John PerrySometimes, all it takes is one badly translated message to create a headache you definitely didn’t sign up for. A friend of mine was working on a project with international partners and tried to “DIY” his translations.
The result? Total confusion and a few awkward replies. I stepped in to help him find a real translation service, and once the pros handled it, everything finally made sense on both ends.
That whole situation reminded me how easily small mistakes can snowball. In a city as multilingual as Philadelphia, getting clear, accurate translations isn’t just convenient — it’s necessary.
To save you from that kind of chaos, here are the best translation services in Philadelphia that actually get the job done right.
How much do translation services cost in Philadelphia?
Translation services in Philadelphia usually cost $20–$50 per page or $0.08–$0.10 per word, depending on language, document type, and turnaround time. Additional fees may apply for rush jobs.
1. JR Language Translation Services, Inc.
Address: 1700 Market St #1005, 19103
Contact Details: +1 866-389-5036
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
I recently worked with JR Language in Philadelphia, and what struck me was how much thought goes into their translations. They don’t just swap words from one language to another, but they make sure the meaning and context come through.
Their team handles over 100 languages. These include Arabic, Farsi, and Russian, which made me confident they could manage all the documents I needed.
The translators have hands-on experience in specialized fields. I felt reassured knowing my court and medical documents were handled with care and precision.
I also like that they offer interpretation for meetings and conferences, which shows they can support more than just written materials.
On top of that, their efficiency is noticeable. Standard projects are completed in 3–4 business days, and rush requests are completed in 1–2 days, making planning much easier.
If notarization is required, they can handle that as well, though there is a small additional fee.
Perfect translation of a difficult-to-read document
“We realized we needed a sworn translation of a document from Spain, and needed it fast. JR Translation Services delivered, quickly and with a perfect translation of a difficult to read document. We highly recommend, and will definitely use them in the future!”
– Anna Rubio, Google Review
Works just like the one the immigration courts use
“The best decision my law office has ever made. They quite was easy to obtain, the service works just like the one the immigration courts use, and they have translators for exotic languages ready each time I call.”
– Antonio Williams, Google Review
2. Quantum Inc.
Address: 240 S 9th St, 19107
Contact Details: +1 215-627-2251
Operating Hours: Open 4 hours
I’ve been impressed with Quantum Inc. and their professional approach. Their A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau definitely gives you confidence that they take service seriously, which is reassuring when you’re dealing with sensitive or complex documents.
Their certified linguists cover over 150 languages, including not only commonly requested ones like Spanish and Russian but also less widely supported languages such as Creole, African languages, and other Indic languages.
They work across a wide range of industries and document types, including legal contracts, technical manuals, and personal documents.
One client I spoke with mentioned that they’re great at responding quickly to quote requests and keeping communication clear throughout the process. They also support desktop publishing and layout-sensitive documents, which is a big plus.
Unfortunately, I did hear from a client who requested her translation to match the original formatting. It came back as a single block of text, so you might need to double-check the layout for layout-heavy projects.
Professional and friendly
“Excellent school to earn my certification as medical interpreter .The teachers are professional and friendly.I would highly recommend Quantum to all interpreters interpreters seeking their BTG.”
– Tarek Garbouj, Google Review
Fantastic customer service and quick turnaround
“Fantastic customer service and quick turnaround time. 10/10 recommend for your translation services.”
– Ai-Mei Zhu Levine, Google Review
3. 001 Traductions
Address: Walnut St, 19107
Contact Details: +1 267-666-6524
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM
001 Traductions offers certified translations accepted by courts, universities, and USCIS, with apostille and legalization services when needed.
They also handle apostilles and legalization services when required, which is a big plus for official paperwork.
Their language coverage amazed me. They handle 70 languages, from the common European ones to less typical Asian, African, and Indic languages. It’s reassuring to know they can tackle unusual language needs without hesitation.
Their expertise goes beyond legal and official documents too. They’ve handled marketing materials, IT content, travel and tourism guides, and arts-related texts. The scope of their work is surprisingly broad.
