17 Best Online Translation Jobs From Home (2023)

Looking for the best online translation jobs from home? If you are bilingual or multilingual, you can make some good money by offering translation services online.

A lot of companies and businesses are looking to expand their customer base and audience. And the best way to reach people is to communicate to them in a language they understand; this is where translating comes in. If you speak more than one language, grab this opportunity and make some modest earnings.

We know you are looking for online translation jobs; and we will tell you where you can get the jobs. But before we get to the companies and sites that hire translators, let’s look at some essentials to get you started.

How can I make money as a translator?

First things first. You need to be bilingual or multilingual to work as a translator. Learning a foreign language in school is often not enough to make you fluent enough to work as a translator.

You will have to pass fluency tests before most companies and sites hire you. If you have a good mastery of your native language as well as your second language, your services will be in high demand.

A lot of translators have a Bachelor’s Degree in translation. Some companies hire translators with a bachelor’s degree only. If you do not have a degree, there are a lot of online training services you can take to gain some essential skills.

With the right language competencies and translation skills, you are good to get started. You just need a stable internet connection to start working as a freelance translator.

How much do translators make?

Translating is among the best paying work from home jobs. However, how much you earn as a translator will depend on the company or gig at hand, your experience, and the demand for your services.

The average pay for online translators is around $25 per hour. Some translators earn thrice this amount. Some gigs will, however, pay depending on the number of words to be translated.

Now that we have established how lucrative online translation jobs can be, let’s look at some companies that hire online translators.

Companies hiring for online translation jobs from home

Read more: 70+ Online Jobs Worldwide – Work From Home Anywhere In The World

1. Translate.com

Translate.com is a platform that links translators to clients who need translation services. Their gigs revolve around translating blog posts, support tickets, medical reports, user guides, business plans and social media posts.

Your work on this platform will be to edit machine-translated texts.

Translate.com offers services in over 90 world languages. Yours will be to sign up, take a test and start translating. The company assigns the gigs on a first come first serve basis.

You can cash out your payment to PayPal anytime.

PROS

• Their wide language coverage will most probably cover your languages of choice
• Flexibility to work from wherever and whenever
• Consistent flow of work
• No more bidding for work

CONS

• Rigorous selection process

2. Unbabel

Unbabel is another reputable site looking to hire online translators. As a translator on Unbabel, you should expect to translate product descriptions, blog posts, newsletters, and online content. You should also expect to review artificial intelligence translations to boost their accuracy.

They however hire translators depending on their language needs at a time. Be sure to check out if they are hiring translators in your language of expertise from time to time.

They pay hourly, unlike most reputable translation sites. Expect to earn anything between $8 and $18 per hour. They pay via PayPal, and via Payoneer in countries where PayPal is not available.

PROS

• You can cash out anytime
• Simple translating gigs- your work will mostly be to edit translations by machines

CONS

• They don’t always have opportunities for all languages at a time

3. OneHourTranslation

One Hour Translation hires translators from all over the world. To get started on this site, you will have to pass an online exam. After the exam, you will need to send in your justifications to get approved.

Once you get approved, you get to pick jobs to work on. You work and get paid whenever you want. You can withdraw your earnings One Hour Translation MasterCard, PayPal or wire transfer.

Pay generally starts from$12 per hour. However, what you earn will mostly depend on your language combination.

PROS

• Various pay methods
• Consistent flow of work
• Flexibility to work from wherever and whenever
• You will receive bonuses for exemplary works and ratings

CONS

• Tough entry process

4. Gengo

If you translate to or from Japanese or Mandarin, you would definitely love the experience at Gengo. The demand for Japanese translators is high on this app.

To get started, you need to sign up and pass the approval test. After getting approved, your work will be to navigate through the jobs on the dashboard and choose which ones you want to work on.

They pay per word or per character translated. Pay rates starts from $0.03 per word. They pay bimonthly via PayPal. Depending on the results of your test and reputation on the site, you will be rated as standard, pro or proofreader. Each levels access different jobs and have different pay.

