation tests and consistently translate to our standards, translators to be native speakers of their target language
Experience: A great option for both established translators and beginners with strong language skills.
Work Timing: 24/7 so you can set your schedule and work whenever you want from wherever you want.
Requirement Age: At least 18 years
Country: Globally
Price:
- Standard: $0.06 per word
- Advanced: $0.12 per word
Payouts:
- Timeline: Twice a month
- Methods: PayPal only
- Payout fee: 5%, but not less than $1.5 and not more than $20 per payout + PayPal’s fees for withdrawal
- Service fee: 50–100%
Pros:
- Gengo offers fixed-rate per-word prices, which makes it easy to estimate your costs.
- Keeping with the previous point, there are no added fees above the translation costs (like you might pay at Upwork or Freelancer).
- Helpful onboarding material
- Many jobs for some languages
- Convenient interface
Cons:
- While fixed-rate prices have advantages, they can also be a con because you don’t have any chance to negotiate a good deal.
- You won’t work directly with the freelance translator, so it’s not a good option if you’re looking to build a long-term one-on-one relationship.
- There are few jobs and “click racing” for other languages
- Meager rates for “Standard” translations, marginally acceptable for “Pro”
2. OneHourTranslation.com
Need fast, professional translation? BLEND Express (formerly OneHourTranslation.com) delivers! Get high-quality, affordable translations in any language, in a flash.
Types of Translation: Legal translation services, Technical Translation, Marketing Translation, Financial Translation, Website Translation, Document Translation, and Business Translation.
Supported Languages: Arabic, Chinese, Creole. Dutch, English, French, German, Haitian Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese.
Payouts:
- Timeline: Net 30 after earning a minimum of $20; early payout options available
- Methods: PayPal, wire, Payoneer Mastercard
- Payout fee: None for regular payouts; varies for early payouts + PayPal/Payoneer withdrawal fees where applicable
- Service fee: 50-100%
Pros:
- Good support for translators
- Progression system
Cons:
- Outdated look
3. Unbabel
Unbabel is a company that specializes in providing translation services powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Unbabel helps businesses overcome language barriers and deliver a smooth customer experience regardless of location.
Types of Translation: AI Translation Technology, AI-powered Machine Translation, Automated Language Translation, Computer-Assisted Translation, Email Translation Services, Enterprise Translator, Live Chat Translation, Multilingual Chat Translations, Multilingual Translations, Universal Translator.
Supported Languages: Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, Chinese (Traditional), Czech, Danish, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Russian, Spanish, Spanish (Latin American), Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese.
Language Operations Platform: Augmented Machine Translation, Portal, Channel, Integrations, Editors
Payout:
- Timeline: On-demand (after project approval)
- Methods: PayPal, Payoneer (only in countries where PayPal is not available)
- Payout fee: According to PayPal/Payoneer terms
- Service fee: 50-100%
Pros:
- Simple content to translate
- Edit on top of machine translation
- Get paid by the hour
Cons:
- Simple content to translate
- Edit on top of machine translation
- Get paid by the hour
4. TextMaster
The most likely meaning is a company called TextMaster that offers professional translation services online https://www.textmaster.com/. They have a network of translators and can handle projects in over 50 languages.
Types of Translation: Website Translation, E-commerce Translation, Fashion Translation, Travel Translation, SEO Translation, Marketing Translation, Video Translation, Technical Translation, Legal Translation, Financial Translation, Translation for Luxury Brands, Rush Translation, Business Translation.
Supported Languages: Arabic, Brazilian Chinese, Dutch, Danish, English (US), English (UK), Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and more.
Payouts:
- Timeline: On-demand (after project approval)
- Methods: PayPal, Payoneer
- Payout fee: According to PayPal/Payoneer terms
- Service fee: 25-50%
- Subscription charge: No
Pros:
- Presumably good rates
- Clear messaging & guidelines
- Vibrant community
Cons:
- Rigorous selection process
- Irregular job flow
5. ProZ
ProZ.com is a well-established online platform designed specifically for freelance translators and translation companies. Launched in 1999, it has grown into the world’s largest community of language professionals, boasting over 1 million registered users worldwide.
