10 app localization tools to help you scale internationally

Next, let’s dive deeper into each option. We’ve grouped each tool into three categories based on the size of your team and the complexity of your localization needs.

Need to speak dozens of languages across multiple platforms? These tools tame the chaos of global content management. Perfect for companies with product teams scattered across different time zones and markets.

XTM Cloud is a translation management system (TMS) built for enterprise businesses. Packed full of features that make localization workflows more efficient.

The result? You enter your target markets up to 90% faster. 

Here are a few of the most valuable XTM Cloud functions: 

• A translation memory (TM). If you’ve already translated “Log In” into French as “Se connecter,” the TM will fill it in automatically. AI enhancement matches accuracy and suggests context-aware edits to speed up review.
• Real-time collaboration. With lots of developers and translators working on localizing an app at once, things can get messy fast. Tracked changes show exactly who modified what and when, cutting down lengthy email chains.
• Visual context from design tools like Figma. Translators can see exactly how their text will appear in your app, preventing those awkward moments when text overflow breaks your carefully designed UI.

• Automated workflows. Instead of passing files around manually, you can set up a workflow where new strings are machine-translated, then reviewed by a human and pushed live automatically. No constant project manager oversight needed here.
• Developer integrations. Connect directly to dev tools like GitHub and Bitbucket to ditch the never-ending export-import cycle. Developers can commit UI strings as usual while accurate translations appear in the background.

Bigpoint knows how valuable XTM Cloud is for stress-free app localization. The gaming powerhouse behind Farmerama and other online games was drowning in localization busywork. 

Its old process involved endless file exports and quality nightmares. Like text bursting out of speech bubbles and missing translations that left players scratching their heads.

The video game developer completely flipped its approach with XTM Cloud and the GitHub integration:

Check out what Audrey Lepage, Senior Localization Project Manager at Bigpoint, says about XTM Cloud integrations:

For teams juggling complex enterprise localization needs, XTM Cloud transforms the usual headaches into a surprisingly smooth process.

Phrase is a cloud-based platform built by developers, for developers. It integrates with GitHub repositories, CI/CD pipelines, and popular IDEs so translations can happen alongside coding.

Over-the-air updates let you push text updates straight to users’ devices without waiting weeks for app store approval. Goodbye to that “just one typo” app submission nightmare.

Phrase’s linked keys feature helps keep your translations consistent. If the same phrase appears in multiple places, like “Add to Cart” or “Settings,” it only needs translating once. Change it in one place, and it updates everywhere.

Here’s what the feature looks like:

According to one G2 reviewer:

For enterprises with strong tech teams, Phrase keeps developers out of marketing meetings and in their comfort zone. While still delivering multilingual apps that won’t make your international users cringe.

Smartling aims to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical teams with visual context (showing translators exactly where text will appear in your app). In other words, everyone will have a clear picture of whether “Add to cart” will actually fit on that fancy button.

Switching between multiple brands and channels? A centralized dashboard approach keeps messaging consistent on iOS or Android.

According to one G2 reviewer:

If your app development team includes code-obsessed engineers and brand-conscious marketers, Smartling gets both sides speaking the same language.

These tools back developer teams at fast-moving tech companies. Really, they’re for any organization shipping frequent app updates and needing localization to keep up automatically, with no meetings to slow things down.

Designed specifically for software localization, Rigi brings the “wait, what exactly am I translating here?” problem to a screeching halt. 

How? By showing translators exactly what they’re working on in your interface. This way:

The result? According to our internal evaluations, you slash translation errors by up to 50%.

Here’s what Maryla Obszarski, Localization Manager at LexisNexis® Intellectual Property Solutions, has to say:

Research shows that developers lose 20% of their time each week to inefficiencies. If your dev team is tired of localization slowing down sprints, Rigi transforms the process from a necessary evil into a smooth, parallel workflow.

Transifex — recently acquired by XTM — has developers on its mind. The platform simplifies app localization through automation, using:

• One-click AI translation. When deadlines loom, instantly generate translations for thousands of new strings with a single click.
• Native SDKs for iOS and Android. No need to dive into the quirks of iOS string files or Android XML resources. The SDKs handle it for you.
• Over-the-Air (OTA) updates. Found a translation error after your app went live? No problem. Push corrected translations directly to your users without waiting for app store approval.
• Universal localization syntax. One consistent approach across native, hybrid, and web apps. Learn the pattern once, apply it everywhere from React Native to Flutter to native development.
• CLI for workflow integration. Automate string extraction and translation management right in your CI/CD pipeline. Localization becomes just another automated step in your build process, not a last-minute panic. See how it differs from a classic file-based flow below.

According to one G2 reviewer:

For app development teams looking to scale globally without the headaches, Transifex automation fits naturally into development workflows rather than disrupting them.

Lokalise is all about cutting out that endless ping-pong between your code and your translators. It hooks right into your codebase and keeps watch. So when you push updates, it automatically spots those fresh strings without you having to play messenger.

Its over-the-air SDK also lets you push updated translations without waiting for app store approvals. Handy if someone spots a typo after you’ve already hit “release.”

Need to juggle iOS, Android, and web translations? Lokalise keeps all platform keys in one project with universal placeholders. 

Though, as anyone who’s tried to wrangle both iOS and Android formatting knows, there might still be some platform-specific quirks to navigate. Here’s a visualization of how it works:

According to one G2 reviewer:

If you’re the type of dev team that values getting things out the door quickly over having every localization bell and whistle, Lokalise offers a solid approach.

Crowdin approaches app localization with a developer mindset. It treats translation as just another part of your product development cycle, like prototyping or testing. 

The platform connects with the usual suspects in version control, like GitHub and GitLab, and keeps a watchful eye for when you’ve tweaked those source strings. 

This automation aims to create a continuous localization workflow. Though your mileage may vary depending on how organized (or chaotic) your string setup is.

For mobile apps, Crowdin offers SDKs for both Android and iOS that enable over-the-air translation updates. Which means your marketing team can fix that typo in the Japanese welcome screen without waiting for your next app release. 

The image below gives you an idea of how it works:

According to one G2 reviewer:

If your dev team dreams in CI/CD pipelines and gets excited about automation, Crowdin delivers all the standard goodies you’d expect from this category of tools.

Looking to get a quick multilingual MVP off the ground without much fuss? This lightweight tool has got your back.

These options put the power firmly in your hands. Customize and manage your localization setup exactly how you want. Without relying on outside services.

For teams who prefer to keep their localization server as close as their git repositories, Weblate offers an open-source, self-hosted translation management option with a simple interface:

According to one G2 reviewer:

If your dev team has a knack for self-hosting and you’re not afraid of getting your hands dirty, Weblate could be your localization solution. 

Heads-up: invest in some setup and maintenance time — which you wouldn’t need with plug-and-play cloud options like XTM.

This open-source platform is the new kid on the block, designed specifically for app localization.

Tolgee’s in-context editing functionality lets non-technical team members edit text directly in the app interface rather than puzzling over abstract keys like “BUTTON_KEY_NAME.” This means your user experience (UX) team can fix that embarrassing typo in the Spanish version themselves. 

The platform supports all the usual app file formats: Android XML, iOS Strings, Flutter ARB, and various JSON formats for JavaScript frameworks. 

For the React Native and cross-platform crowd, Tolgee offers SDKs for React, Angular, Vue, and other popular frameworks as shown below:

According to one G2 reviewer:

If you’re tired of being the go-between whenever someone wants to change “Sign Up” to “Get Started,” Tolgee’s got your back.