Top 7 Translation Management Tools for Software Builders in 2024

Software development moves at a break-neck pace, leaving no room for delays. In such a fast-moving environment, the right translation management tools can make all the difference. 

With a reliable translation management tool at hand, you can translate multilingual software in parallel with the development cycle. Not only will it help you ship faster, but it will also eliminate heedless mistakes, keeping the project on track and within budget. 

Let’s see what translation management tools will make a great addition to your tool stack. But first, the basics. 

What are translation management tools?

Translation management tools (TMS) are computer programs used to organize and streamline the translation workflow. Put simply, TMS are project management tools designed chiefly for translation projects.

TMS have vastly different feature sets. Nevertheless, there are several indispensable features, without which you won’t get much use of a tool:

• Translation memory
• Glossary
• Automated quality assurance
• Automated content segmentation
• Import and export to code repositories
• Version control
• Webhooks
• Automation
• Collaborative translation/editing features 

TMS come in many shapes and sizes, but fall into three broad categories:

• software-as-a-service (SaaS)
• software
• apps

With SaaS being the most convenient and popular option on the market, our guide focuses primarily on it. 

Top 7 translation management system tools

Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of translation management tools for development teams. 

1. Smartling

Being a leading vendor on the market, Smartling shines on two fronts: translation AI and automated QA. The use of AI allows translating quickly and accurately, thereby substantially reducing the project cost. 

Smartling allows localizing websites, software, and apps, making it a versatile tool for many development teams. And, the cherry on the cake, the tool provides reports along with the chance to control workflow, tasks, and costs. All in real-time, with convenient visual representations of project progress.

Highlights: 

• Translation memories
• Audio and visual translation
• API integration with popular tools 

Pricing: N/A; free trial 

2. Centus

Centus is a localization management platform that also offers translation services for websites. Companies of all sizes use the platform to localize apps, websites, documents, and even video games. 

Centus boasts convenient automation and workflow customization options as well as multiple integrations with Figma, GitHub, GitLab, WordPress, Shopify, and other tools. On top of that, Centus also features convenient project management and reporting tools. 

The platform offers a unified hub where developers, designers, translators, and managers can work together to deliver projects faster. Developers, for example, can use Centus to automatically export translations as soon as they are done. Designers would like Centus because it integrates seamlessly with Figma, allowing them to tweak translation on the go.

Highlights: 

• Translation automation and webhooks
• Quality assurance 
• API and CLI

Pricing: starts at $12/month; free trial 

3. Weglot

Weglot is popular due to its convenience in creating multilanguage websites. The tool scans and identifies text, images, and SEO metadata on your site, eliminating the need for manually collecting website content for translation.

Using Weglot, you can translate a website within a few minutes. Also, it will allow you to edit content on the fly. Another benefit for companies that don’t have an in-house translation team is Weglot’s translation services. 

Highlights: 

• Real-time collaboration
• Translation workflow management
• Visual editing

Pricing: starts at $17/month; free trial

4. Localize

Localize is another good no-code translation solution for software platforms. It will translate a web app, UI, website, help docs, emails, and more. To get started, you should copy and paste the Localize tag to get a translation of a website or app. It makes the tool compatible with various technical stacks. And do not worry, Localize operates according to the rules of digital privacy and security compliance.

Highlights: 

• GitHub, GitLab, BitBucket integrations 
• Reporting features
• Visual editing

Pricing: starts at $90/month; free trial

5. Smartcat

Smartcat exemplifies the perfect use of AI-driven translation. It provides users with AI-enhanced translation and even AI content generation, that can be further refined by a human translator. This approach is best suited for translating websites, software, and videos. 

Smartcat allows adjusting workflow to achieve optimal translation efficiency across the 280 languages it supports. The tool offers a cost-effective and convenient alternative to using ChatGPT and manually submitting requests. Not only is it faster, but it’s also more accurate.

With Smartcat, you can easily hire translators, editors, and proofreaders, verified by the company. It also has a convenient means of managing invoices and maintaining complete control over the quality of your translations.

Highlights: 

• No learning curve
• A network of 500,000 language experts
• Invoicing and billing features

Pricing: starts at $99/month; free trial

6. Crowdin

Crowdin stands out as a robust TMS for companies and individual translators. With its sleek interface and a diverse, yet simple, range of features, it streamlines the entire translation process. 

Crowdin integrates with WordPress, Drupal, and other content management systems, making website translation easier. Its flexible API and CLI make Crowdin a valuable tool for developers who want to automate their workflows. What’s more, it features automatic pulling of source strings, establishing itself as a valuable choice for fast-moving development teams. 

Highlights: 

• Code repository synchronization
• AI translation 
• 100+ file format support

Pricing: starts at $50/month; free trial

7. Phrase

Phrase is much more than your run-of-the-mill translation management system. It can also be used for real-time developer and translator collaboration, ensuring quicker turnaround times. Furthermore, it features a custom AI model optimized for business translation.

When it comes to software localization, Phrase once again boasts it’s functional strengths: 50+ supported formats, full-featured API, and webhooks. Last but not least, it allows automating your workflows to shorten your software release cycle. 

Highlights: 

• Integrations with version control systems
• Custom AI 
• 50+ file format support

Pricing: starts at $29/month; free trial

Parting thoughts 

Even a seemingly modest translation project can entail a substantial volume of content translation. Although the conventional translation methods still work, they rely on manual grind, eating into the valuable time of developers. To streamline content translation for your software, app, or website development project, make use of the TMS reviewed above. Happy coding!