A useful DeepL alternative depends on the file you actually need to translate. A scan needs OCR. A report with controlled terminology may need a glossary. A digital file over 5 MB raises a different question: which plan accepts it, and how is the translation billed? noll translates whole documents into English and returns the same kind of file, with text replaced in place. Its limits are 40 MB per file and, depending on the plan, 2 to 10 files per translation. It has no OCR, glossary or free tier. The comparison here sets out those differences so you can decide which workflow fits, without assuming either tool gives the better translation of your document.
DeepL and noll: document translation compared
DeepL figures are according to DeepL's pricing page, checked November 2026; its Free terms also inform the training row. These are published plan and product facts, not results from a head-to-head translation test. Where a cell says to check DeepL's terms, we could not confirm a figure on DeepL's pages.
| Criterion | DeepL Free | DeepL Pro (paid plans) | noll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum file size | 5 MB | 30 MB: Individual and Team; 100 MB: Business | 40 MB per file |
| Files per upload or month | 1 per month | Individual: 3/month; Team: 20/month; Business: 100/month | 2 (day pass) to 10 (company plans) files per translation; billed by page |
| Scanned PDFs | DeepL says it supports scanned PDFs; check current Free conditions | Yes, according to DeepL | No; no OCR |
| Glossary | Check DeepL's current terms | Yes | No glossary or term lock |
| Training on your documents | Content may be used for training under Free terms | No | No |
| Storage | Check DeepL's current terms | Stored temporarily as technically needed; deleted after translation | EU processing; cleanup scheduled after success: standard jobs 30 minutes, single-PDF purchase jobs 2 hours |
| Free tier | Yes | No; paid plans | No |
When noll fits your document work
Consider noll when the practical requirements match the file, rather than choosing on the brand name alone. On this page, the intended target is English; the source language is detected separately for each file.
The following differences can matter when you compare plan limits. They do not establish a lower total price or a better translation. noll requires a paid plan or pass, and the current pricing should be checked against the number of pages you intend to translate.
- Files between 5 and 40 MB: every noll plan and pass accepts files up to 40 MB, so file size alone never pushes you onto a bigger plan. DeepL Free stops at 5 MB; Individual and Team accept up to 30 MB. Above 30 MB, compare noll with DeepL Business.
- Batches: put several digital documents into one translation rather than starting each separately, 5 with Pro and up to 10 on company plans (2 with a day pass). This is a per-translation limit, not a monthly allowance. Source languages can differ between files.
- Files are processed in EU data centres and never used to train models. Automatic file deletion is scheduled 30 minutes after successful translation in the standard document workflow; the separate single-PDF purchase flow allows 2 hours after successful translation for checkout and download. Download promptly. You can delete files earlier yourself, and there is no document history, so save the output you need.
- Per-page billing: compare your expected page volume with the current plan or pass. noll has no free tier.
When DeepL is the better choice
Choose DeepL over noll if your PDF is a scan and you need the translator to read the page images. DeepL says it translates scanned as well as digitally created PDFs. noll requires selectable text and has no OCR. Test the source by selecting a sentence in your PDF reader before deciding which tool can handle it.
A paid DeepL plan is also the better fit if a glossary is part of your process. noll has no glossary or term lock, so it cannot let you prescribe the translation of a recurring product name or technical term. Manual checking remains necessary with either tool, but glossary availability can be a requirement of its own.
For a free try, DeepL Free is the relevant option; noll has no free tier. For a very large file, DeepL Business accepts up to 100 MB according to its pricing page, compared with noll's 40 MB.
Compare tools on the same document
A file-limit table cannot tell you whether a translation is suitable for your readers. If both tools accept your document and their terms fit your needs, compare the same source in each. The steps here are instructions for your own review, not a report of tests we have performed.
- Use the same original file and target language. Choose a document representative of your work, including a dense page and any specialist vocabulary. Do not compare a clean Word original in one tool with an old scan in the other.
- Check tables, headers and footers against the source. Follow a row from its label to its value and inspect headings at page boundaries. Look for crowded cells, awkward line breaks and missing context. DeepL also says it preserves formatting and layout; noll does not claim an exclusive advantage here.
