DeepL API: Keep an eye on character consumption

Translations via DeepL API are practical and integrate perfectly into workflows - but the character limit is quickly reached, especially with the free version. How often have you asked yourself: "How many characters have I actually used today?" I'll show you how you can call up the current status at any time - with simple commands and without having to puzzle through the dashboard.

Understanding the limitations of the DeepL API

The free DeepL API ("DeepL API Free") has a fixed monthly limit of 500,000 characters. There is no daily limit - you can distribute the 500,000 characters over the month as you wish until they are used up. Once the limit has been reached, no further translations will be carried out until the next billing month begins.

With DeepL API Pro, on the other hand, you pay according to usage without a fixed monthly limit. This makes it all the more important to keep an eye on your usage so that costs don't skyrocket unexpectedly.

Problem: The consumption display does not update automatically

A typical problem: You work with the API all day, diligently translating texts into different languages, but the display of the characters used in the DeepL account has not changed. This is because the display is not updated in real time. It only reflects the status that was recorded when the usage data was explicitly retrieved.

Query character usage per month

With a simple cURL command, you can check your current usage at any time - without having to go through the web interface. This is how you proceed:

For DeepL API Free:

curl -X GET "https://api-free.deepl.com/v2/usage" -H "Authorization: DeepL-Auth-Key DEIN_API_KEY"

For DeepL API Pro:

curl -X GET "https://api.deepl.com/v2/usage" -H "Authorization: DeepL-Auth-Key DEIN_API_KEY"

The response is a clear JSON object with all the important information:

{ "character_count": 123456, "character_limit": 500000 }

You can see immediately:

• How many characters you have already used (character_count)
• Your monthly limit (character_limit)

Conclusion: No more nasty surprises

With the API query presented here, you can keep an eye on your DeepL character usage at all times. No more guesswork, no more nasty surprises during operation. You know exactly where you stand and can plan accordingly.

This creates security - for you, your projects and ultimately also for your customers, who can rely on punctual translations.