Smartling is one of the best known enterprise translation platforms, with a strong set of connectors, managed translation services and workflow features. It is also a big platform with enterprise style contracts, and many teams start looking for a Smartling alternative when they want simpler pricing, a different editor, faster onboarding or a tool better suited to their size. This guide compares seven options and explains how to switch without losing your translation assets.
Why Teams Look for a Smartling Alternative
- Pricing and contracts: annual enterprise agreements can be more than a growing team needs.
- Complexity: large platforms take time to configure and train people on.
- Bundled services: some teams want to bring their own translators or agencies rather than buy translation from the platform.
- Developer workflow: product teams may prefer a tool built around repositories, keys and continuous delivery.
- AI flexibility: the freedom to choose and switch machine translation and LLM engines.
What to Look for in an Alternative
Before comparing vendors, write down what you actually use today. Most teams need a solid translation management system with translation memory, glossary, machine translation, QA and integrations. Check file formats, the translator experience, how pricing grows with seats or words, and whether you can import your existing memories and term bases. Our guide to choosing a localization platform has a full checklist.
7 Smartling Alternatives Compared
1. WordBeam
WordBeam is a cloud TMS for product teams, agencies and translators who want enterprise features without enterprise overhead. It combines an online CAT editor, translation memory, term base and glossary, multiple AI translation engines, QA checks and workflow automation in one platform, with transparent self-serve pricing. You bring your own linguists or vendors. Best for: teams that want a fast setup, flexible AI and predictable cost.
2. Lokalise
Lokalise is popular with app and software teams, with strong developer tooling, SDKs and design tool integrations. Best for: mobile and web product teams. See our Crowdin vs Lokalise vs WordBeam comparison for details.
3. Crowdin
Crowdin offers a large integration marketplace and is widely used by open source and community translation projects, as well as companies localizing software and content. Best for: teams with many integrations or community translators.
4. Phrase
Phrase combines a TMS and a strings product for software localization, with enterprise workflow and machine translation features. Best for: larger organizations that need both document and software localization.
5. Transifex
Transifex focuses on software and website localization with developer friendly integrations and live website translation options. Best for: SaaS companies localizing web apps and sites.
6. XTM Cloud
XTM Cloud is an enterprise TMS with deep workflow configuration, often used by large enterprises and language service providers. Best for: complex enterprise programs with many vendors.
7. memoQ
memoQ is a well established CAT and translation management environment, popular with professional translators and agencies, available as desktop and server editions. Best for: LSPs and translator heavy teams. Read more in our best CAT tools roundup.
Quick Comparison by Use Case
- Startup or scale-up product team: WordBeam, Lokalise or Transifex.
- Marketing and website content: WordBeam, Crowdin or Phrase.
- Agency or LSP: WordBeam, memoQ or XTM Cloud.
- Large enterprise with many vendors: XTM Cloud, Phrase or WordBeam with custom workflows.
For a broader market view, see our list of the best translation management systems.
How to Migrate From Smartling
- Export translation memory as TMX for every language pair.
- Export glossaries as TBX or CSV, including definitions and forbidden terms.
- Export source and target files for active projects, or reconnect your repository and CMS.
- Import into the new platform and run a test project to confirm memory matches and formatting.
- Recreate workflows: steps, assignees, QA rules and machine translation settings.
- Run both systems in parallel for one release cycle, then switch over.
Because memory and glossaries are portable standards, you keep the value of every sentence you have already paid for. Read more about translation memory software and how leverage affects cost.
Why WordBeam Is a Strong Smartling Alternative
WordBeam covers the core of what most teams use in an enterprise TMS, including software localization formats, document translation, memory, glossary, AI engines, QA and automation, at a price that scales with you. Setup takes hours, not weeks, and you keep full control over which translators and AI engines you use. Try WordBeam with your own files and compare.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Smartling alternative?
It depends on your team. Product teams often prefer developer focused platforms; agencies prefer strong CAT features. WordBeam is a good fit if you want an all-in-one TMS with flexible AI and transparent pricing.
Can I move my translation memory from Smartling?
Yes. Export your memories as TMX and glossaries as TBX or CSV; most TMS platforms, including WordBeam, import these standard formats.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Smartling?
Several platforms offer self-serve plans with monthly billing that cost less for small and mid-sized teams. Compare total cost, including seats, words and translation services, not only license price.