Happy Valley

Smartcat vs Smartling

Smartcat and Smartling are both translation & localization tools. Smartcat is aimed at enterprise and small businesses, while Smartling is aimed at enterprise. Only Smartling has a free plan.

Smartcat

AI translation platform with a built-in marketplace of linguists

Smartling

Enterprise translation management

PricingPaid · $100Freemium
Starting price$100/moNot published
Free planNoYes
Free trial15 days—
Built forEnterprise, Small businesses, FreelancersEnterprise
Platformswebweb
CountryUS · 2016US · 2009
Rating——

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).

Choose Smartling if

Enterprises.

  • Enterprise scale
  • Visual context
  • Services included

Look elsewhere if: Small teams.

Smartcat vs Smartling pricing

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

Smartling

  • Core$0Free to start; CAT tool, 180-day TM; pay per word
  • EnterpriseCustomCustom workflows, unlimited TM, advanced LQA

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

Smartling · Key features

  • Translation management
  • Visual context
  • AI translation
  • Language services
  • Integrations
  • Quality tools

Cons

  • Expensive at scale
  • Enterprise focus
  • Complex

Smartcat vs Smartling: FAQ

Do Smartcat and Smartling have a free plan?

Smartcat has no free plan, a 15-day free trial. Smartling has a free plan.

Which is better for small businesses, Smartcat or Smartling?

Smartcat lists small businesses as a core audience, while Smartling is aimed more at enterprise.

Not sure yet?

Smartcat vs Smartling (2026): Pricing and Features