Basics:
ProZ connects clients and freelance translators, but takes no role in the relationship between the two, encouraging them to negotiate directly
Expected pay: You set it
Husl$core: $$$
Commissions & fees: $10-$15 per month, paid annually
Where: Nationwide
Requirements: Ability to sign a legal contract
What is ProZ?
ProZ is an online community for language professionals, which helps connect freelance translators with clients.
How it works
Both clients and translators can sign up for free. But if you want to get a job or post one, you’ll need to buy a membership. Membership prices range from $10 to $15 per month.
ProZ Review:
ProZ connects clients and freelance translators, but takes no role in the relationship between the two. That means you negotiate your own rates and collect from your clients. If you have dispute with a client you met on this network, you are on your own.
On the bright side, both clients and freelancers are rated. So you can decline jobs from clients that get poor scores. And you don’t pay commissions to the platform, so your rates are your rates.
Some clients do try to get freelancers to bid against each other, which tends to depress rates. However, again, you determine what jobs you’re willing to take and the rates you charge. You negotiate directly with the clients.
Job listings
And there are copious job opportunities on the site. When we revisited our review in April of 2024, we found more than 1,100 translation help wanted advertisements. Languages needed ran the gamut — Polish, Czech, Korean and Chinese — and everything in between.
Cost
The site’s standard membership, which gives you access to the site’s job board and some tools, is $120 per year. The site’s premium membership, which costs $180, provides a suite of tools and training, plus some networking opportunities.
Recommendations:
We like this site and see no downside to a free membership. If you’re actively seeking work, the $10 monthly ($120 annual) cost also seems reasonable. The site’s standard membership also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can sign up with ProZ here.
However, you also may want to consider SmartCat, which has no costs to sign up or seek work and allows you to set your own rates. Rev may also be an option for fast-typists, who can translate and they transcribe.
What their users say (from Glassdoor)
Anyone who can speak two or more languages can join and get an income. But some contractor companies take a long time to pay the compensation.
I’m a translator and I would recommend this company to everyone. They’re professional and responsive.
The website has a free account option. And creating a profile is very easy. No need to pass any tests to become a ProZ.com member. I find the variety of different companies worldwide in the “Jobs & Directories” section impressive. The webinars and continued professional development (CPD) courses that the ProZ Video Library and proz.com/tv offer are very interesting and helpful. BlueBoard by ProZ.com is a nice place to research translation companies before contacting them.
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