Localize vs Smartcat
Localize and Smartcat are both translation & localization tools. Localize is aimed at small businesses and enterprise, while Smartcat is aimed at enterprise and small businesses. Only Localize has a free plan.
Website and web app localization via JS snippet, AI and human review
AI translation platform with a built-in marketplace of linguists
| Pricing | Paid | Paid · $100 |
| Starting price | Not published | $100/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Free trial | 14 days | 15 days |
| Built for | Small businesses, Enterprise, Developers | Enterprise, Small businesses, Freelancers |
| Platforms | web | web |
| Country | US | US · 2016 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Localize if
SaaS companies that want to localize their website, web app and help center together with minimal engineering effort.
- Little engineering work compared with file-based localization
- Handles logged-in web apps, not just marketing pages
- Reviewers see translations in real page context
Look elsewhere if: Mobile-first teams with file-based string workflows or small sites wanting cheap public pricing (Lokalise, Weglot).
Choose Smartcat if
Marketing, product and L&D teams that translate high volumes into many languages and want AI plus vetted human reviewers in one place.
- AI translation and human review hiring live in one workspace
- Unlimited seats make it easy to invite reviewers and stakeholders
- Translation memory matches and repetitions are free
Look elsewhere if: Developer teams focused on app string localization (Lokalise, Crowdin) or buyers wanting a cheap monthly plan for occasional translation (DeepL).
Localize vs Smartcat pricing
Localize
- Free trial$014 days of all features, no credit card
- CustomQuotePriced by content volume, pageviews, languages, workflow
Smartcat
- Adapt$1,200/yrUnlimited users, 100K Smartwords, 1 workspace
- Accelerate$24,000/yrUnlimited users, 1M Smartwords, 1 workspace
- Anticipate$60,000/yrUnlimited users, 2M Smartwords, 2 workspaces
- AutonomousCustom6M Smartwords, 7 workspaces
Localize · Key features
- JavaScript snippet that detects static and dynamic text automatically
- Support for React apps and other single-page JavaScript frameworks
- AI first-pass translation using large language models
- In-context visual editor for human reviewers
- Glossaries and translation memory for consistent terminology
- Review and approval workflows with role-based permissions
Cons
- No public pricing, every plan is quoted
- Weaker fit for native mobile string-file workflows
- Client-side JavaScript translation needs SEO setup to index well
Smartcat · Key features
- AI translation into 280+ languages with translation memory reuse
- AI Coworkers for translation, content updates, review and QA
- Marketplace of 500,000+ linguists and 5,000+ agencies
- Single invoice and automatic cost calculation for hired vendors
- Glossaries and terminology control shared across projects
- Connectors for WordPress, Webflow, Contentful, Figma and GitHub
Cons
- No free plan and no monthly billing; plans are annual only
- Large price jump from $1,200 to $24,000 a year
- Smartword metering takes time to understand and forecast
Localize vs Smartcat: FAQ
Do Localize and Smartcat have a free plan?
Localize has a free plan. Smartcat has no free plan, a 15-day free trial.