PROS

• Consistent flow of work for Japanese translators
• Select work that suits you best-no bidding
• Hire worldwide
• You can retest up to three times if you fail the entry test
• They provide educational resources for the translators

CONS

• They charge $1.50 for every payout

5. Smartling

If you are a tech-savvy, you will love your experience on Smartling. Most of their clients are software companies, so as you sign in, be prepared of lots of modern technology-related gigs.

You will need to take a test before you get approved.

PROS

• Modest pay
• Consistent flow of work

CONS

• A slow support team that over focuses on the wellbeing of the clients and hardly ever on the translators

Remote translation jobs

Read more: Absolutely Free Money! 13 Easy Ways To Earn Free Money Online In 2020

6. Speakt

Speakt is another translation company that hires translators on an independent contract basis. The first step to getting started with Speakt is to sign up and fill in the necessary details. You will then have to pass an online test before you can access the dashboard.

The best aspect of Speakt is that once you are approved, you will be able to access and pick any job you want from their dashboard. You will receive a notification on your email whenever jobs that match your profile are posted.

They pay monthly via PayPal or wire transfer. How much you earn per gig depends on your language combination.

PROS

• A team of professional and supportive support; queries are answered quickly
• Simple and friendly projects
• Timely payment
• Modest pay

CONS

• Tough entry test may throw you out

7. Translators Cafe

Translators café has both translating and interpretation gigs. If you are searching for both, this could be the most ideal site for you. They have gigs in a wide range of world languages.

You will have to sign up, take a test and wait for approval. Once approved, you will be able to access the jobs board. You can then start bidding for jobs that interest you. You will, however, receive notifications inviting you to apply for jobs that match your language combination.

To be top of the consideration list by employers, you will have to upgrade your subscription.

PROS

• They have consistent flow of work in most European languages
• Email notification whenever your job combination is posted
• Modest pay for most language combination
• Flexibility to work whenever and wherever

CONS

• Putting up your profile can be exhausting and overwhelming
• The site is quite complicated and difficult to navigate through

8. Translators Base

Translators Base is another company that hires translators to work from the comfort of their houses. They have a wide range of translation gigs covering different fields. To get started, you will need to sign up on their site and sit a test. Once you get approved, you will be able to access jobs on the dashboard. You can start bidding for jobs that spark your interest.

PROS

• They have consistent flow of work in wide range of languages
• Create your own work schedule
• Modest pay

CONS

• Getting approved can be quite difficult

9. Andovar

Andovar is a reliable language solutions platform that hires translators from all over the world. If you are a beginner and would love to use some support as you start off, you may love it here. There are lots of friendly support and translators that may guide you.

Besides, they have excellent software that will help you translate.

PROS

• They have consistent flow of work- in fact, the work load can be overwhelming sometimes
• Friendly yet professional work environment
• Flexibility to set your work hours

CONS

• More favorable for translators of Asian languages

Online translation jobs for students

Read more: 20+ Freelance Writing Jobs Online For Beginners With No Experience

10. Proz

Proz is one of the oldest sites in the online translation world. They remain a reputable site that hires translators in over 200 language combinations.

To get started on the site, you will need to select your language combination. You will also select the fields in which you would love to work in.

What you would love most about this site is that it is welcoming to semi-professional and amateur translators. It is open to mostly anyone; they are barely keen about your competencies. So, if you are a beginner, grab this opportunity

PROS

• Welcoming to beginners
• They have gigs in over 45 language combinations, and they are ever expanding
• Privilege to set your work hours and work schedule

CONS

• Outdated site that is difficult to navigate

11. World Lingo

World Lingo hires translators either as specialists, or generalists. On this site, you can only translate to your native language. Besides, the gigs you work on have to be based in your country of residence. You need a University degree and two years of experience in your area if specialty before you get approved.

To get started, log in on their site and fill in the Freelance Application Form.

