Top Translation Software Tools in the Cloud for Enterprises 2024

If your business needs to localize, a cloud-based translation management solution is the best way to translate faster and reduce costs, while ensuring quality.

Sounds confusing? Don’t worry! In this article, we’ll tell you what you need to know in 2024 about language translation software tools and translating your content in the cloud with AI + human editing.

Need convincing? Here are just some of the benefits of using cloud-based translation software:

• Easy to harness AI translation for better output

• Faster translations save you time and resources

• More efficient human editing workflows

• Easier quality control and more consistent terminology

• Less work for translation project managers

• Continual access to technology updates

Translation software tools are any piece of software that helps you produce a translation. Professional translation software plays a crucial role in integrating with other systems and facilitating team collaboration through cloud-based tools.

In their most simple form, you get desktop computer-aided translation tools, also known as CAT tools. But translation software tools today also include AI, machine translation, translation management systems (TMS) and many other features.

CAT tools enable users to store and edit translations, translate texts section by section (while preserving the formatting), and add an extra layer of quality control to check consistency, spelling, equivalence, and so on. High-quality translations are crucial for maintaining brand voice and enhancing customer experience.

CAT tools help translators streamline their translation processes, but they don’t do any of the actual translating for them. So, advanced technologies like neural machine translation (NMT) are now built into CAT tools and they contribute significantly to achieving more accurate and natural translations.

Global enterprises today need much more than a simple CAT tool. That's why suppliers are offering a wide range of translation software solutions in the cloud. The best of them incorporate AI to help with automated project management, machine translation, brand adaptation, continuous localization, outsourcing, and more.

AI translation (MT) means automated translations produced using a computer. The best machine translation software uses artificial intelligence and neural machine translation technology.

The project manager uses machine translation to automatically generate a first translation in the CAT tool and then a professional translator edits it to produce a high-quality final version.

Innovations such as neural machine translation, powered by sophisticated language translation algorithms, have significantly improved the quality of the first-round translations produced through computer-assisted translation tools. These algorithms enable the generation of much better translations than older technologies were capable of.

The addition of AI has made it possible to generate even higher-quality first drafts to bring enterprises big cost savings.

A translation management system (TMS) is what the project manager uses to automate and streamline translation workflows. By integrating CAT tools with a TMS, you can enhance efficiency while you let your professional translators focus on doing the translation and review tasks.

Enterprises looking for global localization solutions need a comprehensive TMS. When you combine top translation software with a complete AI-based translation management system you get end-to-end control of the entire translation process. This will give you massive cost savings and ever-increasing quality in your translations.

Smartcat is an example of a complete solution designed for enterprises. Smartcat’s essential language AI platform combines a TMS and a CAT tool. It simplifies and streamlines how enterprises can translate more content and achieve high-quality, on brand results.

There are different types of translation software out there to suit different circumstances and needs:

• Cloud-based solutions you access and use online via a web browser

• Downloadable desktop programs you install on your computer

If you're an enterprise then you'll probably do best with a complete cloud-based translation software tool that combines a translation management system with machine translation and a CAT tool. Providers like Smartcat go the extra mile and offer a marketplace of freelancers. That means you can easily find and work with professional linguists.

But if you're still not sure, scroll to the end of this article for a list of pros and cons of cloud-based and desktop translation software.

Read on for our review of the best cloud-based translation software tools for enterprises of all types.

Already know what you want? Try Smartcat for free!

Cloud-based translation management platforms are becoming the go-to for all industries. Most translation technology providers are getting on board with translating in the cloud. Why? Because it's easier and you get better control and long-term results. Here are our top picks.

Smartcat language AI platform ensures a quick and smooth translation and multilingual content creation process for teams and projects of any size. It features everything you need to translate anything from basic documents to a whole website, elearning course, or software program. You can also create new multilingual content using existing assets with Smartcat’s generative AI solution.

The game-changer with Smartcat: The combination of smart AI translation, DIY structure to cut out intermediaries and a network of 500,000 language and subject-matter experts ensures you streamline and speed up your localization workflow.

“We were able to reduce translation costs by up to 70%, significantly reduce the turnaround time, and keep quality consistent throughout.” Josie Millis, Stanley Black & Decker.

Try Smartcat for free now!

MateCat offers free open-source translation software for freelance translators and businesses that want to manage their own translation projects. As with Smartcat, there’s no limit on the number of users or projects.

The game-changer with Matecat: You can access a public database of translation memories to use with your projects.

"MateCat is a handy online CAT tool that is free, relatively fast and reliable. I hope that minor problems will be fixed in the near future and more translators will able to use this tool for their benefit. The drawback is lack of extra functions and viewing options, in contrast to other tools." Online review by a freelance translator.

Wordfast Anywhere is the online version of the desktop-based CAT tools Wordfast Classic and Wordfast Pro.

The game-changer with WordfastAnywhere: It has a premium desktop version that can be installed on almost any computer, including Linux, and that works directly in Microsoft Word.

"Affordable yet powerful CAT tool with a user-friendly interface making it quick and easy to learn and to use. The software lacks certain features, settings, and customization options available in more advanced tools of its kind." Online translator review.

