25 Top Translation Software (2023) | Redokun Blog

Select the options that apply to you and we’ll show you some suitable translation software:

1. Redokun

Type:
Translation Management System, CAT tool

Suitable for:
Documents, Marketing Content

Who Uses It:
Marketing Agencies, Global Enterprises, Translators

Cloud or Desktop:
Cloud

Highlights:

• Very easy to use, minimal training required
• Organize and manage your project files using folders just like in Google Drive
• Smart revisions for quick and last minute changes to the original document
• Seamless collaboration, import, and export features
• pre-translate documents based on various databases (e.g. translation memories, machine translation)

Pricing:
Free 14-Day Trial (Subscription starts at $125 per month after trial)

What Reviewers Say:

• Users love how intuitive and easy it is to use the software with collaborators, as well as the responsive support team.
• While initially known for its InDesign translation features, the tool has since expanded its capabilities to Microsoft Office documents and other file formats.

Read all reviews on G2 | Capterra
🎥 Watch a demo of Redokun on YouTube

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2. Smartcat

Type:
Translation Management System, CAT tool

Suitable for:
Marketing Content, Website Assets

Who Uses It:
Marketing Agencies, Global Enterprises, Translators

Cloud or Desktop:
Cloud

Highlights:

• Free to use for life with limitations to use computer-assisted translation tools
• Collaboration Features
• Integrated Vendor Marketplace
• Automatic billing and international transactions

Pricing:
Starts from $249 per month, more details here

Free Trial:
Freemium

What Reviewers Say:

• Users find the tool to be well-designed and user-friendly but still missing certain features for automatization. However, the team is consistently releasing updates to improve the translation experience.

Read all reviews on G2 | Capterra
🎥 Watch a demo of SmartCat on YouTube

Image obtained from Smartcat

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3. SDL Trados Studio

Type:
Translation Management System, CAT tool

Suitable for:
Documents, Website Assets

Who Uses It:
Translation Agencies, Global Enterprises

Cloud or Desktop:
Desktop (with optional cloud extension through SDL Trados Live)

Highlights:

• Widely used by translation agencies
• Suggests translations based on various database (e.g. translation memories, machine translation)
• Useful translator tools like predictive typing, spellchecker, punctuation check etc.
• Steep learning curve due to relatively complex interface
• Support and maintenance fees are excluded from the one-time license fee

Pricing:
Approximately $2,933 to buy the license, more details here

Free Trial:
Available

What Reviewers Say:

• Many users chose SDL Trados Studio over other alternatives because most of their clients used this tool which makes information exchange easier. However, some also reported that the interface is not so beginner-friendly, which is expected for a feature-intensive software. It is also a relatively expensive tool.

Read all reviews on G2 | Capterra
🎥 Watch a demo of SDL Trados Studio on YouTube

Image obtained from ALL PC World

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5. Lokalise

Type:
Translation Management System, CAT Tool

Suitable for:
Marketing Content, Website Assets, App Localization

Who Uses It:
Marketing Teams, Global Enterprises, Translators

Cloud or Desktop:
Cloud

Highlights:

• Collaborative web-based translation editor
• Document version control through branching allows you to work on different iterations of the same file and then combine them when done
• Two-way plugins for Adobe XD, Sketch, and Figma (for higher tier subscriptions only)

Pricing:
Starts from $90 per month, more details here

Free Trial:
Available

What Reviewers Say:

• Most reviewers reported a positive user experience in both translation and project management. One user mentioned that a paid seat is required to invited a native speaker to review a translation, which is something to consider if you’re planning to keep translations in-house.

Read all reviews on G2 | Capterra
🎥 Watch a demo of Lokalise on YouTube

Image obtained from Lokalise

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6. Text United

Type:
Translation Management System, CAT Tool

Suitable for:
Documents, Website Assets, App Localization

Who Uses It:
Marketing Teams, Global Enterprises, Translators

Cloud or Desktop:
Cloud

Highlights:

• Uses translation memories and machine translation to speed up content localization
• Provides audio and video translation using automated speech recognition technology
• Supports API integration and various other connectors like Sharepoint and ZenDesk
• Generates spending report to help you optimize translation costs

Pricing:
Starts from $71 per month, more details here

Free Trial:
Available

What Reviewers Say:

• In addition to a good foundation of translation tools, many users also raved about their reliable and friendly support team.

