Best Computer-Assisted Translation Software
Computer-assisted translation (CAT) software translates one language to another using translation memory—which stores previously translated texts—or crowd assistance to provide translations that are consistent with previously used language to ensure proper spelling, grammar, and phrasing. CAT software provides a more streamlined and interactive editing platform compared to simple word-for-word machine translation software. Computer-assisted translation software assists translators, helping them translate texts more efficiently and accurately with tools such as translation memory, phrase directories, and other terminology-related databases. Computer-assisted translation products often integrate with translation management software, allowing translation service providers to collaborate with translators and keep translation texts organized.
To qualify for inclusion in the Computer-Assisted Translation category, a product must:
Featured Computer-Assisted Translation Software At A Glance
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Make your content and apps multilingual with fast, dynamic machine translation available in thousands of language pairs.
31,775,247 Twitter followers
Phrase is a leader in Language Intelligence. Its enterprise platform automates, manages, and delivers multilingual content, helping organizations build deeper customer connections and accelerate busin
More Than a Translation Management System wxrks offers a context-first translation platform that enables localization managers, translation agencies, translators, and developers to translate, conte
1,097 Twitter followers
Crowdin is a leading AI-powered localization software for teams. Connect 700+ tools to translate your content. Create and manage all your multilingual content in one place. Localize your apps, soft
2,663 Twitter followers
Smartcat is an AI platform with expert-enabled AI Agents that automate the entire content lifecycle – creating, translating, and localizing content simultaneously. This means content is ready to launc
2,041 Twitter followers
Lokalise is your strategic localization partner for delivering high quality native-sounding digital experiences — for your global users — intuitively and accurately. Trusted by over 3,000 companies
2,060 Twitter followers
memoQ TMS is a full-fledged enterprise translation management system (TMS) that has been created to help localiztation teams of enterprises and Language Service Providers achieve their goals. It i
8,031 Twitter followers
DeepL Translate is an AI translation platform that delivers real-time, human-like translations in over 100 languages, enabling employees, customers, and partners to communicate seamlessly across borde
19,909 Twitter followers
Weglot is a powerful website localization solution that both translates and displays the content of your website into multiple languages. Compatible with any CMS (Shopify, WordPress, Webflow, etc, and
2,280 Twitter followers
GlobalLink is a translation management platform offered by TransPerfect, the world’s largest provider of localization services. Designed to be able to scale based on the needs of a variety of use cas
GlobalLink is a tool used for localization and translation, offering features such as automation of manual tasks, content tracking, and file transfer, making it suitable for business use. Reviewers appreciate the tool's ability to enhance brand consistency, improve user experience and SEO through website localization, and its integration with various platforms and systems, which streamlines the translation process. Reviewers experienced difficulties in understanding and using GlobalLink due to its complexity, issues with role sharing and permissions, reporting gaps, lack of accurate visibility, and the high cost of modules for small businesses.
572 Twitter followers
Transifex is a continuous localisation platform designed for software, website, and digital product localisation. It serves as a comprehensive solution for product, engineering, marketing, and localis
2,424 Twitter followers
Automated localization for your software products, apps, and content. Invite your team, start in minutes, and run translations on autopilot. 👨💻 For developers, Localazy is localization automati
2,066 Twitter followers
Unbabel eliminates language barriers so that businesses can thrive across cultures and geographies. The company’s Language Operations platform blends advanced artificial intelligence with humans i
3,727 Twitter followers
Redokun is a powerful cloud-based translation tool designed to help marketing managers and their teams efficiently translate various types of documents while maintaining their original layout and desi
187 Twitter followers
Language IO ensures any customer service agent can talk to any customer on any channel in any language. Through the power of AI, your follow-the-sun model now supports every language under the sun, wh
1,280 Twitter followers
Learn More About Computer-Assisted Translation Software
What is Computer-Assisted Translation Software?
Computer-assisted translation (CAT) software translates text from one language into another by providing features like translation databases, machine translation, and grammar and spell checkers. While this functionality could be achieved with a series of point solutions, CAT software consolidates into a single product all the software features necessary for translating documents from one language to another. There are many different types of computer-assisted translation software solutions for businesses of all sizes.
Key Benefits of Computer-Assisted Translation Software
- Consolidates all features required for translation and localization projects
- Speeds up translation projects without sacrificing accuracy
- Can also provide translation management features, creating unified platforms for translation services providers
Why Use Computer-Assisted Translation Software?
Translators opt to use computer-assisted translation tools because they centralize all the features necessary for their work.
Professional translators need to ensure their work is as accurate and consistent as possible, and CAT software supports the translation process at every step. Instead of bouncing between dictionaries and previously translated texts, translators have all the information they need for translation in a single software solution. The centralization of these features is especially helpful when considering that translators often translate documents into multiple languages.
Who Uses Computer-Assisted Translation Software?
Computer-assisted translation solutions are usually leveraged by professional translators. However, translators can work in different industries or employment arrangements.
Freelance translators — Many translators work freelance and take one-off contract jobs from larger companies. Plenty of businesses can have infrequent translation needs, and hiring a localization team in-house is expensive. Freelance translators can fill the gap, allowing businesses to avoid unnecessary expenses on staff and software.
Translators working for translation services — Larger translation and localization firms hire multiple translators to handle bulk projects. Translation services providers will often use a combined translation management and computer-assisted translation tool; this allows translation projects to move through pre-determined workflows as translators work on them.
Kinds of Computer-Assisted Translation Software
Standalone — Most computer-assisted translation solutions are available as standalone software. These options will only provide the typical features of CAT software. Standalone CAT software tends to be cheaper than other tools built into other solutions.
Built-in translation management — Combined translation management and computer-assisted translation tools are popular among large translation services providers. These types of tools provide all the features of a computer-assisted translation solution, but with additional workflows, project planning features, and even payment gateways and client portals for customers.
Computer-Assisted Translation Software Features
In reality, a computer-assisted translation software tool is a collection of smaller programs translators utilize for translation and localization projects. While CAT offerings can vary in scope, the following features are found in most, if not all, computer-assisted translation software.
Translation memory (TM) — A database that stores text segments from a source language and their designed translations in other languages. Translation memory can be modified by users to remove or add new words.
Search — Unified search across a CAT software’s translation memory and previous translations.
Spell checker — Checks for proper spelling in source language and other languages.
Grammar checker — Checks for proper grammar usage in source language and other languages.
Terminology managers — A customizable database for terms. Translators can rely on this database to provide quick translations for frequently used terms.
Electronic dictionary — A built-in dictionary in a source language for another language. Multiple may be available in a given offering.
Additional Computer-Assisted Translation Features
Workflow management — Allows users to create defined workflows around translation projects. Many translation management tools that come with a built-in computer-assisted translation component will also provide comprehensive workflow management. This feature ensures stakeholder and contributor visibility throughout the translation process.
Potential Issues with Computer-Assisted Translation Software
Supported languages — Computer-assisted translation software vendors do their best to support popular languages, but this means that less well-known or prevalent languages are not supported out-of-the-box. Some CAT software allows translators to make modifications to the translation memory which could allow them to use the tool for their desired language. However, that process can take a lot of time if the translator doesn’t have a pre-made word bank, forcing them to populate the translation memory manually.
