Smartcat
An AI translation platform with a built-in marketplace of human linguists and a Forever Free plan of 15,000 words a month; paid AI plans from about $99 a month.
- Free plan
- Subscription + words
- Cloud
- AI + human translation
- Independent sources
- Verified 11 Nov 2026Sources are dated on this profile
- 1 sourceLinked, typed and dated
- Independent third-party sourcesHow this profile was compiled
- Not an endorsementStack18 has not tested this product
What is Smartcat?
Smartcat is a translation platform combining AI agents, translation memory and a marketplace of freelance linguists with payments handled in-platform.
- Best forTeams mixing AI translation with freelance linguists
- Team size fitSmall teams, Mid-size teams, Large enterprises
- PricingForever Free (15,000 words/mo); paid AI plans from ~$99/mo; Basic subscriptions reportedly from ~$1,200/yr.
- Main limitationFreelancer vetting takes time.
- AlternativesPhrase, DeepL Pro, Smartling · compare all
Smartcat overview: who it is for and what it does.
Smartcat combines AI agents, TM and glossaries with a marketplace of human linguists and in-platform freelancer payments.
A June 2026 guide lists a Forever Free plan with 15,000 words a month, basic editor, TM and glossary, paid plans with AI agents from about $99 a month, and Basic subscriptions reportedly from about $1,200 a year.
It notes vetting freelancers takes time, quality varies by language pair and free words run out quickly.
Main problem it solves
Combines AI and human linguists on one platform.
Typical customer segment
Teams of all sizes.
Target users
- Localization managers
- Marketers
- Freelance translators
Primary use cases
- AI translation
- Human review
- Freelancer marketplace
- Translation memory
What makes it distinct
- Linguist marketplace.
- Free plan.
- AI agents.
Smartcat features explained.
Plans
- Forever Free
- 15,000 words a month.
- AI plans
- From ~$99 a month.
- Basic
- ~$1,200 a year (reported).
Marketplace
- Linguists
- Built in.
- Payments
- Through platform.
- Vetting
- Takes time.
Limits
- Quality
- Varies by pair.
- Free words
- Run out quickly.
- Prices
- Partly reported.
Smartcat pricing and plans.
Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly. Checked 11 Nov 2026 against Dupple.
Pricing model
Subscription plus usage.
Free plan
Yes (15,000 words/mo)
Free trial
Not documented
Smartcat plans and prices (USD)
Forever Free
$0
Free
15,000 words a month.
AI plans
From ~$99 per month
Monthly
AI agents.
Basic
~$1,200 per year (reported)
Annual
Subscription.
Dupple (June 2026), partly reported.
Prices change. Confirm current plans and terms on the vendor's site before you decide.
Visit official website (external) ↗See alternativesSmartcat integrations, API and platforms.
Important integrations
- Google Docs
- HubSpot
- Figma
- WordPress
Supported platforms
- Web
API
Not reviewed for this profile.
Data import and export
Not reviewed for this profile.
Integration coverage was not assessed in full. Check Smartcat's integrations directory and documentation for your tools.
Smartcat pros and cons.
Strengths, limitations and best fit. Each point cites a source; editorial summaries are not customer reviews.
Strengths
Limitations
Best for
- Teams mixing AI translation with freelance linguists
- Marketing content localization
- Growing companies
May be less suited to
- Developer string workflows
- Strict vendor control
Top Smartcat alternatives and competitors.
Phrase
An all-in-one localization suite (TMS, strings and MT) with Team at about $1,245 a month (annual) and a…
Explore →Related productDeepL Pro
High-quality AI translation from DeepL, with Pro plans from $10.49 a month and an API at $25 per million…
Explore →Related productSmartling
An enterprise translation platform with an AI Hub across 20+ LLMs and MT engines plus professional…
Explore →Smartcat compared with similar localization, translation management and website translation software.
Summaries come from each profile. This is a side-by-side aid, not a ranking.
| Product | Pricing model | Starting price | Free plan | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smartcat | Subscription + words | Free; ~$99/mo | Yes (15K words) | AI + human translation | Linguist marketplace |
| Crowdin | Tiers (hosted words) | $50-$59/mo | Open source | TMS | Git workflows |
| DeepL Pro | Per user / API | Free; $10.49/mo | Yes | Machine translation | Translation quality |
| Localazy | Languages + strings | Free; ~$59/mo | Yes | Developer localization | Small dev teams |
| Lokalise | Tiers (processed words) | $144/mo | No (withdrawn) | TMS | App localization |
| Phrase | Tiers | $27/mo (Freelancer) | No | Enterprise TMS | Localization at scale |
Smartcat vs competitors: head-to-head comparisons.
Each comparison has a feature table, pricing side by side, strengths and limits, and best-fit scenarios.
Smartcat discussions and buying questions.
No published discussions mention this product yet.
Smartcat questions and answers
What is Smartcat used for?
Smartcat is a translation platform combining AI agents, translation memory and a marketplace of freelance linguists with payments handled in-platform. Typical uses include aI translation, human review, freelancer marketplace, translation memory.
How much does Smartcat cost?
A Forever Free plan includes 15,000 words a month; paid AI plans start around $99 a month.
Does Smartcat provide human translators?
Yes, through a built-in marketplace.
Is Smartcat free?
Yes, for up to 15,000 words a month.
How does Smartcat compare with its competitors?
Stack18 publishes head-to-head comparisons of Smartcat vs DeepL Pro, each with a feature table, pricing and best-fit scenarios.
What are the main alternatives to Smartcat?
The main alternatives to Smartcat covered on Stack18 are Phrase, DeepL Pro and Smartling. Phrase may suit companies running localization at scale across content types. DeepL Pro may suit teams needing top-quality machine translation. Smartling may suit enterprises needing AI plus professional translation. See the Smartcat alternatives guide for a side-by-side table.
What are the pros and cons of Smartcat?
Strengths: Built-in linguist marketplace. Forever Free plan. Limitations: Freelancer vetting takes time. Quality varies by language pair.
Who is Smartcat best for?
Smartcat may suit teams mixing AI translation with freelance linguists; marketing content localization; growing companies. It may be less suited to developer string workflows; strict vendor control.
What integrations does Smartcat support?
Documented integrations and ecosystem items include Google Docs, HubSpot, Figma, WordPress. API: Not reviewed for this profile.
When was the Smartcat profile last verified?
Sources for this profile were last reviewed on 11 Nov 2026. 1 source is listed under Sources, and prices and plans can change, so confirm with the vendor.
Where this information comes from.
- The 8 Best AI Localization Tools in 2026 (prices as of June 2026) Dupple Third-party Accessed 11 Nov 2026
Secondary-source profile. Vendor pages were not reviewed directly for this profile. Facts and prices are taken from independent third-party sources and may differ from the vendor's current pages. Confirm with the vendor before buying.
Pricing comes from the dated sources listed; some figures are reported or conflict and are labelled. Confirm with the vendor before buying. Capabilities were not tested.
Stack18 has not tested this product or received anything from the vendor for this profile. Editorial summaries of vendor information are not endorsements. Confirm details with the vendor before buying.
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