AI tool privacy · DeepL
DeepL and your company’s data
By David Michaelson, MS Last checked October 23, 2026
The short answer
DeepL’s free translator may use your text and corrections to train its models for a limited period, while DeepL Pro deletes your texts after translating them and does not use them to improve its service.
Safer setup: Translate customer documents only with a paid DeepL Pro account, never the free translator, and save translations only when you need them.
Plan by plan
Each answer comes from DeepL’s own policy or help pages, with the link and the date we read it. Setting names are quoted exactly as DeepL writes them.
We could not confirm 2 answers on DeepL’s own pages. Those answers say so in plain words and link to the page we checked.
| Question | DeepL Translator (free) | DeepL Pro (paid plans) |
|---|---|---|
| Trains on your data by default? | Yes. DeepL says it uses the text you submit, its translations, and your corrections for a limited period to train and improve its models. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: deepl.com | No. DeepL says Pro texts are not used to improve its services, and paid-plan data is not used to train models outside your account. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: deepl.com |
| How long your data is kept | For a limited period, to train its models. The pages we read do not give the exact length. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: deepl.com | Only until the translation is delivered. DeepL deletes submitted texts and translations after the service is performed, unless you choose to save them. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: deepl.com |
| Who can see it | The pages we read do not say which DeepL staff can read text submitted to the free translator. Page checked: deepl.com, October 23, 2026 | Normally no one. In rare debugging cases, DeepL says only selected employees can decrypt stored content, through a logged process. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: deepl.com |
| Where data is stored | In Europe, the United States, or Asia-Pacific. DeepL says content may be processed in different regions by default, using its own European servers and AWS. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: support.deepl.com | In Europe, the United States, or Asia-Pacific. DeepL says content may be processed in different regions by default, using its own European servers and AWS. Sales-assisted Team and Business plans can add data residency to pick one region. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: support.deepl.com |
| How to delete | The pages we read do not describe how to delete text already submitted to the free translator. Page checked: deepl.com, October 23, 2026 | Delete saved translations and glossaries yourself; they stay until you do. If you ended your contract, DeepL deletes stored content 90 days later. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: deepl.com |
Safer setup, step by step
- Buy DeepL Pro for anyone who translates work documents. DeepL says Pro texts are deleted after translation and not used to improve its service. Source: deepl.com for this step
- Block or discourage the free DeepL translator for work, because DeepL may use free-version text to train its models. Source: deepl.com for this step
- Save translations or glossaries only when needed. Saved items stay stored until you delete them. Source: support.deepl.com for this step
What to write in your policy
Staff translate customer or company documents only with our paid DeepL Pro account. The free DeepL translator is not used for work.
Building your own approved tools list? The SafeStart Handbook includes one, with company accounts and safer privacy settings.