Lokalise vs Smartling
A 2026 side-by-side comparison of Lokalise and Smartling — pricing, key features, platforms, API access, and the trade-offs of each, based on data collected from their official sites.
Lokalise
AI-powered localization platform
Smartling
End-to-end localization and translation services for global growth
Tagline
AI-powered localization platform
End-to-end localization and translation services for global growth
Pricing
Rating
Platforms
API
Open source
Description
Lokalise streamlines software translation and localization with AI-assisted workflows.
Smartling is an all-in-one translation orchestration platform and translation management system. It enables enterprises to translate, automate, and manage content across platforms using 20+ LLMs, machine translation engines, and a network of over 4,000 professional human linguists.
Key features
- Layout preservation
- Glossary support
- Translation Orchestration
- Linguistic Quality Assurance (LQA)
- Workflow Automation
- Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) Tool
- Glossary and Terminology Management
- Real-time Dashboards & Analytics
- Visual Context
- LLM and Machine Translation Engine Integration
- Open APIs and SDKs
- Secure MCP Server
- 50+ Brand Integrations
- Global Delivery Network (GDN) Web Proxy
Pros
- 50+ file formats
- GitHub and GitLab integration
- Translation memory
- AI translation suggestions
- Team collaboration
- In-context editing
- Mobile SDK support
- Enterprise security
- Automates up to 99% of the translation process, including auto-detection of new content and auto-publishing.
- Supports seamless integration with over 50 platforms including CMSs, CRMs, code repositories, and tools like WordPress, Contentful, and GitHub.
- Provides a robust, RESTful API that covers 100% of the platform's functionality and supports real-time, AI-augmented machine translations.
- Ensures enterprise-grade security with certifications including SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, HITRUST, PCI DSS Level 1, and GDPR compliance.
- Integrates with over 20 different LLMs and machine translation engines to deliver flexible, automated translations.
- Access to a global network of over 4,000 vetted professional linguists for secure human translation and post-editing.
- Customers retain total ownership of all translated content, glossaries, style guides, and translation memories.
- Provides real-time visual context inside its computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools to help linguists minimize mistakes.
Cons
- Expensive tiered pricing
- Complex for small teams
- Learning curve
- AI quality varies by language
- No standalone MT editor
- Advanced features enterprise-only
- UI can feel dense
- Requires localization workflow knowledge
- No free plan or trial option is listed on the pricing plans page.
- Pricing details, exact estimates, and SaaS plan rates are not publicly disclosed and require direct contact.
- The translation platform is cloud-based and does not mention any offline or local desktop applications.
- Custom setups or advanced pipeline integrations might require specialized developer resources or Smartling Professional Services.
- The platform utilizes AI automated routing and LLMs, which may still require human translation or review services depending on the content's visibility.
Pricing plans
- ExplorerUSD144/month
- • For teams that want the essentials, done right and fast
- • Everything to get started, plus
- • Try free
- • All plans come with a free 14-day trial, no credit card required
- GrowthUSD375/month
- • For scaling teams that need better automation and control
- • Everything in Explorer, plus
- • Try free
- • All plans come with a free 14-day trial, no credit card required
- AdvancedUSD999/month
- • Most popular
- • For teams with complex, multi-product workflows and setups
- • Everything in Growth, plus
- • Book a demo
- Enterprise—
- • For global orgs with bespoke security and support needs
- • Everything in Advanced, plus
- • Custom AI profiles (RAG)
- • Dedicated Enterprise onboarding
- CoreUSD0
- • Basic workflow, user, and project management
- • Easy drag and drop
- • CAT Tool with visual context and in-platform communication
- • Essential reporting and automated quality checks
- Enterprise—
- • Everything in Core, plus advanced user and project management
- • Fully customizable and dynamic workflows
- • Broad suite of connectivity options
- • Advanced translation memory with unlimited storage
- AI Hub—
- • High-volume automated translation
- • Translations in minutes
- • Translate with 20+ LLMs and machine translation engines
- • Workflow automation with integrations
- AI Translation—
- • Cost-effective quality at scale
- • Translations in hours or days depending on requirements and volume
- • AI and machine translation services
- • Automated routing, context, and QA
- AI Human Translation—
- • For high-visibility content that needs human oversight
- • Human translation from Smartling’s network of 4,000+ linguists
- • AI-enabled human translation services from Smartling
- • Brand-consistent translations with human quality checks
- Professional Translation—
- • Professional translation
- • Starting at $0.12/word shown on page
- • AI-enabled human translation services from Smartling
- • Basic linguistic quality assurance tools
Which one should you pick?
- Choose Lokalise if you need Layout preservation.
- Choose Smartling if you need Translation Orchestration.
- On budget: Lokalise is paid, Smartling is paid.