6 top translation companies and how to choose the right one
Translation service isn’t one-size-fits-all, and neither are the companies that offer it.
Are you localizing a SaaS platform or translating clinical trial docs? An enterprise or government agency? The right choice depends on your specific use case and industry.
In this post, you’ll learn about the top translation companies based on what they do best. So you can find the right fit faster and avoid costly missteps.
6 best translation companies: a brief overview
Searching for ‘top language translation companies’ usually lands you in a sea of lookalike listicles packed with 20+ options and zero clarity.
But what you need depends on how and why you’re translating.
Some artificial intelligence (AI) tools are built for dev teams shipping product updates in 10 languages at once.
Others are designed for healthcare hotlines that need a real human on the phone to interpret a critical conversation.
Translation needs vary wildly. So, instead of throwing every vendor under the sun into one mega-list, we’ve picked the best in class across six major categories.
If you just want the TL;DR, here’s a handy cheat sheet:
| Name of company | Type of professional translation company | Who it’s best for |
| XTM | AI-powered translation management system (TMS) | Enterprises with high-volume multilingual content |
| Lionbridge | Translation agency | Specialized industries (e.g., medical or legal translations) |
| LanguageLine Solutions | Language service provider (LSP) | Organizations that need real-time interpretation services (e.g., hospitals or governments) |
| DeepL | AI-powered machine translation (MT) platform | Budget-conscious teams needing fast, decent-quality translations |
| Transifex | AI-powered localization tool | SaaS companies and developers localizing apps or products |
| Gengo | Freelance translation marketplace | Smaller companies that need human translators without long-term commitments |
Whether you’re after software localization or just trying to understand that weird email from your international distributor, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s break down the top six translation companies by what they actually do. So you can find the right one without the headache.
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Best AI-powered translation management system (TMS): XTM
XTM is an AI-powered TMS that helps enterprises improve and scale every part of the translation process.
From content creation to translator handoff and final quality assurance (QA), it provides infrastructure without slowing you down.
According to Forrester, 59% of B2B decision-makers are boosting their budgets for this kind of localization software.
XTM helps you manage translation processes in 887 languages and 65 file formats to expand into international markets with ease:
The suite of tools is purpose-built for global content at scale, including:
- XTM Cloud. A powerful TMS that automates workflows and centralizes assets. Keep content consistent with built-in style guides and translation memory.
- Rigi. Let human linguists work from in-context previews (seeing translated content in its actual layout) to fix formatting issues before launch.
- XTRF. Manage global projects and vendors while automating payments from one dashboard.
Let’s say you’re a medical device developer translating Instructions for Use (IFU) and regulatory docs for new markets.
XTM ensures linguistic accuracy and compliance while managing multiple vendors.
Or maybe you’re a global manufacturing company localizing safety guides and user interface (UI) copy in 25 languages.
XTM helps keep terminology consistent and deadlines on track across regions and time zones.
For example, using XTM Cloud to automate repetitive file transfers and project assignments helped Johnson Controls reduce lead times and cut turnaround times by four weeks.
The XTM AI Summer Release added even more AI features, like Language Guard to flag sensitive content.
At the same time, conversational agentic AI xaia tracks project progress and suggests context-based next steps:
XTM also integrates with 60 (and counting!) of your favorite third-party apps, including CMS, design tools, marketing platforms, and code repositories.
A few of its comprehensive key features include:
- Built-in computer-assisted translation (CAT) tool with real-time collaboration and segment-level editing
- Terminology management to enforce tone and brand accuracy at scale
- Custom workflows with support for translation automation and review loops
- AI-assisted features like quality checks, task routing, tone matching, and terminology suggestions
- Detailed reporting and analytics to track costs, ensure fast turnaround times, and save time and money
According to one user review:
Best translation agency for specialized services: Lionbridge
Lionbridge is a translation agency specializing in various industries where a single word can make or break compliance.
Accuracy isn’t optional when dealing with sensitive or high-stakes content.
Clinical trial paperwork or patent applications need translators who understand the terminology and regulations.
