Lokalise is a polished, modern translation management system — and one of the most expensive ways for a small team to ship localized software. If your localization needs are "translate my app into ten languages without hiring anyone", Localization.One does that for a flat $19/month, or free within the starter limits.
TL;DR
- Lokalise: a feature-rich TMS aimed at product teams, with paid plans starting around $140/month (billed annually) and per-seat pricing on higher tiers.
- Localization.One: an AI-first localization platform for indie devs and small studios. Free plan with 500 strings; Premium is $19/month per project with unlimited strings, AI credits and unlimited collaborators.
Where Lokalise shines
Lokalise is a great product for funded product teams: strong design-tool integrations (Figma), branching workflows, in-context iOS/Android SDKs, screenshots, glossaries, and a marketplace of professional translation vendors. If you have a localization budget of hundreds of dollars a month and a team to manage the process, it will serve you well.
Where Localization.One is different
10× cheaper, one price
Premium is $19/month per project. Not per seat, not per thousand keys — unlimited strings and unlimited collaborators. The free plan (500 strings, machine translation and AI quota) is enough to ship a small app in several languages without paying at all. Indie game developers can get Premium for free.
AI does the first pass on everything
Turn on AI translation for a language and the cron translates every new string automatically, preserving placeholders and formatting. You review only where it matters — or ship the AI translation as-is and improve iteratively. This is how the platform localizes its own UI, and how sites with 120k+ daily visitors run their community translations on it.
No onboarding project
Upload a localization file at /start/, tick target languages, done. The first translated strings appear while you are still on the page. There is an API and webhooks when you want CI integration, and nothing you must configure when you do not.
Feature comparison
FeatureLocalization.OneLokalise
AI / machine translationBuilt-in, on by defaultAvailable as paid add-on / credits
File formatsAndroid XML, iOS .strings, Flutter ARB, JSON, PO, Java .properties, CSV, PHP arrays40+ formats
API & webhooksYesYes
Volunteer / community translationYes, public projects with invite linksLimited
Per-seat pricingNo — unlimited collaboratorsSeat-based on most plans
Free plan500 strings + MT + AI quotaTrial / limited free tier
Paid plan$19/month per projectFrom ~$140/month
Design tools, SDKs, vendor marketplaceNoYes
Migrating from Lokalise
Download your keys from Lokalise in JSON, Android XML, iOS .strings, PO or CSV, then upload the file at /start/. The wizard creates a project, imports every string and starts AI translation into the languages you choose. Need to change the file format on the way? Use the free converters.
Who should pick what
Pick Lokalise if you have a localization budget, a product team and deep design-tool workflows. Pick Localization.One if you want your app or game translated this week for the price of a couple of coffees.