Read all reviews on G2 | Capterra
🎥 Watch a demo of Text United on YouTube

Image obtained from G2

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7. Transifex

Type:
Translation Management System, CAT Tool

Suitable for:
Website Assets, App and Software Localization

Who Uses It:
Startups, Global Enterprises

Cloud or Desktop:
Cloud

Highlights:

• Provides advanced configurations for more complex and highly automated workflows, such as an additional “proofread” step after translation
• Prevents documents from being overwritten by other translators with Edit Lock
• Offers community translation where a group of translators suggest and vote on the best translations

Pricing:
Starts from $70 per month, more details here

Free Trial:
Available

What Reviewers Say:

• Many users discussed how easily they can connect and send content to be translated on Transifex from GitHub and Figma. Overall, it’s an ideal tool for software localization.

Read all reviews on G2 | Capterra
🎥 Watch a demo of Transifex on YouTube

Image obtained from Transifex

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8. LingoHub

Type:
Translation Management System, CAT Tool

Suitable for:
App and Software Localization, Website Assets

Who Uses It:
Global Enterprises

Cloud or Desktop:
Cloud

Highlights:

• Specializes in streamlining translations for apps, games, and websites
• Translate and develop your app at the same time
• Syncs with popular repositories like GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and Azure

Pricing:
Starts from $29 per month, more details here

Free Trial:
Available

What Reviewers Say:

• Users like LingoHub’s intuitive interface and versatile API, which makes software development more straightforward and highly customizable where needed.

Read all reviews on G2 | Capterra
🎥 Watch a demo of LingoHub on YouTube

Image obtained from LingoHub

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9. Smartling

Type:
Translation Management System, CAT Tool

Suitable for:
Documents, Website Assets, App Localization

Who Uses It:
Medium to Large Global Companies

Cloud or Desktop:
Cloud

Highlights:

• Cover all the basic CAT tools like translation memories and pre-translation
• Supports integration with various software and tools you may already be using
• Download their design application plugins to translate content from Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Sketch, and Figma
• Generate reports and analytics within the software
• Steep learning curve

Pricing:
Starts from $200 per month, contact support for more details

Free Trial:
N/A

What Reviewers Say:

• Users love the flexibility to configure their translation workflows based on other platforms they are using. Of course, with great customization power comes a greater learning curve.

Read all reviews on G2 | Capterra
🎥 Watch a demo of Smartling on YouTube

Image obtained from crozdesk

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10. Memsource

Type:
Translation Management System, CAT Tool

Suitable for:
Documents, Website Assets

Who Uses It:
Global Enterprises, Language Service Providers, Translators

Cloud or Desktop:
Cloud

Highlights:

• Cover all the basic CAT tools like translation memories and pre-translation
• Very easy to use, little training required
• Can be connected to your content management system to maximize workflow automation
• Manage translations on your phone or tablet using their mobile app
• 24/7 Technical Support

Pricing:
Starts from $27 per month, more details here

Free Trial:
Available

What Reviewers Say:

• Users appreciate the simple selection of features and clean interface, both of which help enhance their user experience. Some reported minor issues with quotations and cost calculations, which are non-factors if you primarily use it with your internal team.

Read all reviews on G2 | Capterra
🎥 Watch a demo of Memsource on YouTube

Image obtained from Memsource

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11. Phrase

Type:
Software Localization Platform

Suitable for:
Web or Mobile App Localization, Website Assets

Who Uses It:
Startups, Enterprises

Cloud or Desktop:
Cloud

Highlights:

• Supports localization across various platforms and programming languages
• Syncs with popular repositories like Bitbucket, GitHub, and GitLab
• Adapts to your existing tools, such as Slack and WordPress, through plugins and integrations
• Enables branching and versioning

Pricing:
Starts from $23 per user per month, more details here

Free Trial:
Available

What Reviewers Say:

• Phrase is highly scalable as indicated by its users with small to large software localization projects. However, several users reported that it’s not always easy to organize and locate content.

