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Translation · head to head

MateCat vs Systran

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
Systran logo

Systran

Translation

Enterprise and on-premises machine translation, sold on per-user monthly plans and separate quoted API and installed-server products

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.; Systran per-seat web pricing at $25.99 to $49.99 a user per month is far more expensive than the raw per-character cost of Google, Microsoft or Amazon’s APIs for high-volume, low-touch use cases.
  • They diverge on capability: MateCat covers Browser-based CAT interface, Systran covers Systran Translate Pro.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MateCat and Systran actually diverge.

Attributes where MateCat and Systran differ
AttributeMateCatSystran
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feePer user per month, or quote for Enterprise
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Windows, Linux

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
  • Translation memory
  • Quality assurance checks
  • Project management

Only in Systran

  • Systran Translate Pro
  • Systran Enterprise
  • Systran.io
  • CAT tool and TMS connectors
  • Custom model training

Both cover

  • File translation

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

Systran

  • A government or defence agency needing machine translation that never leaves its own network, which rules out cloud-only APIsnot MateCat
  • A legal or financial services firm with confidentiality requirements that installs Systran Enterprise on-premisesnot MateCat
  • A localisation team wanting native CAT tool and TMS connectors rather than building raw API integration themselvesnot MateCat
  • A small team of translators using Translate Pro’s per-seat web plans for interactive, human-facing translation work rather than bulk automated contentnot 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.

Systran

  • Per-seat web pricing at $25.99 to $49.99 a user per month is far more expensive than the raw per-character cost of Google, Microsoft or Amazon’s APIs for high-volume, low-touch use cases.
  • On-premises Enterprise deployment requires infrastructure and IT resourcing that a simple cloud API call does not, adding real implementation cost and time.
  • Enterprise and Systran.io pricing is not published, so budgeting for that tier requires a sales quote before any real comparison is possible.
  • Its market share and brand recognition are smaller than Google, Microsoft or Amazon, so integration examples, community support and third-party tooling are less abundant.
  • Translation quality for common language pairs is broadly comparable to the major cloud APIs, so the main reason to pay a premium is data residency, not superior output.

Pricing, plan by plan

MateCat

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

Systran

On request
  • Translate Pro Plus$25.99/month
    • Per user per month
    • 55 languages, file translation, up to 10 users
  • Translate Pro Premium$49.99/month
    • Per user per month
    • CAT tool/TMS connectors, roughly 2,000 pages of text
  • Systran Enterprise / Systran.io$undefined/year
    • Quoted pricing
    • On-premises installation or hosted API
    • Custom model training and SLA-backed support

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 Systran if

  • You need systran translate pro.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want systran enterprise.
Systran review

Questions people ask

Is MateCat or Systran better?
Neither clearly leads. MateCat starts at Free and Systran at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MateCat or Systran?
MateCat has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for MateCat and On request for Systran.
Does MateCat or Systran run on more platforms?
MateCat runs on Web. Systran runs on Web, Windows, Linux.
Can I use MateCat for free?
Yes. MateCat has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Systran 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 Systran is typically brought in for.
What can MateCat do that Systran cannot?
MateCat covers Browser-based CAT interface, Machine translation suggestions, Translation memory, Quality assurance checks. Systran covers Systran Translate Pro, Systran Enterprise, Systran.io, CAT tool and TMS connectors. Both handle File translation.

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.

Systran: Why would I pay more for Systran than Google’s API?

Primarily for on-premises deployment, where translation never leaves your own network, which matters for government, defence or confidentiality-bound organisations.

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.

Systran: Is Systran priced per character like Google or Amazon?

The Translate Pro web plans are priced per user per month; only the Enterprise and Systran.io API products are usage-based, and their pricing is quoted rather than published.

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.

Systran: Who owns Systran now?

It operates as part of ChapsVision, a French technology group, following a series of ownership changes.

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