Crowdin vs Lokalise
Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Crowdin
Localization platform for software, games and docs, with hundreds of integrations and free open-source plans.
Lokalise
Localization platform for product teams, with deep links into code, design tools and content systems.
The short answer
Choose Crowdin if you want a huge integration catalogue, a free plan for open-source projects, or volunteer translators. Choose Lokalise if you are a product team that wants a polished editor with tight Figma, Git and mobile over-the-air workflows and can pay for it. The biggest difference is cost and audience: Crowdin scales from community projects up, Lokalise targets funded product teams.
Crowdin or Lokalise: our take
Both are cloud translation management systems for apps, websites and other software. Source strings sync from code repositories and design tools, translators work in an online editor with translation memory, glossaries, screenshots and machine or AI suggestions, and finished translations return to the codebase. Crowdin stands out for its catalogue of 700+ apps and integrations covering GitHub, GitLab, Figma, CMSs and more, and for crowdsourcing tools that let volunteers translate alongside professional vendors. Lokalise focuses on the product workflow: a CLI, API and Git integrations for developers, mobile SDKs that deliver new strings over the air without an app release, Figma sync so translators see screens before code exists, and QA checks in an editor many find cleaner than Crowdin's busier interface.
Pricing is the clearest split. Crowdin is free for qualifying open-source and non-profit projects; paid plans are based on hosted words and seats, with a 14-day trial on the Team plan and a separate Crowdin Enterprise product with a 30-day trial. Costs can rise on very large projects. Lokalise has no permanent free plan: Explorer starts at $149/month and Growth costs $379/month, with a 14-day trial that needs no card. Advanced workflows require its top tiers.
Both are web-based, so there is no difference in where you can use them.
Open-source maintainers, game studios with fan communities and teams on a tight budget will usually be better served by Crowdin. Funded product teams shipping mobile and web apps who want design, code and translation tightly connected, and who value an approachable editor, will likely prefer Lokalise despite the higher starting price. Both offer trials, so testing your own repository in each is the best way to decide.
Which should you pick?
Choose Crowdin if…
- Software and game teams, including open-source projects crowdsourcing translations
- You want a free option (Lokalise is paid only)
- Very large catalogue of apps and integrations
- Free for open-source and non-profit projects
Choose Lokalise if…
- Product teams localizing apps who want tight Figma, Git and mobile SDK workflows
- Strong Figma, GitHub and mobile over-the-air integrations
- Clean, approachable editor for translators
About each app
What is Crowdin?
Crowdin is a cloud localization management platform used to translate apps, websites, games, help centres and documentation. Source strings sync automatically from GitHub, GitLab, Figma, CMSs and many other tools, translators work in an online editor with translation memory, glossaries, screenshots and machine translation suggestions, and finished translations flow back as pull requests or over-the-air updates. It suits both professional teams with vendors and community projects that crowdsource translations from volunteers, and it is free for qualifying open-source and non-profit projects. Plans for individuals and small teams are billed monthly or annually, with a separate Crowdin Enterprise product for larger organisations with custom workflows. The integration marketplace is one of the largest in the category. Downsides are that pricing tiers are based on hosted words and seats, which can climb with large projects, and the interface packs in many options.
What is Lokalise?
Lokalise is a translation management system built for product teams shipping apps and websites in several languages. Developers push and pull translation keys through the CLI, API, GitHub or GitLab, and mobile SDKs can deliver new strings over the air without an app release. Designers can sync text from Figma so translators see screens before code is written, and marketers can connect content tools such as Contentful, WordPress and Webflow. Translators work in an editor with translation memory, glossaries, screenshots, QA checks and AI translation, and teams can order professional translation inside the platform. It is priced as monthly subscriptions that start in the low hundreds of dollars and rise with seats, keys and features, with a free trial on every plan but no permanent free tier. It is pleasant to use and well integrated, but expensive for small teams and side projects.
Side by side
| Attribute | Crowdin | Lokalise |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Best for | Software and game teams, including open-source projects crowdsourcing translations | Product teams localizing apps who want tight Figma, Git and mobile SDK workflows |
| Status | Active | Active |
Verified facts, compared
Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.
| Fact | Crowdin | Lokalise |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial | 14 days (Team plan) | 14 days, no card required |
Crowdin vs Lokalise pricing
Crowdin: free plan + paid
Crowdin pricing pageLokalise: paid
- Starting price: $149/month (Explorer) source
- Growth plan: $379/month source
- Free trial: 14 days, no card required source
Platforms
| Platform | Crowdin | Lokalise |
|---|---|---|
| Web |
Crowdin facts
4 of 4 verified- Free trial
- 14 days (Team plan)
- Checked Oct 25, 2026crowdin.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Register and create your first localization project to start your 14-day free trial of Team plan on Crowdin.”
- Enterprise trial
- 30 days
- Checked Oct 25, 2026crowdin.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “The trial on Crowdin Enterprise is 30 days”
- Integrations
- 700+ apps and integrations
- Checked Oct 25, 2026crowdin.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Connect 700+ apps & integrations Automate translation & localization of your content.”
- Open-source projects
- Free
- Checked Oct 25, 2026crowdin.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “If you want to use Crowdin for an Open Source project, sign up for a free account, set up your project and send us a request.”
Lokalise facts
3 of 3 verified- Starting price
- $149/month (Explorer)
- Checked Oct 25, 2026lokalise.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Explorer For teams that want the essentials, done right and fast $ 149 /mo”
- Growth plan
- $379/month
- Checked Oct 25, 2026lokalise.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Growth For scaling teams that need better automation and control $ 379 /mo”
- Free trial
- 14 days, no card required
- Checked Oct 25, 2026lokalise.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “All plans come with a free 14-day trial, no credit card required.”
Pros and cons of Crowdin
- Very large catalogue of apps and integrations
- Free for open-source and non-profit projects
- Good crowdsourcing and volunteer translator tools
- Costs rise with hosted words on big projects
- Busy interface with a learning curve
- Enterprise features live in a separate product
Pros and cons of Lokalise
- Strong Figma, GitHub and mobile over-the-air integrations
- Clean, approachable editor for translators
- Built-in AI translation and QA checks
- No free plan beyond the trial
- Pricing climbs quickly for growing teams
- Advanced workflows require the top tiers
Other apps to consider
TransifexInstead of Crowdin
Another long-running localization platform with an AI translation engine.
Crowdin vs Lokalise: common questions
Is Crowdin better than Lokalise?
Choose Crowdin if you want a huge integration catalogue, a free plan for open-source projects, or volunteer translators. Choose Lokalise if you are a product team that wants a polished editor with tight Figma, Git and mobile over-the-air workflows and can pay for it. The biggest difference is cost and audience: Crowdin scales from community projects up, Lokalise targets funded product teams.
Is Crowdin free?
Crowdin has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Lokalise free?
No. Lokalise is paid, though it may offer a trial.
Is Crowdin or Lokalise open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Crowdin and Lokalise support?
Crowdin: Web. Lokalise: Web.