Overview

Locize is a localization platform built to connect software code with translation work and delivery. It suits teams that want developers, translators, and reviewers working in one workflow. Its strongest case is ongoing localization without a full app redeploy; the trade-off is that users, languages, content, and downloads are capped by plan.

Key features

Developers can sync keys and source strings through a CLI or CI process, while translators and reviewers work in a dedicated interface. Translation memory, glossary management, in-context editing, context screenshots, and configurable review workflows help teams keep terminology consistent and resolve issues in context. Machine and generative AI translation options add another route for producing drafts, but the platform's value is greatest when translation is a continuing team process rather than an occasional handoff.

Translations can be delivered through a CDN or API, so language updates do not require a full app redeploy. Locize connects with i18next, React, Vue, Angular, Next.js, Node.js, Figma, mobile iOS and Android, and PHP, Python, Java, and .NET. That range covers many common software stacks, while teams should still check that their own integration and delivery path fits.

Security provisions include MFA options, SAML 2.0 SSO, role-based permissions, API token controls, backups, and encryption at rest for personal data and stored third-party API credentials. Customer data is hosted on AWS in Ireland, with encrypted disaster-recovery copies of translation namespaces and project configurations stored on BunnyCDN Storage in the EU. Locize states that it is subject to Swiss FADP and EU GDPR and offers a DPA covering both.

Pricing

The Free plan costs 0.00 USD per free and includes 2,000 words, two languages, five namespaces, one user, and 100K standard CDN downloads per month. It is a useful starting point for a small project, but the single seat and narrow language and namespace allowances limit shared work and expansion.

Starter costs 7.00 USD per month, billed monthly, and raises the allowances to 15,000 words, five languages, 10 namespaces, five users, and 1M standard CDN downloads per month. Starter-Plus costs 19.00 USD per month, billed monthly, for 30,000 words, seven languages, 25 namespaces, five users, and 3M standard CDN downloads per month. These tiers suit modest projects that need more capacity than Free, though the five-user ceiling remains a constraint for larger teams.

Growth costs 49.00 USD per month, billed monthly, and includes 60,000 words, 10 languages, 50 namespaces, unlimited users, three branches, five tenants, 5M standard CDN downloads, 150K pro CDN downloads, and 1.5K private downloads per month. Professional is 99.00 USD per month, billed monthly, with 100,000 words, 20 languages, 75 namespaces, unlimited users, five branches, 10 tenants, 7M standard CDN downloads, 250K pro CDN downloads, and 2.5K private downloads per month.

Professional-Plus costs 149.00 USD per month, billed monthly, and provides 150,000 words, 50 languages, 150 namespaces, unlimited users, five branches, 20 tenants, 10M standard CDN downloads, 350K pro CDN downloads, and 3.5K private downloads per month. Enterprise costs 199.00 USD per month, billed monthly, and expands those allowances to 200,000 words, 150 languages, 300 namespaces, unlimited users, 10 branches, 50 tenants, 15M standard CDN downloads, 500K pro CDN downloads, and 5K private downloads per month. These higher tiers are for teams whose language, project, or delivery needs justify the added capacity; the listed quotas still require monitoring.

A 14-day trial is available. On fixed plans, exceeding 110% of included standard CDN downloads automatically blocks the project; on Free, translations are automatically unpublished instead. That distinction makes download forecasting important, especially for production use.

Platforms

Locize supports Android, iOS, web, and API platforms. Its API delivery also supports in-game localization workflows.

Who it's for

Locize is a strong fit for software teams that need developers and language specialists to coordinate ongoing updates across web or mobile products. Teams that need continuous delivery, translation memory, and role-based review have a clear reason to consider it. A small project can begin on Free, while teams with more collaborators or higher usage can move to paid tiers. It is less compelling for a one-off translation job or a project that cannot comfortably work within defined download and content quotas.

Pros and cons

Pro: CDN and API delivery lets teams update translations without requiring a full app redeploy.
Pro: Developer sync and a separate translator/reviewer interface bring code and language workflows together.
Pro: Translation memory, glossary, context tools, and review workflows support consistency and clearer feedback.
Con: Free allows only one user, two languages, five namespaces, and 100K standard CDN downloads per month.
Con: Download overages trigger automatic blocking on fixed plans or automatic unpublishing on Free, so quota overruns can interrupt delivery.
Con: Starter and Starter-Plus both cap teams at five users, even as their word, language, namespace, and download limits rise.

Alternatives

Crowdin is another freemium option with a free plan and support across Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows; choose it if that platform coverage better matches your needs.

OneSky is another freemium localization option; compare it if you are considering its AI-driven quality estimation or multi-agent translation offerings.

Tolgee offers a free plan with 30,000 words and three seats, plus self-hosted support; it may suit teams that value those specific allowances or deployment options.

Live Link Face is a free iOS and Android app for readers considering a different mobile tool.

Transglot offers a free plan with 100,000 words to start, then 10,000 per month, one project, 14 target languages, and three seats; consider it if those starting limits align better with your project.

Weblate supports self-hosted use and lists a Premium Cloud 10k plan at 47.00 EUR per month for 10,000 hosted strings with unlimited languages, projects, and components; consider it if those terms fit better.

Localazy has a free plan with 200 source keys, unlimited seats, and unlimited languages; it may suit a small project whose main constraint is language or seat count.

Playglot is a free web-based alternative.

For a broader comparison, browse Game Localization Software, Translation Management Software, or Translation Software.

Verdict

Choose Locize if your software team needs translation work connected to development and wants to ship language updates through a CDN or API without a full redeploy. Its collaborative tools and wide integration range are the main reasons to choose it; its plan-specific quotas and automatic response to download overages are the reasons to look elsewhere if your usage is hard to predict.

	locize	Youdao Document Translation
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	Yes	No
Paid from	$7/mo	—
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Android, api, iOS, Web	api
Free plan	Yes	—
Paid from	7 /mo	—
Translation memory	Yes	—
Document translation	—	Yes
API access	—	Yes
Supported languages	—	2

locize vs Youdao Document Translation

locize

Youdao Document Translation