Read all reviews on G2 | Capterra
🎥 Watch a demo of Phrase on YouTube

Image obtained from Phrase

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12. Crowdin

Type:
Localization Management Platform, CAT Tools

Suitable for:
App and Software Localization, Website Assets

Who Uses It:
Marketing Teams, Global Enterprises

Cloud or Desktop:
Cloud

Highlights:

• Free to use, but your translations are donated to Crowdin’s translation memory database
• Syncs with popular repositories like GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and Azure
• Integrated with Google Play, Android Studio, VS Code, and so on
• Get translations from your internal team or Crowdin Marketplace agencies

Pricing:
Starts from $40 per month, more details here

Free Trial:
Free with Conditions

What Reviewers Say:

• While Crowdin does deliver all the features needed for software localization, several users are asking for more flexible subscription plans to optimize their costs.

Read all reviews on G2 | Capterra
🎥 Watch a demo of Crowdin on YouTube

Image obtained from Crowdin

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13. Weglot

Type:
Localization Management System

Suitable for:
Website Localization

Who Uses It:
Global Enterprises, Companies with Websites

Cloud or Desktop:
Cloud

Highlights:

• Automatically detects and marks website content for translation
• Compatible with popular content management systems like WordPress, Shopify, and even custom-built sites
• Accounts for multilingual SEO, including titles, URLS, and metadata

Pricing:
Starts from $23 per month, more details here

Free Trial:
Available

What Reviewers Say:

• Users generally reported a positive experience with the website integrations, SEO functions, and helpful support team.

Read all reviews on G2 | Capterra
🎥 Watch a demo of Weglot on YouTube

Image obtained from Weglot

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14. POEditor

Type:
Localization Management Platform

Suitable for:
App Localization, Website Assets, Game Localizaiton

Who Uses It:
Startups, Global Enterprises

Cloud or Desktop:
Cloud

Highlights:

• Connects to your software using POEditor’s simple API for better workflows automation
• Syncs with popular repositories like GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and Azure
• Enables you to review the translation history of a string and recover previous translations if needed
• Provides option to crowdsource translations for your software

Pricing:
$14.99 per month, more details here

Free Trial:
Available

What Reviewers Say:

• POEditor is generally a good tool for web and mobile localization, but the overall experience could be a hit or miss depending on the user’s specific needs.

Read all reviews on G2 | Capterra
🎥 Watch a demo of POEditor on YouTube

Image obtained from POEditor

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15. Pairaphrase

Type:
Translation Management System, CAT tool

Suitable for:
Documents, Audio Files

Who Uses It:
Global Enterprises

Cloud or Desktop:
Cloud

Highlights:

• Supports online collaboration and basic CAT tools like translation memories
• Provides translation API for enterprises to connect with their websites
• Offers voiceover translation where you can upload a script file and then receive an audio translation in 18 different languages

Pricing:
Starts from $2,199 per year, more details here

Free Trial:
Available

What Reviewers Say:

• Some users have reported formatting issues with translated documents, such as changes in spacing, and poor detection of bullet points and numbered lists.

Read all reviews on Capterra
🎥 Watch s demo of Pairaphrase on YouTube

Image obtained from Pairaphrase

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16. GlobalLink

Type:
Translation Management System

Suitable for:
Mobile app, website, and gaming localization

Who Uses It:
Global Enterprises

Cloud or Desktop:
Cloud

Highlights:

• supports integration with your content management systems, as well as e-commerce, marketing automation, and database platforms
• offers glossary, terminology, and translation memory management
• offers AI-enabled voiceover and subtitling for media localization

Pricing:
Not public – contact their support for more details

Free Trial:
N/A

What Reviewers Say:

• Majority of reviewers agree that the GlobalLink service team is prompt in helping them resolve issues, but there are minor hiccups with the translation management workflow.

