Lokalise alternatives: where to go and how to migrate without breaking anything
Nine destinations, one per reason for leaving, and a seven-step migration plan.
The short answer: Crowdin if you want the closest platform with unlimited translators, Tolgee if you want a free plan and open source code, Phrase if you're staying enterprise, Localazy, POEditor or Locize if you're a startup that wants a cheaper bill, Weblate if you want to self-host. One thing to know first: Lokalise exports your translations as files (more than 20 formats), but not your screenshots, comments or history. We compared the nine destinations in this guide and checked their prices in 2026.
Our ranking is editorial: a sponsored spot is always labeled on its card, and no affiliate link changes a score.
Why teams leave Lokalise, and what keeps them
Lokalise is a polished product. Reviewers keep praising its editor, its CLI and its in-context screenshots. People leave over price, and over how that price is calculated. Six reasons, all checked in 2026.
$149 a month to get in, no free plan
The pricing page lists four plans: Explorer at $149/month, Growth at $379, Advanced at $1,049, all billed yearly, plus Enterprise on request. There's no free plan, just a 14-day trial with no credit card. For an app with 800 keys in two languages, that's at least $1,788 a year. A small team can get the same job done elsewhere for well under $500.
New prices land at renewal
Lokalise reworked its pricing, and says plainly that the new pricing only applies at renewal. You don't feel it on day one, but you do feel it. Included quotas also reset each term, so whatever you don't use is gone.
Billing on processed words is hard to forecast
Plans now bundle a yearly volume of processed words, machine translation included. A big feature release or a new language can burn through it fast. Lokalise's own page even gives two different quota figures for Growth, so get the number in writing before you sign.
Two of four plans need a sales demo
You can't buy Advanced or Enterprise online. You book a demo, wait, and get a negotiated price you can't compare against a public grid.
Expensive for what most teams use
Review sites repeat the same line: good tool, but expensive, and "very expensive if you don't downgrade in time." Others call basic AI features costly. One user reports slowdowns past 50,000 keys. If you mainly store JSON files and invite two translators, you're paying for an enterprise platform.
Leaving takes some method
Exports come out per platform (Web, iOS, Android, Other). By default only keys assigned to that platform ship, empty translations come out as empty strings, and named ICU placeholders aren't mapped to positional ones. Screenshots, comments and history stay behind. Also check the cancellation clause in your contract before the renewal date: several users say they found out about a long notice period too late.
You're leaving because… go to…
The right Lokalise alternative depends on what's pushing you out. Usually only one line applies. Each card jumps to the full write-up below.
Unlimited translators and proofreaders on any paid plan.
You want a free plan and open sourceTolgeeFree up to 30,000 hosted words, Translate at $66/month billed yearly.
You're a startup on a tight budgetPOEditor or LocizeStart at $17/month billed yearly, or Locize Starter at $7/month.
You want to self-hostWeblateGPLv3+ license, or hosted from €47/month excl. VAT.
You want to migrate in under an hourLocalazyFile import, 40+ formats, free up to 200 source keys.
You're staying enterprisePhrase15 to 20 seats and a million-plus managed words.
Lokalise alternatives, tool by tool
For each tool: why switch to it, who it's for, its limit, how to migrate from Lokalise, and what it costs. Watch the billing unit: some count keys, some count strings (keys times languages), some count hosted words. Prices are the ones listed in 2026.
Crowdin: the closest platform, without paying per translator
Closest matchWhy switch to Crowdin. It covers the same ground as Lokalise: online editor, translation memory, glossary, machine translation, repo integrations. The difference is people: any paid plan lets you invite unlimited translators and proofreaders. If you work with a community or an agency, you stop paying per head.
Who it's for. Software companies and game studios translating into many languages with many contributors. Open source and academic projects can apply for a free license.
Who it's not for. A small app in two languages: hosted words add up fast as you add languages.
Its limit. Crowdin counts hosted words: words to translate times target languages. 500 words in 10 languages is 5,000 hosted words. Its pricing page doesn't show readable amounts without the calculator, so run it on your real project. Enterprise is annual billing only.
How to migrate. Crowdin's official guide: download your source files, translations, TM and glossary from Lokalise, then upload them to your Crowdin project. Then reconfigure machine translation, integrations, webhooks and members. The trial runs 14 days on Team and 30 on Enterprise.
- Billing
- hosted words × languages
- Translators
- unlimited on paid plans
- Trial
- 14 days (Team), 30 (Enterprise)
- Limit
- cost scales with languages
Tolgee: free plan, open source, seats that don't cost extra
Free and open sourceWhy switch to Tolgee. It fixes what bugs small teams about Lokalise: a free plan with no card (3 seats, 30,000 hosted words), open source code you can self-host, unlimited seats on paid plans, and keys that aren't a pricing metric. Adding a developer doesn't move your bill.
