G
GMicrosoft Translator vs Smartcat
Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.
M
Choose Microsoft Translator if…
- you want a free plan to start with
- you work on iOS, Android, Windows
- you're in its core audience: travelers, developers
S
Choose Smartcat if…
- you're in its core audience: enterprise localization teams, l&d teams
Side by side
Feature Microsoft Translator Smartcat
Pricing modelFreemiumFree trial
Starting price—$100/mo
Free plan
Free trial
API
Open source
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, APIWeb, API
CategoryTranslationTranslation
CompanyMicrosoftSmartcat
Based in——
Founded——
Part of——
Key features
M Microsoft Translator
- Real-time conversation translation
- Multi-device conversation translation
- Offline translation of menus and street signs
- Website and document translation
- Live captioning for classrooms
- Translator API for text and speech
- Custom translation model training and hosting
- Built into Bing and Outlook, with an Outlook add-in
S Smartcat
- AI translation in 280+ languages
- AI Coworkers for translation, review and QA
- CAT tool and translation management system
- Marketplace of 500K+ human language experts
- File translation for PDF, Excel, InDesign, XLIFF
- Video, audio and subtitle translation
- Free translation memory on all plans
- API access on higher plans
Plans and prices
From each vendor's site. Prices change — confirm before buying.
Microsoft Translator
Free (F0)Free
S1 Pay-as-you-goPer million characters
D3 Custom volume$40 per million characters
Smartcat
Adapt$1,200
AccelerateCustom
AnticipateCustom
AutonomousCustom
Strengths and limitations
Microsoft Translator
- API free tier includes 2 million characters a month
- Apps for Android, iOS and Windows
- Custom model training is capped at $300 per run
- Built into Bing and Outlook
- S1 pay-as-you-go rates did not display on the pricing page we fetched
- Business API use requires an Azure subscription
Smartcat
- Supports 280+ languages
- 15-day free trial with no credit card, including API access
- Unlimited users from the entry plan
- Translation memory included free on all plans
- Entry plan starts at $1,200 per year
- Higher tiers are custom-priced only
- API, SSO and 2FA are on the Anticipate tier and above
More comparisons
Other options to consider
GG
Free
G
Translate text, documents, websites, speech and camera images across languages
TranslationFree plan
D
DD
Freemium
D
AI translation for text, documents and voice, for individuals and businesses
TranslationFree planAPI
C
CC
Freemium
C
Localization platform for translating software, apps, games, websites and docs
TranslationFree planAPI
S
SS
From $18.99/mo
P
PP
From $27/mo
P
Translation management and localization platform for teams, developers and LSPs
TranslationAPI
L
LL
From $149/mo
Built from each vendor's public website; we haven't tested them hands-on. Editorial policy