Contracts are exactly the documents that should never go into a free online translator: they contain names, prices and terms that are covered by confidentiality clauses. noll translates the whole file in EU data centres and deletes it after 30 minutes, so you can read a draft in German before you negotiate or forward it.
Translating a contract
- Numbering and cross-references ("see clause 7.2") stay intact because the structure of the document is preserved, so the translated version can be read side by side with the original.
- Legal terms rarely map one to one. "Consideration", "indemnify" or "best efforts" have no exact German equivalent; the translation picks the closest established term, which is why a lawyer should check anything you intend to sign.
- The governing-language clause decides which version counts. A translation helps you understand and negotiate; unless both parties agree otherwise, the original stays binding.
English to German
German text runs about 20 to 30 % longer than English. In a flowing document that just adds lines; in fixed boxes, table cells and slides it can make text tighter, so check those spots. The translation uses the formal "Sie", the default for business and official German.
How it works
- 1
Drop the file
Upload the original file. The source language is detected automatically, so you don't have to pick it.
- 2
Pick German
Choose German as the target. You can add more target languages and get one translated file per language.
- 3
Download the same file type
You get the same file type back with the layout kept, ready to open in the program you used before.
What happens to your file
noll is built for documents you would not paste into a free online translator. Files are processed in EU data centres, never used to train models and permanently deleted 30 minutes after the translation finishes, or as soon as you delete them yourself. There is no document history to leak later.
How your data is handledMachine translation, not a certified translation
noll gives you an accurate working translation fast. If an authority, court or university demands a certified or sworn translation, you still need a sworn human translator; our output is a good draft to hand them.
Pricing
Translation is billed by the page. See the current plans before you upload a large batch.
See pricingFrequently asked questions
Is the German translation legally binding?
No. The version named in the governing-language clause is binding, which is usually the English original. Use the translation to understand and negotiate, and have a lawyer check the German wording if it will be signed.
Does this break the confidentiality clause?
Uploading to a service that keeps or trains on your data can. noll processes files in the EU, never uses them for training and deletes them after 30 minutes, which is what most NDAs and DPAs require of a processor.
Should I upload the PDF or the Word file?
Use Word if you have it: the German version stays editable for redlining. A signed PDF works too and comes back as a PDF.
How are legal terms like "indemnify" handled?
They are translated with the established German legal term (for example "freistellen"). Common-law concepts without a German equivalent are paraphrased, which is where a lawyer's review matters most.
Related translations
Prepare the PDF before or after translating
These PDF tools run in your browser, so the file never leaves your device.