Who it's for. Startups and product teams shipping web or mobile apps who want control over their data.
Who it's not for. Large localization teams that want a built-in human translation service and heavy account management.
Its limit. The jump to paid is real: Translate is $66/month and Optimise $149/month, billed yearly. Some users find it harder to track the last translated string. Self-hosting beyond basic use needs a paid license sized to your keys and seats.
How to migrate. Export files from Lokalise and import them: JSON, XLIFF, Android XML, ARB, CSV and XLSX are supported. Tolgee converts placeholders to ICU and asks you to resolve conflicts. Its own advice, which we agree with: test a representative export first, since plurals, metadata, screenshots and tags don't always map one to one.
- Free
- 3 seats, 30,000 hosted words
- Paid
- Translate $66/mo billed yearly
- Hosting
- cloud or self-hosted
- Limit
- steep first paid tier
Phrase: stay enterprise, change vendor
EnterpriseWhy switch to Phrase. If you're leaving over contract terms, support or features rather than budget, Phrase is the other big platform. Its Software UI/UX plan includes 15 Strings seats and 1 million managed words; Team goes to 20 seats and 1.2 million. It also handles document translation, handy if product and marketing want one tool.
Who it's for. Companies localizing both software and content with a dedicated team.
Who it's not for. A startup leaving Lokalise because of price.
Its limit. Plans are billed yearly and start well above Lokalise Explorer. The pricing page shows amounts without a clear currency, so ask for a quote in yours.
How to migrate. Export your keys per language and import them into a Phrase Strings project. Use the 14-day trial: Phrase says you aren't charged when it ends unless you subscribe.
- Trial
- 14 days, no auto-charge
- Software UI/UX
- 15 seats, 1M managed words
- Best for
- software plus content
- Limit
- annual, expensive
Localazy: the fastest migration
Fast migrationWhy switch to Localazy. Localazy says you can move your existing translations from Lokalise in under an hour by file import, with 40+ formats supported. The free plan keeps 200 source keys with unlimited seats and languages.
Who it's for. Mobile app makers and small product teams who'd rather pay per key than per word.
Who it's not for. Teams that rely on change history: it doesn't come across.
Its limit. Professional is $34/month ($408 billed yearly) for 1,000 keys, Autopilot $78 for 3,500, Business $175 for 10,000. The pricing FAQ quotes different numbers than the table, so trust the table and confirm before paying.
How to migrate. Export your Lokalise files and upload them. Comments and history don't transfer, so keep a copy of the full export. A 14-day trial of Business lets you migrate with everything unlocked.
- Free
- 200 source keys
- Paid
- Professional $34/mo
- Migration
- under an hour, per vendor
- Limit
- history not transferred
POEditor: the clearest price list
Startup budgetWhy switch to POEditor. Everything is on the page: five tiers, monthly and yearly prices, no sales call. Free keeps 1,000 strings; Start gives 3,000 for $20/month ($17 billed yearly); Plus 10,000 for $60 ($51). No payment details until you upgrade.
Who it's for. Startups and mid-size teams that want a predictable bill and a simple tool.
Who it's not for. Projects in many languages, since every term and every translation counts.
Its limit. 1,000 keys in 4 languages is already around 5,000 strings (terms plus translations), so you land on Plus. Do that math before comparing with key-based tools.
How to migrate. Export files from Lokalise and import language by language, base language first so terms exist before their translations.
- Free
- 1,000 strings
- Paid
- Start $20/mo ($17 yearly)
- Billing
- terms + translations
- Limit
- pricey with many languages
Locize: built by the i18next team, priced for small apps
i18next teamsWhy switch to Locize. It comes from the people behind i18next and serves translations over a CDN, so you can fix copy without shipping a new release. The price list is public and low: free for 2,000 words and 2 languages, Starter at $7/month for 15,000 words, Growth at $49 for 60,000.
Who it's for. JavaScript teams already on i18next.
Who it's not for. Teams working mostly with outside translators and a heavy translation memory.
Its limit. Plans cap words, languages and monthly downloads; overages come in blocks (10,000 words for $5). If you don't pick a plan after the trial, the project is deleted.
How to migrate. Locize has a Lokalise guide: Download, JSON format, Build & Download, one language at a time, then import. Check plurals and interpolation placeholders afterwards. The 14-day trial needs no card.
- Free
- 2,000 words, 2 languages
- Paid
- Starter $7/mo
- Trial
- 14 days, no card
- Limit
- project deleted without a plan
Weblate: open source, self-hosted or hosted
Self-hostWhy switch to Weblate. It's GPLv3+: install it on your server and pay no subscription. Hosted plans are public and in euros: €47/month excl. VAT for 10,000 strings, €70 for 40,000, €114 for 160,000. The Libre plan is free for public projects.
Who it's for. Engineering teams that want data in-house, and open source projects.