- Check numbers and their labels together, including amounts, dates and account details. Compare numbers and their formatting with the source; noll does not offer automatic localisation. A date or amount in the source convention may still need an explanation for an English reader; do not mistake unchanged notation for localisation.
- Read complete sentences and compare important terms across the file. Ask someone familiar with the subject to check uncertain wording. Record which output needs which edits, and consider the time required to make them in the returned format.
Choose for the whole task, including the final review
Start with the source format and the intended use. A PDF with selectable text can be suitable for noll, while text inside screenshots, logos or stamps is not translated. If you have a Word original and need to revise the English wording, uploading .docx gives you an editable .docx back.
Then check any non-negotiable requirements: a glossary, OCR, a particular file size or approval of a provider's data terms. Both noll and paid DeepL say documents are not used for training. Their deletion descriptions differ: noll schedules file cleanup 30 minutes after success for standard jobs and 2 hours after success for separate single-PDF purchase jobs, while DeepL describes temporary storage as technically needed and deletion afterward. That distinction does not establish that one retains a particular file for less time.
Finally, confirm what the recipient accepts. noll produces machine translations and never certifies them. An authority or court that requires a certified or sworn translation needs a qualified human translator. For internal reading or an editable working draft, review the terms and layout before sharing the result.
Into English, from any language
You don't have to tell us the source language; it is detected per file, so a folder of German, French and Polish documents can all go into English in one upload.
How it works
- 1
Drop the file
Upload the digital original in a supported format. For PDFs, use selectable text; scanned PDFs are not supported. The source language is detected automatically.
- 2
Pick English
Choose English as the target. Sign in and check your available page allowance before starting the translation. You can add more target languages.
- 3
Download the same file type
Start the translation, then download the result in the source file type. Compare the layout, numbers, dates and important wording with the original before using it.
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 and never used to train models. Automatic file deletion is scheduled 30 minutes after successful translation in the standard document workflow. The separate single-PDF purchase flow allows 2 hours after successful translation for checkout and download. Download promptly; see our data-handling information for details.
How your data is handledPricing
The standard document workflow requires an account and an available translation page allowance. Translation is billed by the page. Check current plans and your allowance before starting.
See pricingFrequently asked questions
Is noll a free alternative to DeepL?
No. noll has no free tier. Document translation requires a paid plan or pass and is billed by the page. DeepL Free is available for small files, with a 5 MB maximum according to DeepL's pricing page, checked November 2026.
Can noll translate files that exceed DeepL Free's limit?
noll accepts files up to 40 MB each; one translation can include 2 files with a day pass, 5 with Pro and up to 10 on company plans. According to DeepL's pricing page, checked November 2026, DeepL Free accepts 5 MB, Individual and Team 30 MB, and Business 100 MB. Format and scan restrictions still apply.
Which is better for a scanned PDF, DeepL or noll?
DeepL is the relevant choice between these two for scanned PDFs: DeepL says it supports them. noll has no OCR and cannot translate scanned PDFs. A digital PDF with selectable text is required for noll.
Does noll have a glossary like paid DeepL plans?
No. noll has no glossary or term lock. Paid DeepL plans offer glossaries. If you use noll, check key terms and repeated specialist wording by hand before sharing the translation.
Are noll documents used for training, and when are they deleted?
Files are processed in EU data centres and never used to train models. Automatic file deletion is scheduled 30 minutes after successful translation in the standard document workflow; the separate single-PDF purchase flow allows 2 hours after successful translation for checkout and download. Download promptly. You can delete files earlier yourself, and there is no document history, so save the output you need.
Is noll better than DeepL for document translation?
The choice depends on your requirements. noll offers 40 MB per file, batches of up to 10 files on company plans and per-page billing. DeepL offers scanned-PDF support, paid glossaries and a free tier. Compare both on the same document before judging translation quality or layout.
Related translations
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What keeping a PDF's layout means, and where its limits are.
- Translate a Word document into English and keep formatting
Translating Word files: what survives and what to check in the .docx.
- Translate an Excel file to English
- Translate a bank statement to English
- All document translation pages
Prepare the PDF before or after translating
These PDF tools run in your browser, so the file never leaves your device.
