Comparison · Last updated August 2026
Crowdin vs Lokalise
Crowdin vs Lokalise compared on pricing, features and fit. Independent August 2026 review from ToolChase.
Quick specs
| Crowdin | Lokalise | |
|---|---|---|
| ToolChase score | 4.4/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Paid |
| Entry pricing | Pro, $50/month: 50,000 source words, 20 projects, unlimited collaborators, full integrations, TM, QA checks... | Explorer $144/mo · Growth $375/mo · Advanced $999/mo · Enterprise custom (verified August 2026) |
| Category | Translation | Translation |
What each tool is
Crowdin
Crowdin is one of the two leading developer-first localization platforms (alongside Lokalise) and is especially popular with open-source projects, indie developers, and cost-conscious software teams. It has a free tier that is genuinely useful: unlimited collaborators on open-source projects, up to 60,000 hosted source words, and most of the core translation features. That free plan has made Crowdin the go-to localization home for thousands of open-source projects including Minecraft mods, Mastodon, and many Linux
Lokalise
Lokalise is the localization platform of choice for software, mobile, and game development teams who want a modern, developer-first alternative to enterprise translation management systems. Where Smartling is marketing-first and expensive, Lokalise is priced for product teams and built around source-string files in codebases, not marketing websites. It has native support for all common localization file formats (JSON, YAML, .po, .strings, .xliff, Flutter ARB, Android XML, iOS strings), deep Git integration (pull lo
Pricing compared
Crowdin: Free (for open source): Unlimited collaborators, 60,000 source words, 3 projects, AI translation quota, basic features, permanent free plan for public open-source projects. Pro, $50/month: 50,000 source words, 20 projects, unlimited collaborators, full integrations, TM, QA checks, Crowdin AI basic access. Team, $200/month: 250,000 source words, 50 projects, advanced workflow engine, branching, SSO (optional add-on), priority support. Business, $450/month: 1M source words, 150 projects, SSO, audit logs, custom integrations, SLA. Enterprise (on-premise or private cloud): Custom pricing, dedicate
Lokalise: Start, $140/month (billed annually): 3 projects, 5 users, 5,000 hosted keys, AI translation memory, basic glossary, Git integration, Figma plugin. Essential, $270/month: 10 projects, 10 users, 10,000 hosted keys, AI machine translation, branching, advanced QA checks, Slack and Asana integrations. Pro, $990/month: Unlimited projects and users, 30,000+ hosted keys, full API, SSO/SAML, audit logs, advanced workflows, priority support. Enterprise, custom quote: Dedicated customer success, custom integrations, on-premise translation memory, enhanced security, SLAs.
Pricing verified August 2026. Vendors change tiers often, so confirm on the official pricing pages before purchase.
Key features
Crowdin
- Free tier with unlimited collaborators for open-source projects
- 600+ integrations (GitHub, GitLab, Figma, Unity, Unreal, WordPress, Contentful)
- Crowdin AI with OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepL, Google routing
- In-context editor with screenshot attachments
- Translation memory and glossary management
- Branching and workflow automation
- Mobile SDKs for iOS, Android, React Native, Flutter
- Crowdin Language Services for managed human translation
Lokalise
- 30+ localization file formats (JSON, YAML, .po, ARB, XLIFF, Android XML, iOS strings)
- Git integration with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps
- Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD plugins for in-design translation
- AI Translate with DeepL, Google, OpenAI, Anthropic routing
- Translation memory and glossary enforcement
- In-context editor with screenshot attachments
- Branching and conflict resolution
- 50+ integrations (Slack, Jira, Asana, Contentful, Storyblok, Strapi)
Pros and cons
Crowdin
Strengths
- Genuinely free for open-source projects, no hidden caps
- Most integrations of any TMS (600+)
- Transparent self-serve pricing from $50/month
- On-premise deployment available via Crowdin Enterprise
Limitations
- UI feels dated compared to Lokalise's modern design
- Advanced workflow configuration has a learning curve
- Some features gated behind Business ($450/mo) or above
Lokalise
Strengths
- Best-in-class developer experience with Git and design integrations
- Transparent pricing you can sign up for without a sales call
- Broad file format support including mobile-specific formats
- Strong AI translation routing with glossary enforcement
Limitations
- No free plan, minimum entry is $140/month
- Less suited to marketing website and campaign workflows
- Essential tier ($270) is where most real features unlock
Which should you choose?
Choose Crowdin if these matter most to you: Genuinely free for open-source projects, no hidden caps; Most integrations of any TMS (600+).
Choose Lokalise if these matter more: Best-in-class developer experience with Git and design integrations; Transparent pricing you can sign up for without a sales call.
Still unsure? See every option ranked in Crowdin alternatives and Lokalise alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Is Crowdin or Lokalise cheaper?
Crowdin: Pro, $50/month: 50,000 source words, 20 projects, unlimited collaborators, full integrations, TM, QA checks, Crowdin AI basic access.. Lokalise: Start, $140/month (billed annually): 3 projects, 5 users, 5,000 hosted keys, AI translation memory, basic glossary, Git integration, Figma plugin.. Check both vendor pricing pages before buying, since tiers change often.
What pricing model do Crowdin and Lokalise use?
We list Crowdin as Freemium and Lokalise as Paid. The tier detail above is taken from each vendor's own pricing page as at August 2026.
Which is better, Crowdin or Lokalise?
Neither wins outright. On our August 2026 review Crowdin scores 4.4/5 and Lokalise scores 4.4/5, and the right pick depends on the use case set out above. Both entries are independently reviewed.