What Are The Best Translation Tools in 2023? Top 20 Tools in a Translator’s Arsenal
Written by
Adedamola Ojedokun
Language barriers hinder business growth, limit educational opportunities, and obstruct other areas of our increasingly interconnected world. Fortunately, modern translation tools help overcome language barriers and enhance global interactions. But what are the best translation tools, and how do I choose them?
This article explores what translation tools are, highlighting the 20 best translation software tools available today. From industry giants like Amazon and Google to specialized platforms like Centus and DeepL, these tools provide different features to meet a wide range of translation needs.
Keep reading to discover:
-19. Lionbridge Translation Workspace
Pro tip: A localization platform, such as Centus, can assist you in creating and managing multilingual content. Businesses of all sizes use the platform’s translation memory, machine translation, glossaries, and other features to improve the accuracy, speed, and consistency of their translations. Learn more.
What Are Translation Tools?
Translation tools are software applications designed to translate text from one language to another. Anyone who needs to translate a document or piece of text for personal or professional reasons can use the tools.
Professional translation tools offer several features, such as:
Translation memory
Translation memories save previously translated text. It allows the tool to reuse previous translations when translating similar content. This saves time and improves accuracy.
Read more about translation memories here.
Terminology management
This allows translators to save and maintain specific terminology and phrases so they can use them consistently throughout the translation process.
Glossaries
A translation glossary allows translators to create and use glossaries of terms and phrases, which can be useful when translating technical content.
Grammar and spelling checkers
These features can help in identifying and correcting spelling and grammar mistakes.
Dictionaries and thesaurus
These resources can assist translators in discovering the appropriate words to represent their ideas in the target language.
Machine translation
This feature is used to create a rough translation of a text that human translators can then edit.
20 Best Translation Software Tools Online
There are many translation tools on the market. These language translation tools are designed to assist individuals, corporations, and organizations in accurately and efficiently performing automatic translation from one language to another. Here are the 20 most popular translation tools:
Centus
Centus is a localization and translation platform that assists businesses in expanding into new markets and reaching new customers. The platform has many features, including extensive language support, a user-friendly interface, a variety of translation programs, and a team of localization experts. Centus can help organizations expand their reach, improve customer experience, enhance brand image, and save on translation costs.
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More details here. |
Google Cloud Translation
Source: Google
Google created Google Cloud Translation, which is an advanced translation tool that uses machine learning and artificial intelligence. It provides accurate and fast translations across several languages, with features such as neural machine translation, comprehensive language support, autoML translation for customization, a REST API interface, and translation memories.
The tool can be used for website localization, customer service, content translation, and language learning. It does, however, have limitations and occasional errors, requiring a review of critical content.
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Amazon Translate
Source: Amazon
Amazon Translate is a popular translation software application that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning. It supports over 70 languages and provides accurate and fast translations. Users can adjust translations to ensure a more personalized experience. The tool is scalable and smoothly connects with other Amazon Web Services (AWS) products.
It operates on a low-cost, pay-as-you-go model, making it accessible to both individuals and companies. Developers can use its API to add translation capabilities to their apps.
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DeepL
Source: DeepL
DeepL is an advanced translation software known for its high quality and accuracy. Leveraging neural machine translation (NMT) algorithms, it produces fluent and natural translations that usually outperform competing tools.
DeepL meets a wide range of linguistic requirements by supporting several languages, including popular ones like English, German, French, and Spanish. It has a user-friendly interface and supports document and internet translation, as well as text input translation. DeepL's translations are contextually sensitive and successfully capture nuances.
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Microsoft Translator
Source: Microsoft
Microsoft Translator is a powerful and user-friendly translation software. Some of its features include text translation, speech translation, document translation, website localization, and mobile app integration.
It provides a smooth translation experience by integrating seamlessly into Microsoft products and services such as Office 365 and Azure Cognitive Services. The application uses ML and AI technology to continuously enhance translation quality.
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ChatGPT
Source: ChatGPT
ChatGPT is an advanced translation program developed by OpenAI. It uses natural language processing to offer accurate translations and enhance multilingual communication. ChatGPT offers features such as accurate translations, multilingual support, and contextual comprehension due to its neural network design and rigorous training on different language data.
ChatGPT benefits from regular updates and improvements since the tool is always evolving.
Learn more about AI-enabled translation here.
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SDL Trados Studio
Source: Trados
SDL Trados Studio is a popular translation software that was developed by SDL. It offers features such as translation memory, terminology management, project management, and quality assurance to increase translator efficiency and quality. The software is compatible with different types of files and allows for smooth collaboration.
It also works with MT, allowing translators to take advantage of suggestions for greater efficiency. SDL Trados Studio is well-known for its industry-standard status and is commonly used by language professionals.
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memoQ
Source: memoQ
memoQ is a robust and user-friendly translation tool that is used by experienced translators and language service providers. Its user-friendly interface and sophisticated translation memory technology provide a smooth workflow and consistent translations. This modern technology facilitates communication among translators and project managers by synchronizing updates in real-time.
MemoQ interfaces with major computer aided translation tools and supports different file types, making it extremely versatile. The tool’s integration with MT improves productivity, while customization options allow customers to tailor the software to their preferences.
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Phrase
Source: Phrase
Phrase is a translation management software that helps businesses localize their content and products for global markets. It is a cloud-based platform that allows businesses to manage all areas of the translation process, from content uploading to translator management and translation delivery.
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Smartcat
Source: Smartcat
Smartcat is a popular translation software that is known for its extensive features. It provides a collaborative environment in which numerous users may work on projects together, thereby improving communication and workflow efficiency.
The platform includes advanced translation memory and terminology management capabilities, which improve consistency and reduce translation time. Smartcat also interfaces with prominent MT engines, allowing translators to combine automated and human translation.