Read all reviews on G2 | Capterra
🎥 Watch a demo of GlobalLink on YouTube

Image obtained from GlobalLink

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17. XTM Cloud

Type:
Translation Management System, CAT tool

Suitable for:
Website Assets, Marketing Content, Documents

Who Uses It:
Global Enterprises, Language Service Providers

Cloud or Desktop:
Cloud

Highlights:

• send content to XTM Cloud for translation from your content management system or other platforms
• you can translate using XTM standard editor for a clean view of content with all the basic translation tools at your fingertips
• alternatively, you can also translate and review content in context using XTM Visual Editor to ensure everything is in place

Pricing:
Starts from $61 per month, more details here

Free Trial:
Available

What Reviewers Say:

• The mobile app for project managers is said to be a great supplement. However, a handful of users reported a need for an autosuggest feature in translation.

Read all reviews on G2 | Capterra
🎥 Watch a demo of XTM Cloud on YouTube

Image obtained from IXIASOFT

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18. OmegaT

Type:
Translation Memory Software, CAT tool

Suitable for:
Documents

Who Uses It:
Freelance Translators

Cloud or Desktop:
Desktop

Highlights:

• Completely free, open-source translation software that can run on Windows, Mac, and Linux
• Helps you translate faster with basic CAT tools like glossaries and translation memories
• Active community support

Pricing:
Free

Free Trial:
N/A

What Reviewers Say:

• Users say that OmegaT has neither the most aesthetic interface nor the selection of features found in industry-standard CAT tools. However, since it is open-source, one can modify the tool based on their needs and this offers great customization potential if you’re tech-savvy.

Read all reviews on G2
🎥 Watch a demo of OmegaT on YouTube

Image obtained from OmegaT

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19. CafeTran Espresso

Type:
Translation Memory Software

Suitable for:
Documents

Who Uses It:
Freelance Translators

Cloud or Desktop:
Desktop

Highlights:

• Developed by a translator for other translators who want to optimize their workflow
• Boosts productivity with machine translation, smart autocompletion, and translation memory interface
• Provides alternative clipboard workflow for unsupported file formats
• Supports Windows, Mac, and Linux

Pricing:
Approximately $95 per year, more details here

Free Trial:
Available

What Reviewers Say:

• User reviews are generally favourable for this translation tool. While not a powerhouse brand, it’s simple, stable, and carefully developed by a translator who understands what translators need. Some reviewers noted difficulties in importing files generated in another CAT software. This is crucial if a translator wants to do work for an agency or client that uses a different platform.

Read all reviews on ProZ | User Blog
🎥 Watch a demo of CafeTran Espresso on YouTube

Image obtained from CafeTran Espresso

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20. Matecat

Type:
CAT tool

Suitable for:
Documents

Who Uses It:
Freelancer Translators, Language Service Providers

Cloud or Desktop:
Cloud

Highlights:

• Free open source CAT tool offering unlimited users, projects, and storage
• Connects you with a community of professional translators for any language pairs
• Free technical support via email

Pricing:
Free

Free Trial:
N/A

What Reviewers Say:

• Since MateCat is a free software, users raised common concerns like lagging and privacy issues.

Read all reviews on G2
🎥 Watch a demo of MateCat on YouTube

Image obtained from Wikipedia

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21. Wordfast Pro

Type:
CAT tool

Suitable for:
Documents

Who Uses It:
Freelance or Professional Translators, Language Service Providers, Enterprises

Cloud or Desktop:
Desktop

Highlights:

• Runs on Windows, Mac, Or Linux
• Provides unlimited number of translation memories and glossaries
• Option to set translation memories as primary or secondary reference and configure your own shortcut keys to navigate TM system @
• Supports import of translation packages from SDL Trados

Pricing:
$460 per license, more details here

Free Trial:
Available

What Reviewers Say:

• While the website mentions that Wordfast Pro support SDL Trados packages, some reviewers said that the tool is not quite compatible with SDL Trados. Beyond that, users generally agree that the software is a good introduction to CAT tools. Some also recommend beginners to try out the company’s free entry-level offerings before committing to the Pro version.