Speed is another highlight. Standard translations take 1–3 days, and express orders often arrive in under 24 hours. They also offer an instant quote calculator on their website, making it easy to get a quick estimate.
However, some clients have reported paying more than the quoted price, so it’s wise to confirm costs upfront.
Efficient and fast service
“Top-notch service, it’s not the first time I’ve used 001traductions and it’s always a pleasure, efficient and fast service, and above all they are very responsive.”
– Rym Iha, Google Review
Good quality translation
“Good quality translation done in time. As we request as it was done.”
– Владимир Александров Google Review
4. United Language Services
Address: 1700 Market St #1005, 19103
Contact Details: +1 215-666-6720
United Language Services handles over 35 languages, including Arabic, Bengali, and more. When it comes to document types, ULS demonstrates impressive versatility.
They handle everything from general certified translations to highly specialized work, such as USCIS immigration documents or technical website localization.
Knowing that their certified translations are accepted by USCIS, courts, medical boards, and other authorities gave me confidence in their reliability.
I also appreciated their workflow. Each assignment begins with a careful review and quote, followed by translation by a linguist. After that, a separate translator proofreads the work to ensure accuracy.
Delivery is flexible too. Translations are sent via email by default, but you can request regular mail or overnight/next-day shipping if needed. This makes planning for time-sensitive projects much easier.
The only downside I noticed is that their hourly rate of around $25/hr is a bit higher than some competitors’. It’s not a dealbreaker, but worth factoring in if you’re handling multiple or lengthy documents.
Accurate translation and format
“I needed a professionally done translation of my foreign high school diploma for a potential employer. I contacted quite a few translation agencies in the area, but they didn’t get back to me. The staff at United Language Services contracted me immediately. They provided details and answered all my questions about the translation. I received my translation very quickly. It was very accurate as far as the language and the format of the original document. I will definitely use and recommend United Language services for any translation work.”
– Carlos Diaz, Google Review
Highly qualified, professional translators
“I am an immigration attorney and need translation services on a regular basis. United has highly qualified, professional translators who respond promptly with high quality documents and verbal translations. I have used them for court appearances as well as document translation and they are top notch. On my last case, my client was due to leave the country in two days and needed country-specific documents translated within two hours to obtain a US Passport. I telephoned United, emailed them the documents and waited for them to email me back the certified translation outside the US Dept. of State Office. We were able to go back inside and get the passport. I couldn’t recommend them higher.”
– Renee Hykel Cuddy, Google Review
5. Trusted Translations, Inc.
Address: 7244 Castor Ave, 19149
Contact Details: +1 215-999-1219
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
Trusted Translations, Inc. is a major translation agency with global reach, supporting over 200 languages, including Spanish, Chinese, and Arabic.
They are ISO 9001:2015–certified and follow international standards for translation, legal, and interpreting services, which gives them strong credibility.
I spoke with a few people who had used their services for legal and immigration documents, and they told me their translations were accepted by USCIS and even courts.
Their workflow is structured and thorough, covering project management and translator matching. They also offer optional formatting support and conduct quality checks at every step.
Pricing is quoted per project, with expedited work potentially adding about 50% to the cost. One client I talked to mentioned that their monthly billing account was a huge convenience for handling frequent translations without paying upfront each time.
However, a few people did mention that customer support could be slow or occasionally dismissive, especially when it came to refunds or urgent issues.
Handled everything with great care
“We recently used Trusted Translations for some legal documents, and the experience was excellent. They handled everything with great care, making sure every detail was spot-on. It’s clear they truly understand the importance of accuracy when it comes to legal translations. We’ll definitely be working with them again on any future legal projects.”
– Santiago Paz, Google Review
Short turnaround times and competitive pricing
“As an owner of a curriculum company, Trusted Translations has been invaluable to us. They have short turn-around times and are competitively priced. We have been able to work with one contact person throughout our experience over the past 6+ years and have always been satisfied. Highly recommend!”
– Shannon McCaw, Google Review
