Managing translations in a growing application is one of those problems that seems simple until it isn’t. You start with a few strings, maybe hardcode some translations, and before you know it, you’re drowning in JSON files and spreadsheets.
We’ve been there. After years of building multilingual applications for clients—and struggling with translation workflows ourselves—we decided to build our own solution. But before we talk about that, let’s look at the landscape of translation management tools available to developers in 2025.
What to Look For in a Translation Management System
Before comparing tools, let’s establish what actually matters for developer teams:
Developer Experience: Does it fit into your existing workflow? Can you use it from the CLI? Does it integrate with your build process?
Pricing Model: Per-word pricing can get expensive fast. Per-seat pricing punishes growing teams. Flat pricing is predictable but might not scale down for small projects.
Translation Features: Machine translation, translation memory, glossaries, context for translators—these features determine translation quality.
Integration Depth: GitHub/GitLab integration, CI/CD webhooks, framework-specific SDKs—the less manual work, the better.
The Major Players
Lokalise
Lokalise is probably the most well-known name in the space. It’s polished, feature-rich, and has excellent documentation.
Pros:
- Beautiful, intuitive interface
- Strong GitHub/GitLab integration
- Over-the-air updates for mobile apps
- Extensive API
Cons:
- Expensive for small teams (starts at $120/month)
- Per-word pricing for machine translation adds up
- Can feel like overkill for simpler projects
Best for: Mid-to-large teams with budget and complex localization needs.
Crowdin
Crowdin has been around longer and offers a generous free tier for open-source projects.
Pros:
- Free for open source
- Large translator community
- Good file format support
- Integrations with major platforms
Cons:
- Interface feels dated
- Can be slow with large projects
- Enterprise features locked behind expensive tiers
Best for: Open-source projects and teams who need access to professional translators.
Phrase (formerly PhraseApp)
Phrase positions itself as an enterprise solution with strong workflow features.
Pros:
- Robust workflow management
- Good for large organizations
- Strong quality assurance features
- In-context editor
Cons:
- Steep learning curve
- Enterprise pricing
- Overkill for most projects
Best for: Large enterprises with dedicated localization teams.
Transifex
Transifex focuses on continuous localization with strong automation features.
Pros:
- Good automation capabilities
- Native file format support
- Strong API
- Translation memory
Cons:
- Complex pricing
- Learning curve for advanced features
- Interface can be confusing
Best for: Teams with continuous deployment needs.
Open Source Alternatives
If you want to self-host or need more control:
Weblate
A solid open-source option with continuous translation support.
Pros:
- Free and open source
- Self-hosted option
- Good Git integration
- Active community
Cons:
- Requires server maintenance
- Less polished UI
- Setup can be complex
Tolgee
A newer entrant with a developer-first approach.
Pros:
- Modern tech stack
- Good developer experience
- Self-hosted option available
- In-context translation
Cons:
- Smaller community
- Fewer integrations
- Still maturing
Our Solution: LangCtl
After using most of these tools across various projects, we built LangCtl to address what we felt was missing: a truly CLI-first experience with sensible pricing.
What Makes LangCtl Different
CLI-First Design: Most tools bolt on a CLI as an afterthought. LangCtl is built around the terminal. Scan your codebase for translation keys, check status, push and pull translations—all without leaving your editor.
# Scan your codebase for translation keys
langctl scan ./src
# Check translation status
langctl status
# Push new keys to the dashboard
langctl push
# Pull translations to your project
langctl pullAI-Powered Translation: For early-stage projects or rapid prototyping, LangCtl includes AI translation that understands context from your key names and existing translations. It’s not a replacement for professional translation, but it gets you 80% of the way there instantly.
Flat, Predictable Pricing: No per-word charges, no per-seat fees. You know exactly what you’ll pay each month.
Framework Agnostic: Works with React (react-i18next, react-intl), Angular (@ngx-translate, built-in i18n), Vue (vue-i18n), and any JSON-based translation system.
When to Use LangCtl
LangCtl is ideal for:
- Developer teams who live in the terminal
- Startups and small teams who need predictable costs
- Projects that need “good enough” translations quickly
- Teams already using Angular, React, or Vue
It might not be right for you if:
- You need a large community of translators
- You have complex approval workflows
- You need over-the-air updates for mobile apps (coming soon)
Making Your Choice
Here’s a quick decision framework:
| If you need… | Consider… |
|---|---|
| Enterprise features + budget | Lokalise or Phrase |
| Open source project | Crowdin or Weblate |
| CLI-first workflow | LangCtl |
| Self-hosted solution | Weblate or Tolgee |
| Large translator community | Crowdin |
| Predictable pricing | LangCtl |
Conclusion
There’s no perfect translation management tool—only the right one for your specific needs. The best approach is to try a few options with a small project before committing.
If you’re a developer team looking for a streamlined CLI workflow without enterprise pricing, give LangCtl a try. The free tier is generous enough to evaluate properly, and we’d love your feedback on how to make it better.
What translation management tools have you used? What features matter most to your workflow? We’re always looking to improve LangCtl based on real developer needs.