3 Top AI PDF Translators of 2024

We've all had our fun (and frustrations) with Google Translate, whether for work or just for a laugh. While it can be handy, Google Translate often falls short when it comes to providing accurate, contextual translations and most of all retaining to PDF formats. But when you're on the spot and need a translation that’s not only accurate but also contextual and concise, being able translate a PDF using AI does a phenomenal job. In this article, I'll introduce you to the top 3 AI PDF translators of 2024 that you can rely on.

3 Commonly-Used  AI PDF Translation Tools

I'll start by discussing the three most popular translators today, as agreed upon by internet users and AI enthusiasts. While these tools excel at basic translation, they offer much more than just that. Each one provides unique features that users find convenient and effective, addressing specific needs and challenges. It's these additional capabilities that often guide users in choosing the translator that best suits their requirements.

1. WPS Office: WPS AI’s Parallel Translate seamlessly translates entire documents within WPS Office, preserving formatting and offering contextual accuracy with side-by-side viewing, post-translation editing, and the ability to produce translated or bilingual documents.

2. ChatGPT: ChatGPT offers accurate, style-tailored translations across languages. It's a reliable tool for structured translations.

3. PDFelement: PDFelement by Wondershare allows users to translate their PDFs while preserving the original formatting, and it also offers post-translation editing for any last-minute changes.

Let's try each of these translation tools to see their strengths in action and how exactly you can use these tools to translate PDFs.

1. WPS PDF Parallel Translate

I first encountered WPS Office when I was assigned a translation job with a tight submission deadline. Initially, I wasn’t concerned, as this was routine work for me. However, upon reviewing the PDF file from my client, I discovered that the translation spanned 13 pages. Feeling worried and somewhat frustrated about how to manage such a lengthy document in such a short timeframe, I began searching for solutions on how to translate a PDF using AI.

I tried several options, but many required hefty upfront fees, while others struggled with the task—13 pages proved to be too much for them. Then, I came across WPS Office. Remarkably, it understood my needs and alleviated my concerns, completing the translation swiftly and efficiently!

So, how does it work? WPS Office has a dedicated PDF application called WPS PDF, equipped with advanced AI PDF tools such as the Parallel Translate tool located in the Home tab of its toolbar. I simply loaded my PDF into WPS PDF, tried out the Parallel Translate tool, and as a result, got a new tab with bilingual translation! With both the original text and the translated text visible, WPS’s Parallel Translate feature highlighted the text as I read the translated version.

What’s more, the PDF can easily be downloaded, whether you choose to keep only the translated version or have both the original and translated versions in the same PDF. WPS provided both options, which was very helpful for future reference.

And if these features were not enough, I found the PDF tools provided by WPS PDF really convenient as they allowed me to make any edits to my downloaded PDF file with ease.

What's more, the WPS AI assistant further enhanced my translation process. With WPS PDF Chat, I could quickly gain insights and inquire about specific content within my translated PDF. This feature not only made the review process faster but also ensured the translation was accurate and aligned with the original text.

Lastly, translating without losing any formatting! Out of the many AI PDF translation tools I had tried so far, formatting was a huge concern for me. Considering the PDF document was lengthy, the idea of sitting down to fix any formatting issues was a bit tiring. But WPS Office had this front covered for me. Not only was the formatting kept intact in the translated PDF file, but the pictures were also not removed or misplaced.

I did manage to save my work to ensure I submitted it to my client on time, but I did not end my search for the perfect AI PDF translation tool. Though I was convinced, I wanted to see if there are any tools that could deliver something better than what WPS Office had achieved.

Here are some key features of WPS Office that I noted before moving on to the next AI PDF translator tool, ensuring I had a benchmark for comparison:

• Side-by-Side Viewing: Allows you to view the original and translated documents simultaneously for easy cross-checking.

• Bilingual or Translated Document Download: Offers the option to download either a fully translated document or a bilingual version.

• Post-Translation Editing: Enables you to make adjustments to the translated text directly within the PDF.

2. ChatGPT

In my search for the best AI PDF translator, I decided to test ChatGPT Premium for translating my PDF documents. With ChatGPT being established for over a year, it's clear that the effectiveness of the translations heavily depends on how well you structure your prompts. I initially sought guidance from Google on how to translate a PDF using ChatGPT, hoping to find a useful prompt to tailor the translation. After not finding a satisfactory answer, I decided to craft a prompt of my own:

“Please assume the role of a translator and translate the content of this PDF document from English to Spanish. First, perform OCR to extract the text accurately, then translate it while maintaining the original meaning. Finally, provide the translated content as a PDF file. Here is the PDF: “

Let me explain the contents of this prompt so that if any adjustments are needed according to your requirements, you can easily make them:

• Asked ChatGPT to assume the role of a translator. This way, ChatGPT is clear about its role in the task.