Languages Supported: List all the languages you can translate from and into, separated by commas (e.g., English, French, Spanish).
Translation Specialties:
- List your areas of expertise (e.g., legal, medical, technical).
- You can be specific (e.g., legal contracts, medical device manuals) or more general (e.g., business, marketing).
Payouts:
- Timeline: On-demand (after project approval)
- Methods: PayPal, Payoneer
- Payout fee: According to PayPal/Payoneer terms
- Service fee: 25–50%
Pros:
- Huge community
- Many jobs posted
- Helps build a profile in the industry
Cons:
- A lot of orders are just trash
- Not a hint of automation
6. PeoplePerHour
PeoplePerHour is a UK-based online platform that connects businesses with freelance workers Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PeoplePerHour. Founded in 2007, it allows businesses to post projects and find freelance professionals with the necessary skills to complete them. Freelancers can also browse for projects and apply their skills to get hired.
Languages Supported: Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, Dutch, Danish, English (US & UK), Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and more (similar to Freelancer.com).
Translation Specialties: PeoplePerHour caters to a wide range of translation needs, including website, e-commerce, fashion, travel, SEO, marketing, video, technical, legal, financial, and luxury brands, rush translation, and business translation.
Payouts:
- Timeline: Hourly
- Methods: PayPal, direct deposit, and Payoneer
- Payout fee: fixed rate, project, and hourly rates
- Service fee: The website offers a 20% payment for projects under $350.
Pros:
- Set your rates
- Secure transactions with escrow
- A large pool of freelancers
Cons:
- High competition for projects
- Limited free bids for freelancers
- Fees for both freelancers and clients
7. Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is a popular online marketplace that connects freelancers with businesses or individuals who need freelance work done https://www.freelancer.com/. Launched in 2009, it’s considered one of the largest platforms of its kind, offering a wide range of services across various industries.
Languages Supported: Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, Dutch, Danish, English (US & UK), Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and more.
Translation Specialties: Website, E-commerce, Fashion, Travel, SEO, Marketing, Video, Technical, Legal, Financial, Luxury Brands, Rush Translation, Business Translation.
Payouts:
- Timeline: On-demand (after project approval)
- Methods: PayPal, Payoneer
- Fees:
- Payment Processor Fees: According to PayPal/Payoneer terms
- Freelancer Service Fee: 25-50% (depending on project)
- Subscription: No
Pros:
- Competitive Rates: Potential to earn good rates on projects.
- Clear Instructions: Projects often have clear messaging and guidelines.
- Active Community: Large pool of freelancers offering the potential for networking and collaboration.
Cons:
- Selection Process: Can be difficult to get accepted as a translator, with a potentially rigorous vetting process.
- Job Availability: Workflow may be irregular, with periods of high and low project availability.
General-purpose Marketplaces
1. Upwork
Upwork is a large online platform that connects freelancers with businesses all over the world. It’s essentially a marketplace where businesses can browse profiles and hire freelancers for various projects, and freelancers can find work that matches their skills.
Supported Languages: English
Payouts:
- Timeline: On-demand (after project approval)
- Methods: Direct to a local bank
- Payout fee: $0 for ACH, $0.99 for other methods
- Service fee: 5-20%
Pros:
- Long track record
- Time-tested processes
- Variety of jobs available
Cons:
- Supply is much higher than demand
- Hard to win a bid without waging price wars
- Customers largely unaware of translation trade specifics
2. Fiverr
Fiverr is a large online marketplace that connects freelancers with businesses or people who need freelance work done.
