Translation · head to head
MateCat vs Microsoft Translator
MateCat
Translation
Free, browser-based CAT tool under the LGPL, developed and hosted by the translation company Translated
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
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: MateCat the hosted version most users rely on depends on Translated srl’s continued operation and infrastructure decisions, unlike a self-run desktop tool.; 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.
- They diverge on capability: MateCat covers Browser-based CAT interface, Microsoft Translator covers Text translation API.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which MateCat and Microsoft Translator actually diverge.
| Attribute | MateCat | Microsoft Translator |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Open source, no licence fee | 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 MateCat
- Browser-based CAT interface
- Machine translation suggestions
- Translation memory
- Quality assurance checks
- Project management
- File translation
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.
MateCat
- A freelance translator wanting a no-install, browser-based CAT tool with built-in machine translation suggestionsnot Microsoft Translator
- A small agency wanting basic hosted project management without paying for a commercial TMSnot Microsoft Translator
- A translator who wants MT suggestions from multiple engines surfaced alongside translation memory matches in one interfacenot Microsoft Translator
- A team occasionally needing quick file translation through a browser without setting up desktop softwarenot Microsoft Translator
Microsoft Translator
- A developer already building on Azure who wants translation billed through the same cloud account as other servicesnot MateCat
- An enterprise with high, predictable translation volume that negotiates a commitment-tier discountnot MateCat
- A Microsoft 365 organisation using built-in document and Teams translation without a separate integration projectnot MateCat
- A team needing speech translation as part of a broader Azure AI Speech deploymentnot MateCat
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
MateCat
- The hosted version most users rely on depends on Translated srl’s continued operation and infrastructure decisions, unlike a self-run desktop tool.
- It is developed by a commercial translation company whose own paid services sit alongside the free tool, which is worth being aware of when evaluating vendor neutrality.
- Being browser-based, it requires a stable internet connection, unlike OmegaT’s fully offline desktop application.
- Advanced terminology management and enterprise-scale project features are more limited than a paid commercial TMS such as memoQ or Smartling.
- Self-hosting the open source LGPL code independently of Translated’s hosted service requires technical setup effort that most individual translators are unlikely to undertake.
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
MateCat
Free- MateCatFree
- Free browser-based CAT tool, LGPL licensed
- Hosted and operated by Translated srl
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 MateCat if
- You need browser-based cat interface.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want machine translation suggestions.
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 MateCat or Microsoft Translator better?
- Neither clearly leads. MateCat 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, MateCat or Microsoft Translator?
- MateCat starts at Free and Microsoft Translator at Free.
- Does MateCat or Microsoft Translator run on more platforms?
- MateCat runs on Web. Microsoft Translator runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows.
- Can I use MateCat for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is MateCat best used for?
- MateCat is most often used for a freelance translator wanting a no-install, browser-based cat tool with built-in machine translation suggestions, a small agency wanting basic hosted project management without paying for a commercial tms, a translator who wants mt suggestions from multiple engines surfaced alongside translation memory matches in one interface, a team occasionally needing quick file translation through a browser without setting up desktop software. Of those, a freelance translator wanting a no-install, browser-based cat tool with built-in machine translation suggestions and a small agency wanting basic hosted project management without paying for a commercial tms are not what Microsoft Translator is typically brought in for.
- What can MateCat do that Microsoft Translator cannot?
- MateCat covers Browser-based CAT interface, Machine translation suggestions, Translation memory, Quality assurance checks. Microsoft Translator covers Text translation API, Document translation, Speech translation, Custom Translator.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
MateCat: Is MateCat really free?
Yes, it is free to use as a hosted browser-based tool and released as open source under the LGPL.
Microsoft 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.
MateCat: Who maintains MateCat?
Translated srl, an Italian translation company, develops and hosts it; this differs from OmegaT, which is maintained by a volunteer open source community.
Microsoft 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.
MateCat: Can I self-host MateCat instead of using Translated’s hosted version?
The code is open source under the LGPL and technically self-hostable, but doing so requires meaningful technical setup most individual users skip in favour of the hosted service.
Microsoft 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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