DeepL Zendesk App Discontinued: 5 Alternatives for Help Desk Translation (2026)

If you relied on DeepL's Zendesk integration, you already know: it's gone.

DeepL discontinued their Zendesk app on October 1, 2025. No warning, no migration path, just an email saying the integration was being removed.

Thousands of support teams that used DeepL for real-time ticket translation were left scrambling. If you're one of them, this guide covers your options.

What DeepL Zendesk Actually Did

Before we discuss alternatives, let's be clear about what you're replacing:

DeepL's Zendesk integration offered:

• Automatic ticket translation in the agent workspace
• Auto-translated agent replies before sending
• Language detection for incoming tickets
• Support for 30+ languages

It worked seamlessly inside Zendesk. No copy-pasting, no switching tabs. That convenience is hard to replace with a single tool.

Why Did DeepL Discontinue It?

DeepL hasn't given detailed reasons. The likely explanation: maintaining native integrations for every help desk platform isn't scalable, especially when browser extensions cover most use cases.

The bad news: native integrations provide a better experience. The good news: alternatives exist.

5 Alternatives for Zendesk Translation

1. DeepL Browser Extension (Easiest Transition)

What it is: DeepL's official browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Edge.

How it works with Zendesk:

• Select any ticket text → click to translate
• Works in the agent workspace, just not auto-triggered
• Same translation quality as the native app

Pricing: Free for limited use; DeepL Pro from $8.74/month

Pros:

• Same translation quality you're used to
• Works everywhere, not just Zendesk
• No integration to maintain

Cons:

• Manual trigger (no auto-translation)
• Copy/paste workflow for replies
• No language detection for routing

Best for: Small teams with occasional multilingual tickets.

2. Zendesk Native Features

What it is: Zendesk's built-in translation and language features.

Features available:

• Dynamic Content: Pre-translated canned responses triggered by language
• Language Detection: Auto-detects ticket language for routing
• Translate Widget: Displays auto-translated content in Help Center (Beta)

Pricing: Included in Zendesk plans

Pros:

• No additional cost
• Native integration (obviously)
• Good for standardized responses

Cons:

• No real-time translation for tickets
• Dynamic Content requires upfront translation work
• Limited compared to DeepL's capabilities

Best for: Teams with predictable, templated responses.

3. Zendesk Marketplace Translation Apps

What it is: Third-party apps built specifically for Zendesk that provide AI-powered translation.

Top options in the marketplace:

• Translate Conversations by Swifteq - ChatGPT-powered, 5-star rated, auto-translates incoming messages ($19/agent/month for 100 translations)
• Translation by Lingpad - AI-powered localization with human-like quality, supports tickets and Help Center
• TransPerfect for Zendesk - Enterprise-grade translation from one of the world's largest language service providers (launched March 2025)
• Translate.com by Humans - Professional human translation for tickets requiring accuracy over speed

Pricing: Ranges from free tiers to $20+/agent/month depending on volume and features.

Pros:

• Works natively inside Zendesk workspace
• Auto-translation available on most apps
• Modern AI translation quality (GPT-powered options rival DeepL)

Cons:

• Quality and features vary by app - test before committing
• Some apps are ticket-only, others include Help Center
• May require agent training on new workflow

Best for: Teams wanting in-app translation without enterprise pricing. Swifteq's option is the most popular DeepL replacement.

4. Enterprise TMS: Lokalise or Crowdin

What it is: Full translation management systems with Zendesk integrations.

How they work:

• Primarily for knowledge base translation
• Can sync translated articles back to Zendesk Guide
• Some offer agent-facing tools

Pricing: Lokalise from $120/month; Crowdin from $33/month

Pros:

• Powerful workflow management
• Translation memory and glossaries
• Human + machine translation options

Cons:

• Overkill for ticket translation only
• Expensive for small teams
• Steep learning curve

Best for: Enterprise teams with existing localization programs.

5. Custom API Integration (OpenAI/DeepL API)

What it is: Build your own translation workflow using APIs.

How it works:

• Zendesk webhooks trigger on new tickets
• API translates content (OpenAI, DeepL API, Google Cloud)
• Translation returned as internal note or field

Requirements:

• Developer resources or Zendesk admin skills
• API subscription (DeepL API from $5.49/million characters)
• Testing and maintenance

Pros:

• Total control over behavior
• Can combine with AI summarization
• Scales to any volume

Cons:

• Development required
• Ongoing maintenance
• Not suitable for non-technical teams

Best for: Tech-savvy teams with developer support.

Knowledge Base vs. Ticket Translation

Here's something many teams miss: ticket translation and knowledge base translation are different problems.

Ticket translation (what DeepL offered):

• Real-time, agent-facing
• Supports live conversations
• Needs speed over polish

Knowledge base translation:

• Permanent, customer-facing
• Needs accuracy and consistency
• Can be done in batches

Most alternatives above focus on tickets. If your main pain point is translating Zendesk Guide articles (your help center), different tools apply:

Tool	Best For
Lokalise/Crowdin	Enterprise with translation workflows
Weglot	Quick website translation
Manual + DeepL	Small knowledge bases

For Intercom help centers specifically, tools like TranslateDesk can bulk-translate articles with AI while maintaining formatting.

Recommendations by Team Size

Small Team (1-5 agents)

Use: DeepL browser extension + Zendesk Dynamic Content

Why: Minimal cost, covers most cases. Manual translation is manageable at this scale.

Medium Team (5-20 agents)

Use: Marketplace translation app + browser extension fallback

Why: Worth the $10-20/agent investment for consistent in-app experience.

Large Team (20+ agents)

Use: Enterprise TMS (Lokalise/Crowdin) or custom API integration

Why: At scale, you need translation memory, terminology control, and workflow automation.

High-Volume Support (1000+ tickets/day)

Use: Custom API integration with quality vendor (DeepL API/OpenAI)

Why: Per-character pricing beats per-seat pricing at high volume.

What About Intercom?

If you're evaluating Intercom or using both platforms:

For help center translation: TranslateDesk integrates directly with Intercom's API to translate articles in bulk. No copy-pasting, no formatting issues.

For live chat: Intercom's Fin AI includes real-time translation in the AI add-on.

Worth knowing if you're considering switching platforms or run both.

FAQ

Will DeepL return to Zendesk?

No official announcement. Given the discontinuation approach, a return seems unlikely.

Can I use DeepL API directly with Zendesk?

Yes, but it requires custom development. DeepL's API works like any translation API - you need webhooks and custom logic to integrate it with Zendesk.

Is the browser extension as good as the native app?

For translation quality, yes. For workflow, no. You'll click more and copy/paste more. The translation itself is identical.

What happened to my DeepL Zendesk settings?

They're gone. Any macros or automations that relied on DeepL need to be rebuilt with an alternative.

Should I consider switching help desks?

Only if translation is critical to your workflow AND you find a platform with better native support. Switching costs are usually higher than adopting an alternative translation method.

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Summary

DeepL's Zendesk discontinuation is frustrating, but you have options:

1. Quickest fix: DeepL browser extension
2. Most native: Zendesk Dynamic Content + marketplace apps
3. Most powerful: Custom API integration
4. Best for knowledge base: Platform-specific tools (Lokalise, TranslateDesk)

The right choice depends on your volume, team size, and whether you need ticket translation, knowledge base translation, or both.

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Using Intercom instead? TranslateDesk handles help center translation with one-click AI translation and stale content alerts. See how it works →