Read all reviews on G2 | Capterra
🎥 Watch a demo of Wordfast Pro on YouTube

Image obtained from G2

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22. Swordfish Translation Editor

Type:
CAT tool

Suitable for:
Documents, Software Localization

Who Uses It:
Professional Translators, Freelancers

Cloud or Desktop:
Desktop

Highlights:

• open-source CAT tool that is free for personal use and modifications
• offers flexibility for freelancers due to compatibility with exchange files from other commonly used CAT tools (e.g. SDL Trados, GlobalLink)
• matches new content with past content using both translation memory and terminology databases
• integrates external machine translation engines, namely DeepL, Azure, Google Cloud, MyMemory, and Yandex Translate

Pricing:
$120 per year, more details here

Free Trial:
N/A

What Reviewers Say:

• Compared to the big names on this list, Swordfish stands out as the budget-friendly translation tool that works on all operating systems. Users appreciate the excellent support and free updates, but one user pointed out that they can’t edit their terminology base directly from the software.

Read all reviews on ProZ
🎥 Watch a demo of Swordfish on YouTube

Image obtained from Maxprograms

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23. Transit NXT Professional+

Type:
Translation Memory Software, CAT tool

Suitable for:
Documents

Who Uses It:
Translators, Translation Project Managers

Cloud or Desktop:
Desktop

Highlights:

• translation memory database is not exclusively sentence-based, which means the full context of past content, as well as relevant translations, are processed and referenced to generate the best translations
• suggests translations using dynamic “bubble windows” that pop up when you work on each new segment and disappear once you take action (accept or reject)
• includes more than 20 standard import filters

Pricing:
Not public – Contact their support for more details

Free Trial:
N/A

What Reviewers Say:

• Users report that the translation software has a steep learning curve and is not widely used. However, the software does have customizable layouts and taskbars, which is good feature for translators but not necessarily essential.

Read all reviews on Proz
🎥 Watch a demo of Transit NXT on YouTube

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24. Cloudwords

Type:
Translation Management System, CAT tool

Suitable for:
Documents, Marketing Content

Who Uses It:
Global Enterprises, Translators

Cloud or Desktop:
Cloud

Highlights:

• Provides huge storage for translation memories, scalable to your needs as your business grows
• Integrates with various platforms and tools for marketing automation, enterprise file sharing, and content management
• Enables you to collaborate remotely and track all edits of a document

Pricing:
Not public – Contact their support for more details

Free Trial:
N/A

What Reviewers Say:

• The handful of users who left a review on G2 generally enjoy Cloudwords for its simplicity. A user mentions that the interface isn’t really mobile optimized, which is a disadvantage if you’re a project manager who is constantly on the go.

Read all reviews on G2
🎥 Watch a demo of Cloudwords on YouTube

Image obtained from Cloudwords

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25. MetaTexis for Word

Type:
CAT tool

Suitable for:
Documents

Who Uses It:
Translators, Small Teams that work primarily in Microsoft Word

Cloud or Desktop:
Desktop

Highlights:

• Runs on Microsoft Word, granting easy access to translation memories, glossaries, machine translators, and other external resources within Word
• Provides free software updates
• Supports Word documents generated in SDL Trados (for specific licenses only)

Pricing:
Starts from $45 per license, more details here

Free Trial:
N/A

What Reviewers Say:

• Freelancers love this inexpensive tool mostly because it can be used directly in Microsoft Word.

Read all reviews on ProZ
🎥 Watch a demo of MetaTexis on YouTube

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A Quick Overview

Ultimately, no amount of research and reviews can beat your own user experience. Most translation software can be tried for free, so definitely make full use of that!

If eager to learn more, here are some related posts that might be helpful:

Happy translating,

Shu Ni