The Best Translation Job websites (that work Worldwide)

Last Updated on September 23, 2022

Globalization has pushed businesses to be more inclusive. They’re now publishing content in multiple languages to reach multiple linguistic communities. They’re also using subtitles and captions to reach the deaf community and non-native speakers. 

This has led to the popularity of translation and transcription services, something we call as “Language Jobs”. Translation services translate content from one language to another, while transcription services convert speech to text.

Knowing more than one language, and being fluent in both of them can help you translate between language pairs. You can even turn your translation skills to a full-time job, if you want.

If you’re looking for the best platforms that host language jobs, then you’re at the right place. I’ve curated a list of the best translation websites that work worldwide, and have lots of work available. 

List of the most legit Translation job platforms (that accept globally)

ProZ Job Board

ProZ is probably the largest job board of translation gigs. It also has various other language jobs including proofreading, transcription, transcreation, voiceover, and copywriting among many more.

It even has a directory of the various companies that offer translation gigs on the platform. While some of them don’t have dedicated websites, you can even manually apply to them for more jobs.

To get started:

1. Start by browsing available jobs in your language pairs. 
2. Find out more information by opening the listing. You will need to create a free account to apply for the job or post a bid.
3. Registration is free for translators. No credit card required as well.
   
   

TranslatorsAuction

Translators Auction Works as a job board, where you can connect with various clients looking to hire translators.

It has a tonne of work for almost any language, but you need to give an initial test assignment to prove that you can do the job.

To get started:

1. Go to their registration page. Fill in your details and make sure you select “Translator” as the user status.
2. Fill in your details such as your email, name, password, etc. and you are good to go.
3. Verify your email and begin applying for jobs.
   

Gengo

Gengo is a translation services platform owned by Lionbridge. You can sign yourself up here. After the sign up process, you would need to take a test. Passing the test can be extremely difficult. 

There are a lot of questions where more than one option can be correct, but you have to select one. However, if you manage to get past the test, there’s a huge ocean of opportunities on the platform waiting for you. 

Your income varies based on the languages you translate and the languages you translate to. The quantity of matter translated also matters. 

At the time of writing, the average income for those translating to English, Vietnamese, French, and Chinese have the highest income. Those translating to Greek, Slovak, and Danish have the lowest. 

Translating to English gives you an average income of $500-600 a month. Payments are made via PayPal and Payoneer.

Stepes

Stepes is a California based company that provides translation and localization services to it’s clients. It offers translations in over 100 languages.

According to online reviews, it offers pay rates ranging from 8$-12$/hour. They also offer transcription, interpretation and voice-over jobs. To sign up:

1. Click on the “Become a Translator” button on the Translators page.
2. Give your account info, choose your language pairs, and sign up as a translator. You can also sign up as a transcriber, interpreter or voice-over artist among others.
3. Verify your email and login. You can also upload any translation certificates you have in your profile. This increases your chances of getting projects.

They have a rating system that defines the amount of work that you get. They also analyze your responsiveness regarding projects and rate you based on that. You can see all these details in your dashboard.
Go to the “Jobs” section on the left to see the tasks available to you. The tasks contain information regarding the pay, the deadline and the amount of words you need to translate.

BLEND Express (formerly OneHourTranslations)

BLEND, formerly known as OneHourTranslations used to be a very popular localization platform, headquartered in Israel. In 2021, it rebranded itself as BLEND, to offer more solutions. 

It now hosts gigs for voice-over artists, content creators, SEO specialists, editors and many more along with translators.

Signing up is super simple:

1. Go to their Freelancers Page and click on the “Apply Now” button.
2. Fill in your email, country and password.
3. Done. You are taken to their dashboard.

You can now upload your resume, certifications and ID documents as you wait for them to review your profile. You can also check out available jobs. 

They also have a progress system, where you begin as a Bronze member. As you finish projects and get ratings, you progress to Silver, Gold or Diamond memberships. A nice way to gamify your progress.

Even though they seem to offer jobs for a variety of tasks, they work primarily on translation jobs.

World Translation Jobs

World Translation Jobs is a portal and job aggregator of translation jobs, pretty much like ProZ. 

While the interface of the website isn’t exactly user-friendly, it has lots of job listings from translation agencies. The best part is that you don’t even need to become a member to access these listings.

To look for jobs, simply:

1. Go to their Browse Jobs page for translators.
2. Go through the listings and find a job suitable for you. There are no filters or search bars to help you, unfortunately.
3. Click on any job listing and then click the “Apply for job” button on the bottom right.