PROS

• Most of their gigs are long-term
• Flexible work schedule

CONS

• Lots of requirements and specificities may throw you out

12. Transperfect

If you are looking to work full-time, Transperfect could be the ideal site for you. They have both full-time and part-time translating gigs for freelancers. They also have interpretation gigs.

Navigating through their site is quite easy. You can filter the jobs depending on your interests and qualification.

You will also love that the freelancers get health benefits, unlike most freelance sites.

PROS

• They have a consistent flow of work
• They offer their freelancers health benefits
• Modest pay
• Flexible work schedule for part-time gigs

CONS

• Support team doesn’t respond to queries promptly

More online translation jobs

Read more: 17 Online Editing Jobs That Pay Well And Are Flexible

13. Translationservices.com

As a freelance translator on Translation Services, you should expect to work on both academic and non-academic texts. They have translation gigs in lots of languages. You will even bump into gigs from endangered languages. If you cannot find your language combination from another site, you will find it here.

If you are an expert in legal and medial translation, you will love it here.

You will have to be a native speaker in your target language before you get approved.

PROS

• Availability of gigs in most world languages
• Friendly support team
• Flexible work schedule
• Friendly yet professional work environment

CONS

• Getting approved is quite hectic

14. Verbalizeit

Verbalizeit hires translators that are at least fluent in two languages. To get approved, you must pass several assessment tests. After approval, you will be able to access their jobs board and select work that suits your profile.

They pay $5 per hour. This is quite low, but a good way to start off. They pay on 15^th and 30^th of every month via PayPal. Sign up on their page to get started.

PROS

• Flexible work schedule
• Friendly and professional work environment
• Work is assigned to the first responder
• You will receive notifications whenever work that matches your profile is uploaded

CONS

• Low pay

15. Translators Town

If you are a beginner, be sure to try your luck on Translator’s Town. A lot of translation companies require translators to have some years of experience, which is not the case with this company. You need no experience here. As long as you have the right experience and skills, you are good to get started.

To bid for jobs on this site, you will have to get a paid membership. They have two paid subscriptions, one costs $75 per year and the other costs $110 per year.

What I love most about this site is that you can post jobs as a client, and bid for jobs as a translator, using the same account.

PROS

• They hire worldwide
• No experience needed
• Modest pay
• Flexible and friendly work environment

CONS

• You won’t access any jobs on free version

16. TextMaster

TextMaster hires translators worldwide. You will love that the entry process on this site is quite straightforward.

You will need to sign up and take tests before you can access work. Depending on your linguistic skills and experience, you can join this platform as a professional or as a semi-professional.

You will love that once the client approves your work, the payment will automatically reflect on your account. You can withdraw your earnings any time you wish. You can use PayPal or Payoneer for your withdrawal purposes.

PROS

• Opportunity to choose projects to work on
• Flexible work schedule
• Friendly and professional work environment
• Instant payment and withdrawal of payment

CONS

• Inconsistent flow of work

17. Transparent Language

Transparent Language hires translators to offer both interpretation and translation services to its clients. You must have at least 2 years’ experience in translation to get hired. Besides, you must have a vast knowledge of translation software.

You will need to sign up, specify the services you want to offer, and pass a test before you get approved.

Their pay is standard, but it significantly varies depending on your language combination.

PROS

• Flexible work environment
• Friendly support team who promptly respond to queries
• Modest pay

CONS

• Getting approved is a bit hectic

Which of these online translation jobs will you take on?

Online translation jobs are one of the most lucrative freelance gigs. If you are bilingual and multilingual, you should not be sitting on that goldmine. The sites above are out to ensure you explore your potential.

From the list above, get two or three sites that suit your capabilities and interests, sign up, take the tests, and get started. With the above online translation jobs, you will soon watch yourself earn decent money working remotely. Besides, you will earn the fulfillment of helping companies and organizations expand their base.

So, which of these online translation jobs will you pursue? Do you have any other work from home translation jobs to add? Let us know in the comment section below.