It’s a popular platform for a wide variety of digital services, like:
- Graphic design (like logos or social media graphics)
- Writing (like blog articles or website copy)
- Video editing
- Programming
- Social media management
- Translation
Payouts:
- Timeline: On-demand (after gig approval)
- Methods: PayPal, wire, U.S. direct deposit, Payoneer MasterCard
- Payout fee: $1–$3 or more depending on the method
- Service fee: 5%
Pros:
- Rigorous procedure to protect both sides
- No need to bid for projects
- Lets you build a profile relatively quickly
Cons:
- Overfocused on competing on price
- Supply higher than demand
- Customers unaware of translation trade specifics
3. Smartcat
Smartcat is a cloud-based software that helps businesses manage translation projects. It connects businesses with translators and translation agencies and provides tools to automate and streamline the translation process. Smartcat includes features like computer-assisted translation (CAT), translation memory (TM), a freelancer marketplace, and payment automation.
Types of Translation: AI Translation, Human Translation, or a combination (automatic translation with professional editing).
Payouts:
- Timeline: On-demand + up to 5 days to process on Smartcat side (usually 1–2 days)
- Methods: Global & local wire, local e-wallets, credit/debit cards, PayPal, Payoneer
- Payout fee: 0-4% depending on the payout method
- Service fee: 10%
Pros:
- Easy-to-use UI
- Jobs from industry-savvy customers
- Quick & manageable bidding process
Cons:
- Customers don’t have to pay upfront, so can disappear. Smartcat does guarantee ultimate compensation, but the investigation takes up to three months.
Other Best Freelance Translation Websites and Marketplaces:
- Lionbridge
- Tomedes
- Acclaro
- Rev
- CSC Translation
- GlobaLink Translations Limited
- Linguistic Systems Inc
- Blend
- OneSky
- Jooble
- Reverso
FAQs:
1. Earning Potential in Online Translation Jobs
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how much you can make with online translation jobs. It depends on several factors:
- Experience and Qualifications: Beginners typically start with lower rates, while experienced translators with certifications and niche expertise command higher fees.
- Project Type: Simple documents pay less per word than complex legal contracts or medical reports.
- Language Pair & Specialization: Rare languages or in-demand specializations like legal or medical translation can lead to higher rates.
- Work Style: Freelancers set their rates, but finding consistent work might require competitive pricing.
Here’s a rough idea:
- Per-word rates: These typically range between $0.10 and $0.35 per word.
- Hourly rates: Newer translators might find hourly rates between $10 and $20, while experienced professionals can reach $100 or more.
- Remember: Consistent work is key. With experience and a strong reputation, you can build a clientele and increase your income.
2. Finding Online Translation Jobs
There are several ways to find online translation jobs:
- Freelancing platforms: Websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer.com offer a variety of translation projects. However, competition can be high, so a strong profile and competitive rates are essential.
- Translation agencies: Many agencies list job openings on their websites or job boards. They often require translators to pass qualification tests.
- Direct Contact: Reach out to companies or individuals needing translation services. Build a network and showcase your skills through online portfolios or social media.
- ProZ.com: This platform connects translators with clients and offers resources for professional development.
3. Can You Find Online Translation Jobs on Freelancing Sites?
Absolutely! Freelancing platforms offer a flexible way to find online translation jobs. However, keep in mind:
- Competition: These platforms tend to be crowded, so a well-crafted profile and competitive rates are crucial to stand out.
- Client Quality: It’s important to research potential clients and ensure they offer fair rates and clear project details.
- Building a Clientele: Initially, you might need to accept lower rates to build a positive review history and attract better clients.
4. Becoming a Certified Translator
Certification isn’t mandatory for online translation jobs, but it can enhance your credibility and open doors to higher-paying opportunities, especially in specialized fields like legal or medical translation.
Here are some things to consider:
- Relevance: Choose a certification program relevant to your target languages and desired specialization.
- Recognition: Ensure the certification is recognized by reputable translation organizations or potential clients.
- Experience: Some certifications require relevant work experience before applying.
Closing Thoughts
The world of online translation offers flexibility and the potential for a rewarding career. By honing your skills, finding the right work environment, and continuously learning, you can establish yourself as a valuable asset in the translation market. Remember, success comes from a combination of experience, strategic marketing, and a commitment to quality. So, take the first step today – build your profile, showcase your expertise, and start connecting with the world through the power of language!