The payment amount and method depends from agency to agency, as this is only a listing platform. But you can find a lot of consistent work through this method.

Oneforma

Oneforma is a fairly new crowd-working site when compared to OGs like Appen, Lionbridge/TELUS or Clickworker.

But it has shown consistent work availability since the past 2 years that I have been it’s member. Here is how you sign up on Oneforma:

1. Click here to go to their signup page.
2. Fill their signup form. Name, Email, Location, Language…you know, the usual stuff.
3. Verify your email address and you are done.

Upon your first login to Oneforma, you are supposed to clear an NDA Certification. This is extremely easy, and anyone with some common sense can clear it. There’s no need to be scared of it.

Then simply go to their “Jobs” section and look for the “Translation” category.

Mota Word

Motaword is a translation platform. It doesn’t have any deadlines for work and allows you to complete your projects whenever you want. For any project, you’ll need to work with multiple translators. To get started:

1. Click here. Read the agreement and click on “Continue.”
2. Sign up with your full name, email, birthday, phone number, and address. 
3. Create a password.
4. Connect your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn profile.
5. Choose your native language, and the languages you want to work on.
6. Click on “Register”.
7. You’ll be sent a confirmation email. Verify your account.

Every project has its own pay per word rate, which will be informed to you before you take up the project. You get paid for your project 15 business days after its completion. All payments are made via PayPal. The minimum pay threshold for withdrawal is $25.

Smartling

Smartling is a cloud based translation services platform. It translates content on websites and web applications. It also updates those translations automatically as the content changes. To get started:

1. Proceed to the application page here.
2. Read the FAQs and then click on “Apply Now.”
3. You’ll be directed to a Google Forms window. Fill in your details to apply.
4. Submit the application.
5. If your application gets accepted, you’d need to take a proficiency test. 

If you pass the proficiency test, you can start working as a translator. You get paid after a month since your work gets recorded. Payments are made via Veem directly to your bank account.

TextMaster

TextMaster is a French translation services platform owned by Acolad Group. It prides itself as a European translation platform with high data protection, thanks to GDPR. To get started:

1. Click here to create an account.
2. Enter your name and email.
3. Create a password.
4. Agree to all the terms and join.
5. Your profile will be reviewed, and you’d need to pass a screening test for your languages. 

If you pass the test, you can work on the platform as a translator. Payments are made by PayPal or Payoneer, based on your choice.

How much can I earn with Translation Jobs (plus tips to earn more)

Translation Jobs generally pay by word, and it turns out better than transcribing content. You can earn anywhere between 0.01$ – 0.20$ per word for translating content. The variation depends upon the language pair you choose.

The pay is more when there are less translators (of that language) available on the platform.

For example, some regional language translations pay real good, as it is hard to find such translators. But these jobs are usually rare to find.

Your earning potential depends upon the number of languages you know fluently enough to translate in-between them. The more languages you know, the more you can earn.

On an average, knowing 2-3 languages can get you around 500-600$/month easily, given you are able to find work consistently.

Translation v/s Transcription Jobs (which is better for you)

Transcription jobs require you to type what you are hearing, generating subtitles or captions as you listen. Here are some features of transcription jobs:

• Pays per minute of audio transcribed. 
• Easy to get into, no linguistic certification required (usually).
• Work is simpler, you can even speed up using various tools.

On the other hand, translation jobs require you to translate some content from one language to another.

• Pays per word translated.
• Requires some kind of linguistic qualification to apply (usually)
• Work can be a little complicated, and you should know how to type/transliterate into the other language.

Translation jobs definitely look more complicated and difficult to get into. But that’s exactly why they are better, in my opinion.

As I have seen with various crowdtesting platforms, the more difficult it is for you to get in/qualify, the better the opportunities and higher the pay.

Moreover, a lot of the transcription business is being taken over by AI. They have gotten really good at transcribing, and this has damped the demand for human transcriptionists. 

The only place of opportunity in transcription jobs are technical jobs, such as Medical or Legal Transcription jobs. 

Translation, however, still requires the human touch. While the machines can translate some common language pairs easily, they still don’t understand a lot of the nuances that only a native speaker understands.

Plus, there are so many regional languages and dialects that machines still don’t understand. Therefore, finding a translation job is still much easier and a bit future-proof.

If you are bilingual, then you should definitely give translation work a try. It’s a great source of some part-time income, and with a little effort, maybe a full-time income as well.

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