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Translation · head to head

MateCat vs Smartling

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
Smartling logo

Smartling

Translation

Enterprise translation management sold alongside first-party language services priced per word

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only MateCat has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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.; Smartling translation memory is retained for only 180 days on the Core tier, so the asset that would make a future migration cheap expires on the plan most likely to be used by a team testing the water.
  • They diverge on capability: MateCat covers Browser-based CAT interface, Smartling covers Visual context CAT editor.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MateCat and Smartling actually diverge.

Attributes where MateCat and Smartling differ
AttributeMateCatSmartling
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, API

Identical on both: 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 Smartling

  • Visual context CAT editor
  • Configurable workflows
  • First-party language services
  • Linguistic quality assurance
  • Connectors and API

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

Smartling

  • A company that wants one supplier answerable for both the translation platform and the quality of the translated outputnot MateCat
  • Marketing sites where a translator needs to see the rendered page, not a spreadsheet of strings, to get tone and length rightnot MateCat
  • Replacing a platform vendor plus several separate agencies with a single contract and a single invoicenot MateCat
  • Content operations at a volume where per-word rates are the dominant cost and the tooling fee is noisenot 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.

Smartling

  • Translation memory is retained for only 180 days on the Core tier, so the asset that would make a future migration cheap expires on the plan most likely to be used by a team testing the water.
  • The platform subscription is not published while the per-word service rates are, so you can model the variable cost precisely and cannot model the fixed cost at all until you have been through a sales sizing exercise.
  • The vendor earns on words routed through it, so the commercial relationship rewards volume flowing to Smartling rather than volume being avoided through better reuse of existing memory.
  • Per-word pricing multiplies by target language, so adding a market to a product that ships in twelve languages costs a thirteenth of the current translation bill rather than a marginal amount.
  • Minimum contract term, minimum annual spend and whether individual connectors carry their own charge are all absent from the public site, so three of the numbers that determine total cost only appear inside a proposal.

Pricing, plan by plan

MateCat

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

Smartling

On request
  • Core$undefined/year
    • Subscription price not published
    • Basic workflow, user and project management
    • Browser CAT editor with visual context
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Subscription price not published
    • Fully configurable dynamic workflows
    • Translation memory with unlimited storage
  • Language services, charged separately per word$undefined/year
    • Machine translation from 0.0075 USD per word
    • AI translation from 0.06 USD per word
    • AI translation with human review from 0.12 USD per word

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 Smartling if

  • You need visual context cat editor.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want configurable workflows.
Smartling review

Questions people ask

Is MateCat or Smartling better?
Neither clearly leads. MateCat starts at Free and Smartling at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MateCat or Smartling?
MateCat has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for MateCat and On request for Smartling.
Does MateCat or Smartling run on more platforms?
MateCat runs on Web. Smartling runs on Web, API.
Can I use MateCat for free?
Yes. MateCat has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Smartling starts at On request.
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 Smartling is typically brought in for.
What can MateCat do that Smartling cannot?
MateCat covers Browser-based CAT interface, Machine translation suggestions, Quality assurance checks, Project management. Smartling covers Visual context CAT editor, Configurable workflows, First-party language services, Linguistic quality assurance. 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.

Smartling: Is there a free plan?

The Core tier is advertised as free to start, but translation memory is kept for only 180 days on it and any production deployment is a quoted subscription. Treat it as an evaluation route, not a plan.

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.

Smartling: What does the platform actually cost?

Smartling does not publish it. The published figures are per-word service rates. Expect an annual subscription sized against your content volume, workflows and language count, quoted after a scoping call.

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.

Smartling: Can I use Smartling with my own translators?

Yes, the platform works with your own vendors and freelancers. You then pay for software and forgo the services revenue the pricing model is built around, which weakens your negotiating position on the subscription.

Smartling: What happens to my translation memory if I leave?

Translation memory is exportable, but on Core it only covers the previous 180 days, so leaving after two years on the entry tier means most of the asset is already gone.

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