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Translation · head to head

MateCat vs OmegaT

MateCat logo

MateCat

Translation

Free, browser-based CAT tool under the LGPL, developed and hosted by the translation company Translated

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OmegaT logo

OmegaT

Translation

Free, open source desktop CAT tool under the GPLv3, maintained by a volunteer community rather than a company

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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.; 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.
  • They diverge on capability: MateCat covers Browser-based CAT interface, OmegaT covers Glossary support.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MateCat and OmegaT actually diverge.

Attributes where MateCat and OmegaT differ
AttributeMateCatOmegaT
PlatformsWebWindows, macOS, Linux

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Open source, no licence fee), 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
  • Quality assurance checks
  • Project management
  • File translation

Only in OmegaT

  • Glossary support
  • Wide format support
  • Project-based workflow
  • Machine translation plugin support
  • Cross-platform desktop app

Both cover

  • Translation memory

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 OmegaT
  • A small agency wanting basic hosted project management without paying for a commercial TMSnot OmegaT
  • A translator who wants MT suggestions from multiple engines surfaced alongside translation memory matches in one interfacenot OmegaT
  • A team occasionally needing quick file translation through a browser without setting up desktop softwarenot OmegaT

OmegaT

  • A freelance translator who wants translation memory and fuzzy matching without paying for a Trados or memoQ licencenot MateCat
  • A small language service provider standardising on a free tool for individual translators before investing in a shared TMSnot MateCat
  • A translator working with files from clients using commercial CAT tools, leveraging Okapi’s format support for compatibilitynot MateCat
  • A developer or power user who wants to inspect, modify or extend the tool since it is open source under the GPLv3not 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.

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

MateCat

Free
  • MateCatFree
    • Free browser-based CAT tool, LGPL licensed
    • Hosted and operated by Translated srl

OmegaT

Free
  • OmegaTFree
    • Full CAT tool functionality, GPLv3 licensed
    • No paid tier, no vendor support contract available

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.
MateCat review

Choose OmegaT if

  • You need glossary support.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want wide format support.
OmegaT review

Questions people ask

Is MateCat or OmegaT better?
Neither clearly leads. MateCat 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, MateCat or OmegaT?
MateCat starts at Free and OmegaT at Free.
Does MateCat or OmegaT run on more platforms?
MateCat runs on Web. OmegaT runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
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 OmegaT is typically brought in for.
What can MateCat do that OmegaT cannot?
MateCat covers Browser-based CAT interface, Machine translation suggestions, Quality assurance checks, Project management. OmegaT covers Glossary support, Wide format support, Project-based workflow, Machine translation plugin support. Both handle Translation memory.

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.

OmegaT: 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.

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.

OmegaT: Who maintains OmegaT?

A volunteer open source community, not a company; this differs from MateCat, which is developed and hosted by the company Translated.

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.

OmegaT: 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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