• Instructed ChatGPT about the source and target languages for translation.

• OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is used to extract text from documents that contain images. I included this instruction because, without it, ChatGPT was having trouble with PDFs that included images.

• Instructed ChatGPT to return the translated text in a PDF format to avoid the hassle of creating a new document and then converting it to a PDF.

Along with this prompt, I simply attached my PDF file. To my surprise, ChatGPT took a few moments to process it, unlike WPS AI, which was very quick in translating my PDF file.

Once the translation was complete, I downloaded my translated PDF file. There were no post-editing options, so I had to rely on other PDF tools such as WPS Office to view my PDF file translated by ChatGPT. The results showed that ChatGPT removed the images from my translated document, which led me to convert it to a Word document, reinsert the images, go through the hassle of formatting again, and then convert the formatted Word document back to PDF. Yes, the hassle is real when it comes to translating PDF files using ChatGPT.

Here’s a refined summary of the key features I experienced when translating PDF files using ChatGPT:

• Customizable Translation Style: Tailor the translation to your needs with specific prompts.

• Format Loss: The translated version may lose images and original layout, making post-translation edits difficult.

• Time for Processing: ChatGPT may take a few moments to process the translation, which can be slower compared to other tools like WPS Office that provide quicker results.

3. PDFelement

Moving on to another AI PDF translator tool, PDFelement, which is an all-in-one PDF tool with advanced editing capabilities, I was intrigued to explore its AI translation feature. The experience of translating my PDF with PDFelement was straightforward. I began by selecting the translation tool and configuring a few settings, such as the target translation language and the page range. While the page range setting was less useful for me—since I needed the entire document translated—it can be valuable for users who want to translate only specific pages.

After initiating the translation, PDFelement took some time to complete the task, which was less efficient compared to WPS Office's quick translation process.

However, once the translation was done, PDFelement offered post-editing options, allowing me to correct any errors and add a human touch to the translation. While some may not find this feature essential, I missed the side-by-side translation view, which helps to compare the original content with the translated version and catch any mistakes during the review process. Overall, I found PDFelement user-friendly, and had I not discovered WPS Office earlier, PDFelement would have been a viable option to meet the client's deadline.

Here are some key features I noted while using PDFelement:

• Page Range Selection: Allows users to translate specific pages rather than the entire document.

• Preserved Format: Retains the original document's format, including images.

• Post-Translation Editing: Supports editing after the translation is complete.

Although these features highlight how truly impressive PDFelement is as an AI PDF translator, the cost of PDFelement made me consider my choice carefully.

Comparison of AI PDF Translators

Here’s a quick rundown of the three AI PDF translators if you’re in the decision-making phase:

When it comes to choosing the right translation tool, here’s what I found works best:

WPS Translate: Ideal for professionals who regularly work with Word or PDF documents and require reliable, context-aware translations without compromising the original formatting. This tool is particularly advantageous for those already utilizing WPS Office, as it allows for seamless, on-the-spot translations within the same environment.

• Best For: Professionals or students who frequently work with Word or PDF documents and need a reliable translator along with office suite capabilities within the same environment.

PDFelement: Best suited for professionals dealing primarily with PDFs, this tool excels in providing precise translations while preserving the document’s original format.

• Best For: Users who deal primarily with PDFs and need a comprehensive solution that includes PDF editing features along with PDF translation features.

ChatGPT: This option is ideal for users who need versatile, conversational translations across multiple languages and formats. It’s particularly beneficial for those who prefer more control over the translation style through prompt structuring. However, it may require additional steps to maintain document formatting, making it more suitable for tasks where flexibility and customization are prioritized over immediate format preservation.

• Best For: Users who need flexible, customizable translations across multiple languages and formats, and are comfortable with additional formatting adjustments.

FAQs

Q1. Can I use AI tools for PDF documents for free?

While many advanced AI tools for working with PDF documents require a subscription, some services offer limited free options. For example, DeepL provides free PDF translation with restrictions on file size and quantity. For more extensive or professional use, including larger documents, you may need to subscribe to a premium service.

Q2. Can I Google Translate a PDF?

Google Translate supports the translation of documents, including PDFs up to 300 pages, provided the file size does not exceed 10 MB. Accepted formats for translation include .docx, .pdf, .pptx, and .xlsx.

Final Verdict on AI PDF Translators

When it comes to translating PDF documents, many people only consider this option if their tasks primarily involve PDFs or if they need a quick solution on the spot. WPS Office is an excellent choice for translating PDFs or any short-form content because it integrates seamlessly with an office suite you likely already use for document management. Being an affordable tool, it offers remarkable features, including advanced AI capabilities and a user-friendly interface, without any significant drawbacks. With WPS Parallel Translate, you can swiftly obtain accurate translations whenever needed. So, if you haven't already, download WPS Office today and leverage its powerful translation features.