Translation · head to head
Lokalise vs Microsoft Translator
Microsoft Translator
Translation
Azure AI Translator, priced at $10 per million characters for standard text translation with volume commitment discounts available
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Lokalise there is no free tier; the entry Explorer plan starts at $144 per month; Microsoft Translator published free-tier detail is thinner than Google’s or Amazon’s clearly stated character allowances, making it harder to estimate cost from public documentation alone.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Lokalise and Microsoft Translator actually diverge.
| Attribute | Lokalise | Microsoft Translator |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | subscription | Per million characters |
| Platforms | Web | Web, iOS, Android, Windows |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Translation).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Lokalise
Nothing recorded that Microsoft Translator does not also cover.
Only in Microsoft Translator
- Text translation API
- Document translation
- Speech translation
- Custom Translator
- Microsoft Translator app
- Volume commitment pricing
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Lokalise
- Automating multi-product translation workflowsnot Microsoft Translator
- Integrating GitHub and GitLab for code localizationnot Microsoft Translator
- Translating Figma designs for global audiencesnot Microsoft Translator
- Maintaining consistency with translation memorynot Microsoft Translator
Microsoft Translator
- A developer already building on Azure who wants translation billed through the same cloud account as other servicesnot Lokalise
- An enterprise with high, predictable translation volume that negotiates a commitment-tier discountnot Lokalise
- A Microsoft 365 organisation using built-in document and Teams translation without a separate integration projectnot Lokalise
- A team needing speech translation as part of a broader Azure AI Speech deploymentnot Lokalise
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Lokalise
- There is no free tier; the entry Explorer plan starts at $144 per month
- Multi-product workflow support requires the $999 per month Advanced plan
- Enterprise security and support features are gated behind a custom quote
Microsoft Translator
- Published free-tier detail is thinner than Google’s or Amazon’s clearly stated character allowances, making it harder to estimate cost from public documentation alone.
- Translation quality for major language pairs is broadly comparable to Google Translate and Amazon Translate, so there is little functional differentiation beyond price and Azure ecosystem convenience.
- Commitment-tier discounts require a negotiated minimum spend, so smaller developers without predictable volume do not get Microsoft’s most competitive published rate.
- Custom Translator model training and management add operational complexity beyond simple API calls, requiring parallel training data the buyer must supply and maintain.
- Adopting it while already using a different primary cloud (AWS or Google Cloud) means managing a second cloud billing relationship purely for translation, which is administratively unappealing for some teams.
Pricing, plan by plan
Lokalise
Free- Explorer$144/month
- Entry-level tier
- Glossaries
- Translation memory
- Growth$375/month
- Enhanced automation
- Custom triggers
- Templates
- Advanced$999/month
- Complex multi-product workflows
- Most popular tier
- Advanced AI capabilities
- Enterprise$null/custom
- Custom SLA
- Specialized security
- Dedicated support
Microsoft Translator
Free- Microsoft Translator (consumer app)Free
- Free text, voice and camera translation
- Azure AI Translator (standard)$10/month
- $10 per million characters translated
- Free tier for limited monthly volume
- Azure AI Translator (commitment tier)$undefined/month
- Discounted per-character rate for a committed minimum monthly volume, quoted by Microsoft
Which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft Translator if
- You need text translation api.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows.
- You also want document translation.
Questions people ask
- Is Lokalise or Microsoft Translator better?
- Neither clearly leads. Lokalise starts at Free and Microsoft Translator at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Lokalise or Microsoft Translator?
- Lokalise starts at Free and Microsoft Translator at Free.
- Does Lokalise or Microsoft Translator run on more platforms?
- Lokalise runs on Web. Microsoft Translator runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows.
- Can I use Lokalise for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Lokalise best used for?
- Lokalise is most often used for automating multi-product translation workflows, integrating github and gitlab for code localization, translating figma designs for global audiences, maintaining consistency with translation memory. Of those, automating multi-product translation workflows and integrating github and gitlab for code localization are not what Microsoft Translator is typically brought in for.
- What can Lokalise do that Microsoft Translator cannot?
- Microsoft Translator covers Text translation API, Document translation, Speech translation, Custom Translator.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Lokalise: How much does Lokalise cost?
Lokalise offers Explorer plan at $144/month for basic translation features, Growth at $375/month for enhanced automation, and Advanced at $999/month for complex workflows. Enterprise plans require custom quotes. All pricing is for monthly billing with no setup fees.
SourceMicrosoft Translator: How does Microsoft’s per-character price compare to Google’s?
Microsoft charges $10 per million characters for standard translation, about half Google’s $20 NMT rate.
Lokalise: Does Lokalise offer a free trial?
Yes, Lokalise provides a 14-day free trial for all plans with no credit card required, giving full access to evaluate features before committing to a paid subscription.
SourceMicrosoft Translator: Is there a free tier?
Yes, for limited monthly volume, though Microsoft publishes less specific detail on the exact allowance than Google or Amazon do.
Lokalise: What features does Lokalise's Advanced plan add?
The Advanced plan ($999/month) is designed for teams with complex, multi-product workflows. It includes all Growth features plus advanced AI capabilities, 24/7 support, and a dedicated account manager.
SourceMicrosoft Translator: Can I get a discount for high volume?
Yes, through commitment-tier pricing negotiated with Microsoft for a minimum monthly spend.
Related pages
More on Microsoft Translator
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