Smartcat streamlines the translation process and enables efficient and precise translations for both individuals and agencies because of its powerful features and versatility.
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Forever free: $0 Starter: $99 per month Unite: $669 per month Enterprise: Custom
Forever free: $0 Starter: $165 per month Unite: $669 per month Enterprise: Custom |
Wordbee Translator
Source: Wordbee
Wordbee Translator is a cloud-based translation management system that is known for its easy-to-use interface and extensive features. It provides a strong translation memory system to effectively reuse translations, thereby improving consistency, and saving time. The software also offers terminology database management to ensure precise and consistent language usage.
The tool’s project management features facilitate collaboration by enabling streamlined communication between translators and project managers. Wordbee Translator seamlessly interacts with CMS and CRM platforms, thereby removing the need for manual translation management and reducing errors.
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MateCat
Source: MateCat
MateCat is a cloud-based translation program that supports real-time collaboration, thereby allowing numerous translators to work on projects at the same time. The tool is compatible with different file types and connects with translation memory and glossaries for consistency.
MateCat's user-friendly interface and comprehensive features make it ideal for individual translators, language service providers, and companies looking for efficient and reliable translation solutions.
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OmegaT
Source: OmegaT
OmegaT is a popular open-source translation tool that translation agencies use all over the world. The tool can be used with different files and has a translation memory system, allowing professional and freelance translators to save time by leveraging prior translations. It also manages terminology databases for consistent, specialized translations.
The tool works with MT engines, thereby integrating human knowledge with AI capabilities.
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CafeTran Espresso
Source: CafeTran
CafeTran Espresso is a powerful CAT tool (computer assisted translation) that is popular among language specialists. It supports different file types and excels at terminology management and translation memory. The tool offers smooth collaboration through cloud support and seamlessly integrates with MT engines.
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Crowdin
Source: Crowdin
Crowdin is a cloud-based translation tool that simplifies the localization process. It supports different file types and is compatible with various development platforms. Real-time communication and tools such as translation memory and glossary management make collaboration simple.
Project managers can assign tasks, analyze progress, and use reporting and analytics to make better decisions. Crowdin is a great solution for both individual translators and large localization teams because of its user-friendly design and comprehensive features.
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Déjà Vu
Source: Atril
Déjà Vu is a user-friendly translation tool that improves the consistency and efficiency of professional translators and translation agencies. The tool was created by Atril Solutions, and it uses translation memory technology to retain and reuse previously translated content, thereby saving time and ensuring terminology consistency.
With an intuitive interface and advanced features, Déjà Vu supports different file types and allows numerous translators to collaborate on a task.
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XTM Cloud
Source: XTM
XTM Cloud is a powerful translation management platform that streamlines workflows and revolutionizes collaboration. Its cloud-based architecture enables real-time collaboration among globally dispersed teams. XTM Cloud provides efficiency and accuracy with advanced project management features, file format support, and integration capabilities.
It features translation memory and terminology management capabilities for consistency and linguistic integrity. XTM Cloud, which is appropriate for enterprises and language service providers, enables organizations to provide high-quality translations on time and under budget, making it an indispensable tool in the translation sector.
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Transifex
Source: Transifex
Transifex is an easy-to-use translation tool that streamlines the entire localization process. It offers features such as translation project creation, string management, collaboration, and platform connection. Transifex ensures translation quality through contextual information, review processes, and approval workflows.
Transifex is an indispensable tool for businesses and individuals involved in localization and translation projects.
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Lionbridge Translation Workspace
Source: Lionbridge
Lionbridge Translation Workspace is a powerful translation software tool that simplifies the translation process for professionals. Some of the features it offers include translation memory, terminology management, collaborative tools, quality assurance, and reporting.
The user-friendly design makes it simple to navigate, and the integration capabilities allow it to support different file types.
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Weglot
Source: Weglot
Weglot is a translation tool that is designed for websites. It interacts smoothly with popular systems such as WordPress and Shopify, recognizing and translating content into several languages instantly. It combines machine translation technology with simple editing capabilities, enabling manual customization as well as collaboration with professional translators.
Weglot optimizes search engine exposure by creating unique URLs for each translated version while maintaining the website's aesthetic. It provides different pricing plans based on word count and language requirements.
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To Sum Up
Translation tools have become a crucial part of our interconnected world, allowing for effective communication across language borders. Your choice of the best translation tool will be determined by your specific needs and translation project requirements.
As technology keeps advancing, translation systems are expected to become more sophisticated, thereby bridging language gaps and enhancing global interactions like never before.
Businesses of all sizes can expand into new markets and reach new customers with the help of powerful localization platforms, like Centus. With Centus, you can easily translate your content into multiple languages, ensuring that your message is clear and concise for customers around the world. Learn more.
FAQ
How does a translation tool work?
Translation tools use MT techniques, such as rule-based or neural approaches, to transform text from one language to another. These tools provide input preprocessing, word alignment, translation generation, and post-processing.
Although translation programs have advanced, limitations such as context and idiomatic expressions persist. The expertise of a human translator is usually required for quality assurance.
Why are translation tools important?
Translation tools are important for breaking down language barriers, increasing productivity, and saving on translation costs. They facilitate global communication, maintain uniformity, and ensure translation quality. These tools make translation more accessible to a broader variety of people and help organizations with their globalization and localization activities.
What are the different types of translation?
The key types of translation include literary, technical, legal, medical, multimedia, website, software, and financial translations. Each serves a unique purpose, such as preserving cultural nuances in literary works or ensuring legal documents are accurate.
Translators specializing in these fields often require professional certifications and multiple years of industry training.
What are machine translation tools?
Machine translation tools are software applications that use statistical or rule-based techniques for translating text from one language to another. These tools are widely used in different settings, such as government, education, and business.