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The translation platform smart teams pick over Smartling

XTM Cloud gives you the control and flexibility that growing businesses actually need. While Smartling locks you into their translation services and proxy model, XTM Cloud lets you choose your own vendors and keep full ownership of your content.

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Why teams switch from Smartling to XTM Cloud

You get to choose your translation partners

XTM Cloud works with any language service provider you want. Smartling forces you to use their translation services, which means you lose negotiating power and can’t shop around for better rates or specialised expertise.

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Real visual context across all content types

XTM Cloud’s SmartContext shows you exactly how your translations will look in HTML, XML, InDesign, video files, and forty other formats. Smartling only handles basic web previews, leaving your team guessing about layout issues until it’s too late.

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AI that actually improves your workflow

While Smartling uses AI just to tweak machine translation suggestions, XTM Cloud brings intelligent automation to your entire translation process. Language Guard catches compliance issues before they become problems. Intelligent Score gives you confidence ratings using multiple language models. Smart Workflow automatically routes tasks based on quality thresholds.

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XTM Cloud's "Advanced AI Pack" features four AI-powered tools: "Auto Post-Editing" (coming soon), "Intelligent Score" (activated), "Language Guard," and "XTM AI SmartContext." The interface uses a card-based layout with purple buttons.

Deploy however your business needs

XTM Cloud offers public cloud, private cloud, or on-premises deployment. Smartling only does SaaS, which creates compliance headaches for regulated industries and companies that need data sovereignty.

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Real results. Not just promises.

Businesses using XTM see faster turnaround times, fewer errors, and consistent quality across languages and channels.

50%

Reduction in translation errors

42%

Cost saving with machine translation

90%

Faster time-to-market

What customers say about leaving Smartling

Smartling looked great in demos, but we hit walls everywhere when we tried to scale. Their proxy model meant we never really owned our content. XTM Cloud gave us back control.
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Global technology company

We lost visibility into what was happening with our content. Smartling owned it all, and we couldn’t customise workflows when our needs got more complex.

Enterprise marketing director

The vendor lock-in was the deal breaker. We wanted to work with specialists for technical content, but Smartling wouldn’t let us. XTM Cloud works with whoever we choose

Localisation operations manager

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Feature comparison: XTM Cloud vs Smartling

Feature

XTM Cloud

Vendor choice
Work with any language service provider
Visual previews
Full context for HTML, XML, InDesign, video, and 40+ formats
AI capabilities
Language Guard, Intelligent Score, Smart Workflow across entire pipeline
Deployment options
Public cloud, private cloud, on-premises
Workflow customisation
Fully configurable with logic and branching
Content ownership
You own and control all content
Translation memory
Concept-based matching with real-time updates
Pricing transparency
Fixed licensing tiers, clear add-on costs

Smartling

Vendor choice
Must use Smartling’s translation services
Visual previews
Basic web previews only
AI capabilities
AI limited to machine translation optimisation
Deployment options
SaaS only
Workflow customisation
Step-based workflows, no customisation
Content ownership
Content hosted on Smartling’s proxy
Translation memory
Basic translation memory with limited flexibility
Pricing transparency
Custom pricing tied to service usage

How XTM Cloud solves Smartling’s core problems

Vendor lock-in creates dependency

Smartling bundles their translation services with their platform, removing your ability to negotiate or work with specialists. You’re stuck with their rates and turnaround times. XTM Cloud works with any translation provider, giving you leverage and choice.

Proxy model limits control and scalability

Smartling hosts your content on their proxy servers, which means you don’t really own your localised content. This creates security concerns, limits customisation options, and makes complex integrations difficult. XTM Cloud gives you full content ownership and control.

Shallow AI that doesn’t scale

Smartling’s AI features focus on machine translation improvements without addressing workflow bottlenecks or quality assurance. XTM Cloud’s AI works across your entire translation process, from risk detection to automatic routing decisions.

SaaS-only deployment creates compliance barriers

Smartling only offers cloud-based software as a service, which doesn’t work for regulated industries or companies with strict data residency requirements. XTM Cloud’s flexible deployment options meet any security standard.

Why XTM Cloud wins for growing teams

  • Vendor freedom: Choose the best translation partners for each project instead of being stuck with one provider.
  • True visual localisation: SmartContext works with more content types than Smartling’s basic web previews.
  • Intelligent automation: AI features that improve your entire workflow, not just machine translation quality.
  • Flexible deployment: Meet any security requirement with public cloud, private cloud, or on-premises options.
A workflow diagram for "XTM Intelligent Workflow." The steps are "Translate," "Review," and "Correct," which are connected by lines and downward-pointing chevrons, forming a logical path. There's also a box labeled "Final step" at the end. Below the diagram is a yellow banner with an icon and the text "Translate faster with XTM."
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Ready to take back control?

XTM Cloud delivers the vendor freedom, visual localisation, and intelligent automation that ambitious translation teams need. Book a consultation to see how XTM Cloud can break Smartling’s limitations and reduce your localisation costs.

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Frequently asked questions

Most customers finish migrating within four to six weeks. XTM Cloud provides dedicated migration support including translation memory export help, workflow design guidance, and team training. The process includes breaking free from vendor lock-in and setting up your choice of translation partners.

XTM Cloud’s SmartContext provides complete visual previews for HTML, XML, InDesign, video, and forty other file formats, while Smartling only handles basic web page previews. This prevents layout problems, reduces revision cycles, and helps translators understand context without guessing.

XTM Cloud supports forty-plus content management systems, design tools, and marketing platforms. While Smartling focuses on web proxy integration, XTM Cloud offers deeper connections with enterprise systems and gives you more control over how content flows through your localisation process.

XTM Cloud uses AI throughout your entire translation workflow with Language Guard for compliance, Intelligent Score for quality assessment, and Smart Workflow for automation. Smartling limits AI to machine translation improvements without broader process intelligence or quality control.