Deepl MCP Server
Translate text and documents using DeepL API tools directly in your AI assistant.
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Overview
The DeepL MCP server provides a direct interface to DeepL's professional translation services, including text and document translation. It allows AI models to access advanced language features such as rephrasing, glossary lookups, and style rule application during active sessions. The server operates via stdio and requires a valid DeepL API key. By integrating this into an MCP client, developers can automate translation workflows for various file formats like PDF, DOCX, and PPTX without leaving their AI-powered environment.
Our verdict
With a security score of 66/100, this server is considered medium risk. A primary factor contributing to this score is the lack of a read-only mode, meaning all installations operate with full write access capabilities. While it is maintained by the official vendor, users should be cautious with API key management and access controls until further editorial or security audits are conducted.
- Maintained by the official DeepL organization
- Active development with commits within the last 24 hours
- Minimal supply chain risk with only 3 direct dependencies
- Open-source MIT license
- No read-only mode restricts permission granularity
- Lacks OAuth support for authentication
- Has not yet undergone formal editorial security review
Setup
{
"mcpServers": {
"deepl-mcp-server": {
"args": [
"-y",
"deepl-mcp-server"
],
"command": "npx"
}
}
}Paste into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows), then restart Claude Desktop. Some servers require API keys or tokens as environment variables — check the project's README and add an "env" object if needed.
- No read-only mode — running this grants full read/write access.
- No built-in authentication — anyone with access to this config can invoke every tool it exposes.
Tools
| Tool | Description | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| translate-text | Translates text into a target language. | low |
| translate-document | Translates a document file (PDF, DOCX, PPTX, XLSX, HTML, TXT, and more) and writes the result to disk. | medium |
| rephrase-text | Rephrases text, optionally into another language. | low |
| get-source-languages | Lists the language codes accepted as a translation source. | low |
| get-target-languages | Lists the language codes accepted as a translation target. | low |
| get-writing-styles | Lists the style values rephrase-text accepts. | low |
| get-writing-tones | Lists the tone values rephrase-text accepts. | low |
| list-glossaries | Lists every glossary in the account with its id, name, dictionaries, and creation time. | low |
| get-glossary-info | Returns the same metadata as list-glossaries for a single glossary. | low |
| get-glossary-dictionary-entries | Returns the term entries of one glossary dictionary, meaning one language pair in one direction. | low |
Compatibility
| Client | Local | Docker | Remote | Read-only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Desktop | ||||
| Cursor | ||||
| VS Code | ||||
| Windsurf | ||||
| ChatGPT |
Frequently asked questions
›What are the system requirements for running the DeepL MCP server?
You must have Node.js 18 or newer installed and a valid DeepL API key obtained from your DeepL account.
›How do I provide the API key to the server?
You must set the DEEPL_API_KEY environment variable in your MCP client configuration, as the server will exit immediately if it is not provided.
›Does the server require a specific runtime for deployment?
The server uses stdio for communication and is intended to be started automatically by an MCP client, though it can be tested manually using npx.
›Can I run the server from a local source code checkout instead of the published package?
Yes, you can run a local checkout by setting the command to node and providing the absolute path to src/index.mjs as the argument.
›What document types are supported by the translate-document tool?
The tool supports translation for files including PDF, DOCX, PPTX, XLSX, HTML, and TXT.
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