Smartling
EnterpriseEnterprise translation management platform with AI-powered workflows, in-context visual editing, and a global language services network
What is Smartling?
Smartling is one of the two or three largest enterprise translation management systems (TMS) in the world, alongside Phrase and Lokalise. It is used by companies like Shopify, Peloton, DoorDash, and Pinterest to localize websites, apps, marketing content, and support documentation into dozens of languages. The platform combines three things: an AI-powered translation memory and machine translation layer, a cloud-based CAT workspace for human translators, and a built-in network of freelance translators and language service providers that customers can tap directly without separate vendor management. What differentiates Smartling in 2026 is its aggressive investment in LLM-powered translation — the platform routes segments between multiple AI engines (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, DeepL, and custom models), picks the best output per segment, and flags low-confidence output for human review. In-context visual editing lets translators see exactly how their text will appear in the final website or app before committing a translation. Smartling is notably expensive compared to developer-focused platforms like Lokalise or Crowdin, and the typical customer is an enterprise marketing team or global e-commerce brand translating millions of words per year. Pricing is strictly quote-based with annual contracts; smaller teams usually pay $2,000-5,000/month minimum. Smartling is GDPR, SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, and ISO 27001 certified, which makes it a common pick for regulated industries that still need a polished end-user translator experience.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Enterprise marketing and e-commerce teams translating millions of words across dozens of languages with full AI+human workflows
Small teams, developers, or startups — Smartling is expensive and enterprise-only
Custom annual contracts · Typical minimum $2,000-5,000/month · Volume discounts above 5M words/year
No — free trial available on request
End-to-end TMS with AI multi-engine routing, in-context visual preview, and a built-in translator network
Expensive and enterprise-only — not viable for teams under ~20 active users
Bottom line: Smartling scores 4.3/5 — the premium pick for global brands translating millions of words per year with a polished end-user experience. Small and mid-market teams are better served by Phrase, Lokalise, or Crowdin.
Pricing
Custom annual contracts: Smartling does not publish list prices. Deals are structured around source words translated per year, the number of target languages, seat count, and which modules are included.
Typical starting point: Mid-market customers usually start around $2,000-$5,000/month for a full TMS deployment with AI translation, translation memory, and a handful of languages. Large enterprise deals run $100,000-$500,000+/year.
Managed Services: Smartling also sells managed translation services (human translation by its network of vetted linguists) billed per word, typically $0.14-$0.30 per source word depending on language pair and specialization.
Key Features
- AI multi-engine routing (OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepL, Google, custom models)
- In-context visual editor for websites, apps, and emails
- Translation memory with cross-project reuse and leverage analytics
- Built-in LSP and freelance translator network
- Quality checks with LQA (Language Quality Assurance) scoring
- Full API, webhooks, and Git-based integrations
- 50+ native integrations (Figma, WordPress, Marketo, Salesforce, Braze)
- SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR compliance
- Real-time translation analytics and project dashboards
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Most polished enterprise UX in the TMS category
- Multi-engine AI routing picks the best model per segment
- In-context visual preview dramatically reduces translation errors
- Built-in translator network removes vendor management overhead
Cons
- Expensive — out of reach for small and mid-market teams
- Custom-only pricing makes budget planning hard
- Heavier to deploy than developer-first tools like Lokalise or Crowdin
FAQ
How much does Smartling actually cost?
Smartling does not publish pricing. Based on customer reports and industry benchmarks, typical entry-level TMS contracts start around $2,000-$5,000/month for a basic deployment with one or two languages. Mid-size enterprise customers usually pay $50,000-$150,000/year, and Fortune 500 deployments can run $500,000+/year. Managed human translation services are billed separately at roughly $0.14-$0.30 per source word depending on language pair and subject matter.
Is Smartling the same as Phrase?
Both are enterprise TMS platforms, but they target slightly different buyers. Smartling is marketing-first with a stronger focus on websites, e-commerce, and visual in-context editing. Phrase (formerly Memsource) is more developer-friendly with deeper CAT tool heritage and better Git integration for software localization. Large global e-commerce brands often pick Smartling; software companies shipping weekly releases tend toward Phrase or Lokalise.
Does Smartling do human translation itself?
Yes — Smartling operates its own vetted translator network through its Language Services division. You can assign projects to Smartling-managed linguists directly from inside the TMS without contracting with a separate LSP. Smartling also supports bringing your own LSP, your own in-house translators, or routing content to multiple providers depending on content type. The unified workflow across AI, internal, and external translators is one of its key selling points.
Does Smartling use ChatGPT or Claude for translation?
Yes. Smartling's AI translation router (branded LanguageAI) uses multiple LLM providers — including OpenAI GPT-4/5 models, Anthropic Claude, DeepL Pro, Google NMT, and custom fine-tuned models — and selects the best output per segment based on quality scoring. Customers can control which engines are allowed, enforce privacy rules, and train custom models on their own TM and glossary data.
Is Smartling GDPR compliant?
Yes. Smartling is GDPR, SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, and HIPAA compliant, with Data Processing Agreements available for all enterprise customers. Data residency options include EU-hosted instances for European customers. Content submitted to Smartling is not used to train third-party models by default, and customers can opt out of any optional AI training.
Can I integrate Smartling with Figma or WordPress?
Yes. Smartling has 50+ native integrations including Figma (design-stage translation), WordPress, Drupal, Adobe Experience Manager, Salesforce, Marketo, HubSpot, Braze, Contentful, Zendesk, Git, and Jira. Most integrations are bidirectional — you push source content from the CMS, Smartling handles translation and QA, and localized content flows back automatically on approval. Custom integrations can be built on the REST API.
Smartling vs Lokalise — which should I pick?
Lokalise is cheaper, developer-focused, and excellent for software and mobile app localization. Smartling is more expensive, marketing-focused, and designed for website, email, and multi-channel content. If your main use case is translating strings in a codebase, pick Lokalise. If you are translating an entire marketing website and email program at scale, pick Smartling.
📋 Good to know
Sales-led onboarding. Expect a discovery call, scoping, contract, and 2-4 weeks of initial deployment with a dedicated customer success manager.
SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR. EU data residency available. Opt-out of any AI training on customer data.
Add Language Services (human translation) when AI quality is insufficient for specific content types. Add more connectors as source systems grow.
Medium-high. Non-technical marketers can use the web interface quickly; deploying integrations and configuring workflows requires a dedicated owner.