If you aren’t dealing with highly specialized content, consider a TMS that covers more bases. But say you’re a global investment firm preparing fund prospectuses in different languages.
You need someone who understands financial regulations and industry terminology. Plus, how to phrase it correctly in Spanish or Japanese without raising red flags from regulators.
Lionbridge has vetted experts with years of experience and translation processes to get it right the first time.
For example, here’s what the translation queue looks like to stay organized:
Source: Lionbridge
The global network includes certified translators with domain-specific expertise, and workflows meet industry certifications like ISO 17100 and HIPAA.
Lionbridge also builds in layers of QA and in-country review. Plus, there’s optional legal certification for things like deeds or loans.
Key Lionbridge features and attributes include:
- Certified translators with specializations in regulated domains like finance and law
- ISO 17100, HIPAA, and GDPR-compliant workflows
- In-country review and optional notarization (i.e., authentic legal signatures)
- Translation project and data security protocols for sensitive content
- Project management and customer support for global teams
According to one user review:
Best language service provider: LanguageLine Solutions
The LanguageLine Solutions LSP specializes in real-time interpretation for government, education, law enforcement, and healthcare organizations.
Human interpreters are available 24/7 across 240+ languages — whether you need them by phone, video, or even in person:
Source: LanguageLine Solutions
Imagine you work at a city hospital, and a patient who only speaks Hmong arrives.
You can’t wait three hours after emailing an agency to deal with the language barrier. You need a medical interpreter now.
With LanguageLine Solutions, a certified translator is on the line in under 30 seconds. Ready to facilitate a conversation you can’t afford to get wrong.
The company is HIPAA-compliant and trains interpreters to handle everything from 911 calls to immigration interviews.
LanguageLine Solutions offers fast, accurate translations in high-stakes moments where lives, legal cases, or public safety might be on the line.
If you’re focused on enticing international players to your new video game, consider an agile localization platform instead.
Key elements of the translation service provider include:
- Around 25,000+ trained interpreters across 240+ languages
- On-demand phone and video interpretation available 24/7
- In-person interpreter scheduling for critical appointments
- Expert translators for government and emergency use cases
- HIPAA- and SOC 2-compliant infrastructure for sensitive interactions
According to one user review:
Best machine translation platform for small businesses: DeepL
DeepL is an AI-powered machine translation (MT) tool. It’s perfect for cost-conscious teams that need fast, decent-quality translation.
Not every translation needs a human touch, and you may not even have the budget for it.
Gartner has been predicting for years that up to 75% of human translators’ work will shift to reviewing and editing MT translations. And the technology is only getting better.
In fact, Forbes research suggests that 44% of business owners plan to use AI tools to write translated content.
DeepL takes your text in one language and instantly rewrites it in another, using intelligent neural networks to make it sound like a real human wrote it.
Think of it as the more thoughtful cousin of Google Translate.
Let’s say you’re a two-person e-commerce team launching in France. You must translate 200 product descriptions by Friday, and don’t have time or the budget to hire a translator.
DeepL lets you paste your content and get high-quality output in seconds:
Source: DeepL
It’s not always a reliable translation tool and definitely not suited for contracts or sensitive content.
But for digital marketing copy or help articles? It’s fast and clean.
Key features of this technical translation tool include:
- Neural machine translation with strong performance in European languages
- “Alternative phrasing” suggestions for more natural output
- Support for direct text input, alongside document and website translation
- DeepL Pro option for unlimited text, API access, and privacy controls
- Clean, easy-to-use interface with quick copy and paste workflows
According to one user review:
Best localization company for developers: Transifex
Transifex is an AI-powered localization platform for SaaS companies and product development teams.
Use it to manage and deploy multilingual content directly from your product or website without the manual mess.
If you’re a dev team gearing up to launch your software in global markets, you don’t want to juggle 10 freelance translators and 842 Slack messages to get there.
You want a continuous localization tool like Transifex that plugs into your CI/CD workflow and speaks your coding language.
The platform lets developers push new strings through Git or API and see real-time translation progress.
