Translation · head to head
Lokalise vs OmegaT

OmegaT
Translation
Free, open source desktop CAT tool under the GPLv3, maintained by a volunteer community rather than a company
- 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; OmegaT there is no commercial support contract available, so a business relying on it for critical work has only community forums to fall back on when something breaks.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Lokalise and OmegaT actually diverge.
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 OmegaT does not also cover.
Only in OmegaT
- Translation memory
- Glossary support
- Wide format support
- Project-based workflow
- Machine translation plugin support
- Cross-platform desktop app
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Lokalise
- Automating multi-product translation workflowsnot OmegaT
- Integrating GitHub and GitLab for code localizationnot OmegaT
- Translating Figma designs for global audiencesnot OmegaT
- Maintaining consistency with translation memorynot OmegaT
OmegaT
- A freelance translator who wants translation memory and fuzzy matching without paying for a Trados or memoQ licencenot Lokalise
- A small language service provider standardising on a free tool for individual translators before investing in a shared TMSnot Lokalise
- A translator working with files from clients using commercial CAT tools, leveraging Okapi’s format support for compatibilitynot Lokalise
- A developer or power user who wants to inspect, modify or extend the tool since it is open source under the GPLv3not 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
OmegaT
- There is no commercial support contract available, so a business relying on it for critical work has only community forums to fall back on when something breaks.
- It lacks the cloud-hosted, real-time collaborative project management features of commercial TMS platforms like memoQ or Smartling.
- The interface is a Java desktop application with a dated look and feel compared with modern web-based CAT tools, which affects onboarding speed for new users.
- Release cadence and feature development depend on volunteer contributor availability rather than a company roadmap, so some requested features take a long time to arrive, if ever.
- Machine translation integration requires configuring third-party API keys (Google, DeepL) separately, adding setup steps a commercial all-in-one tool would handle natively.
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
OmegaT
Free- OmegaTFree
- Full CAT tool functionality, GPLv3 licensed
- No paid tier, no vendor support contract available
Which should you pick?
Choose OmegaT if
- You need translation memory.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- You also want glossary support.
Questions people ask
- Is Lokalise or OmegaT better?
- Neither clearly leads. Lokalise starts at Free and OmegaT at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Lokalise or OmegaT?
- Lokalise starts at Free and OmegaT at Free.
- Does Lokalise or OmegaT run on more platforms?
- Lokalise runs on Web. OmegaT runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- 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 OmegaT is typically brought in for.
- What can Lokalise do that OmegaT cannot?
- OmegaT covers Translation memory, Glossary support, Wide format support, Project-based workflow.
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.
SourceOmegaT: Is OmegaT really free, with no paid version?
Yes, it is fully free and open source under the GPLv3, with no commercial edition or vendor support contract sold alongside it.
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.
SourceOmegaT: Who maintains OmegaT?
A volunteer open source community, not a company; this differs from MateCat, which is developed and hosted by the company Translated.
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.
SourceOmegaT: Can it open files from Trados or Wordfast?
Yes, via the bundled Okapi Filters plugin, which supports SDLXLIFF, TTX, TXML and many other commercial CAT tool formats.
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