Phrase is a translation management system designed for language service providers and enterprises. It includes AI-powered machine translation.

The game-changer: The tool's simplicity means people with no CAT-tool training can get to grips with it quickly.

"Nice CAT tool, good for both beginners and experienced users. Phrase is probably not the tool most power users who are accustomed to more comprehensive translation editors would pick. Managing TMs (in the sense of cleaning and upgrading) is still possible, but does not come with the same benefits more feature-packed solutions." Online translator review.

Wordbee is an end-to-end translation management system with basic translation software. It focuses on enabling smooth teamwork and is designed with project managers in mind.

The game-changer: The tool positions itself as an automated localization management system. So, if you’re looking for management functionalities over translation functionalities, this might be the tool for you.

"I love how you can set deadlines and reminders to yourself or a team and a translator can comment inside the translation editor. There are way too many clicks to do stuff or get stuff. The translation automation is severely lacking." Online translator review.

XTM Cloud is another of the powerful web-based translation management systems.

The game-changer: XTM Cloud comes with plenty of support and educational video content.

"I was afraid I had to learn to use yet another complicated tool, but XTM is super easy to use and intuitive! I can use the licence provided by the client and easily work online. It has a simple and straightforward interface. It crashes all the time. All quality control options are clunky and too much hassle." Online translator review.

Trados made it's name in translation circles as a desktop translation tool. Its CAT tool is the most popular among professional translators and language service providers, who find its complex features useful in the actual doing of the translation work.

Like with many other CAT tools, its owners RWS have now progressed to offer cloud-based solutions for enterprises that wish to cut out intermediaries.

The game-changer: If your translators know how to use the CAT tool, then it's the most feature-rich for them. It's excellent at handling repetitions.

"Trados is a powerful CAT tool that allows you to increase your performance and take care of all the formatting while letting you focus on the quality of your translation." Online translator review.

MemoQ also started out as a desktop CAT tool designed for professional translators and language service suppliers. It's seen as the Trados-alternative in terms of functionality and performance.

Like with Trados, its advanced functionality is favored among professional linguists, who need to reap the time-saving benefits in their translation process to keep their prices competitive.

The game-changer: Inside the CAT tool, the preview function is possibly the best on the market. It really helps editors and proofreaders to make translation decisions in context without having to go into another program.

"Great translation CAT tool, has good memory and quality assurance features designed for translators. And using the server version for one client didn’t work at all, I had to ask the client to take it offline. The last straw for me was, when I had to install MemoQ on a new system after a crash.” Online translator review.

Known in the industry as a complete and reliable translation tool, Déjà Vu has always enjoyed a small but loyal following among translators.

The game-changer: Real-time sharing of translation memories and termbases.

"The tool is direct: It doesn’t have very hard-to-learn steps and they can be easily put in use by someone with basic IT knowledge. The software works on a pay-as-you-go method and the upgrades require additional charges." Online translator review.

Across language server is a translation management system to help you localize your product. It's a comprehensive, reasonably priced desktop CAT tool with basic features and an online marketplace.

The game-changer: Its range of interfaces enables integrations with different source systems.

"Use of the translation memory and of the terminology database is highly intuitive. However, some initial guidance is needed to understand how external TMs and terminology databases can be imported. The documentation is easy to understand and very comprehensive. Support is readily provided. When the program isn’t randomly crashing because you tried scrolling through the table of contents, or doing a search, you’re in the unfortunate position of having to use it." Online translator review.

Smartcat is at the forefront of innovation in translation management systems and supplements its advanced AI-based system with a pool of linguists to cover your outsourcing needs. Try Smartcat for free today.

The best type of translation software tool to go for will depend on your needs.

Neural machine translation (NMT) has significantly improved translation quality and efficiency. This means that being able to easily implement AI language adoption is a key factor to consider in your purchase.

Here's a quick list of pros and cons of cloud-based and desktop translation software tools to help you in the important decision of which will best suit your company.

• Easy integration with translation management system for end-to-end project management control.

• You can work from any operating system, whether it’s Windows, MacOS, or even a variation of Linux.

• Translations are saved in real time so you can track progress and won’t lose any data.

• Easy to give translators temporary licences so you don't depend on their tools.

• No need to free up space or install any software on computers.

• Ideal for remote workers as access is from any device with an Internet connection.

• Much easier to work as part of a team when everyone is online.

• Updates and bug fixes are frequent and immediate.

• Machine translation software plays a crucial role in automating and improving translation processes in the cloud.

• You can work without an Internet connection.

• No server issues like crashing or slowing down. As long as your computer works you can work.

• Data may be hacked online. But note there's no consensus in IT circles as to whether the risk is higher on web-based platforms than on desktop programs, where data can be erased, stolen, or lost.

• Highly reliant on an Internet connection. To remedy this, some software tools allow you to continue using most features if you go offline.

• You need to install software and use up computer space.

• You can only use it on a designated computer, unless you have multiple licenses and install it on other devices.

• Most only work on Windows PCs.

• How safe your translation projects are depends on how safe your suppliers' computers are. You can lose everything if a computer is stolen, damaged, or breaks down.

• Fewer updates: it takes longer to release and implement bug fixes and updates than with online software.