They’ll also be able to ship subtitling updates without breaking anything:
Source: Transifex
No copy and pasting. No version control nightmares. Work with your own translators or tap into the vetted marketplace.
While Transifex AI learns your brand voice, the Transifex Quality Index (TQI) automatically reviews your work for errors.
Its powerful key features for transcreation include:
- API, CLI, and Git-based workflows to fit modern dev stacks
- Visual context previews for app and website localization so translators see changes in real time
- Integrated translation memory software and glossary tools
- Role-based access and real-time collaboration
- Supports 50+ file formats and multimedia like JSON, YAML, Android XML, and more
- Optional access to additional content localization services, like Transifex Vendors
According to one user review:
Best freelance translation marketplace: Gengo
Gengo is a freelance translation marketplace that connects you with thousands of vetted linguists around the world.
Sometimes you need a human translator, but don’t want the hassle of contracts or onboarding someone full-time.
With Gengo, there’s no minimum project size or monthly fees.
Just upload your content and choose the quality level. You’ll get matched with the right translator, usually within minutes.
Here’s what the job list looks like on the translator side:
Source: Gengo
Imagine you’re a boutique hotel or travel company about to launch a campaign for Dutch travelers.
You’ve got landing pages, welcome emails, pricing information, and booking confirmations that all need to sound local.
Gengo lets you submit everything quickly and get fast, human-quality translations without a single kickoff call.
It’s not the tool for legal document translation or 100,000-word tech docs, but it hits the sweet spot between cost and human accuracy.
Some of its key attributes include:
- Around 21,000+ pre-vetted freelance translators in 70+ language pairs
- Two quality tiers depending on your content management needs
- Instant project quoting and turnaround time estimates
- API access for businesses that need ongoing professional translation services
- Simple pricing with no contracts or platform fees
- Built-in reviewer and feedback systems for proofreading and quality control
According to one user review:
How to choose the right translation services for you
Searching for the top translation companies in the USA and beyond won’t help much if you don’t know what kind of service you actually need.
Because what works for a Fortune 500 life sciences firm probably isn’t what a small e-commerce brand needs to localize search engine optimization (SEO) metadata.
You might prioritize speed and affordability, while another company needs certified experts and airtight compliance.
To figure out the right company for you, consider these factors:
| Consideration | Why it matters | Example |
| Company size | Larger companies often need features like automation and integrations to stick to deadlines. | A global manufacturer likely needs an all-in-one TMS like XTM, while a freelance translator could be enough for a startup. |
| Industry-specific needs | Regulated fields like finance or healthcare require domain expertise to stay compliant. | Clinical trials need certified translators and knowledge of local regulations. |
| Content types | The format and goal of your content determine the right tool or agency. | Software UI with constant updates and bug fixes suits a fast-paced localization platform, while medical calls may need live interpreters. |
| Budget | Your budget impacts the type of provider or translation partner you can work with. | Startups may prefer Gengo or DeepL to begin with, while enterprises invest in the robust XTM to cover all their localization needs. |
| Human vs. machine vs. hybrid | Quality, speed, and cost depend on how much human input you need. | Legal website translation needs human oversight, while product FAQs can often rely on MT alone. |
The right partner should help you streamline content without compromising quality or compliance.
Ultimately, choosing a translation company isn’t about finding the ‘best one.’
It’s about finding the right fit for your localization workflows and growth goals.
If you plan on scaling your localization strategy now or in the future, an all-in-one platform like XTM means you won’t have to switch from less powerful tools as you outgrow them.
The best translation company depends on your unique needs
The translation industry is huge and wildly diverse.
Whether you’re after Italian social media posts or Arabic transcriptions for your e-learning platform, think about what you value most.
If it’s accuracy and oversight? Consider an agency. To automate processes and scale quickly, go for a TMS.
Still unsure? Start small. Sign up for a free trial or pilot with one provider on a low-risk project and scale from there.
Ready to combine AI and human expertise in one easy platform?
Try XTM free for 30 days.