Who it's not for. Teams with nobody to run a server, if self-hosting is the goal.
Its limit. Hosted pricing counts strings across all languages, and the UI is plainer than Lokalise's.
How to migrate. Export from Lokalise and commit the files to your repo: Weblate reads translations from version control. The 14-day hosted trial lets you validate formats.
- Free
- self-hosted, or Libre for public projects
- Hosted
- from €47/mo excl. VAT
- License
- GPLv3+
- Limit
- plain interface
SimpleLocalize: key-based pricing for solo devs
Solo devsWhy switch to SimpleLocalize. It's small, clean and cheap. Community is free for 500 keys, 10 languages and one member; Developer is €12/month for 1,000 keys and 5 members. For a 900-key app, that's €144 a year.
Who it's for. Solo developers and small teams that want a predictable, key-based bill.
Who it's not for. Large translator teams or projects past 12,000 keys.
Its limit. Prices are listed in euros and step up by keys: Team €35 for 4,000 keys, Business €99 for 12,000.
How to migrate. Export one JSON file per language from Lokalise and import each one. The free plan needs no card, so you can check the import first.
- Free
- 500 keys, 10 languages
- Paid
- Developer €12/mo
- Billing
- per key
- Limit
- 12,000 keys on Business
Transifex: unlimited seats, priced per AI-translated word
Custom quoteWhy switch to Transifex. One plan: unlimited seats, unlimited hosted content, and a price based on AI translation volume. Seats never affect your price, which suits a team that grows faster than its word count.
Who it's for. Companies with lots of people in the tool and steady translation volume.
Who it's not for. Anyone who wants to see a price before talking to sales.
Its limit. No public price: it's quote or demo only, just like Lokalise Advanced.
How to migrate. Export your files from Lokalise and ask during the demo what Transifex's team handles in the import.
- Price
- custom quote
- Seats
- unlimited, no price impact
- Content
- unlimited hosted
- Limit
- no public pricing
The 9 alternatives side by side
Our default picks: Tolgee for a startup that wants a free plan, Crowdin for a team translating with lots of contributors. For scale, take a 900-key app in 3 languages: Lokalise Explorer is $1,788 a year, Localazy Professional $408, POEditor Plus $612 billed yearly (900 keys in 3 languages is about 3,600 strings, past the 3,000 in Start), Tolgee Translate $792. Each row below gives the free plan and billing unit on the left, the first paid tier and how to migrate on the right.
| Free plan and billing unit | First paid tier and migration | |
|---|---|---|
| LokaliseStarting point | No free plan, 14-day trial; processed words | Explorer $149/mo billed yearly; Advanced and Enterprise via demo |
| CrowdinClosest match | Free open source and academic licenses; hosted words × languages | Priced by word volume; upload files, TM and glossary |
| TolgeeFree, open source | 3 seats, 30,000 hosted words | Translate $66/mo billed yearly; file import, ICU conversion |
| PhraseEnterprise | 14-day trial; seats and managed words | Annual plans or quote; file import |
| LocalazyFast migration | 200 source keys; per key | Professional $34/mo; import in under an hour |
| POEditorClear pricing | 1,000 strings; terms + translations | Start $20/mo ($17 yearly); import per language |
| Locizei18next | 2,000 words, 2 languages; per word | Starter $7/mo; official Lokalise guide |
| WeblateSelf-host | Self-hosted or Libre; strings across languages | Hosted from €47/mo excl. VAT; files via your repo |
| SimpleLocalizeSolo devs | 500 keys, 10 languages; per key | Developer €12/mo; JSON import |
| TransifexQuote | No public price; per AI-translated word | Custom quote, unlimited seats; import scoped in demo |
Entry prices excluding tax, subject to change. Redo the math on your real key and language count.
Migrate from Lokalise in seven steps
Order matters. Each step protects something: your keys, your approved translations, your placeholders, and your renewal date.
Read your contract and note the renewal date
FirstFind two things in your Lokalise contract: the renewal date and the cancellation notice period. Reviews mention long notice periods and the numbers vary, so only your contract counts. If you're on legacy pricing, the new grid kicks in at renewal.
Plan the switch at least a month before that date. An auto-renewal is another year on the bill.
- Risk if rushed
- another year billed
Inventory the project
Day 1List projects, languages, key counts per platform, tags, TM, glossary, integrations (GitHub, GitLab, Figma, the CLI in your CI pipeline) and webhooks. Your key and language counts are also how you compare prices fairly.
Example: 900 keys in 3 languages is 900 units at SimpleLocalize but about 3,600 strings at POEditor.
- Time
- half a day
Export with the right settings
CriticalThree settings prevent most of the damage. Include keys from all platforms: by default only keys assigned to the chosen platform ship. Change empty-translation handling: by default they export as empty strings, which overwrite good translations on import; skip them or fall back to the base language. Number your named ICU placeholders if your destination needs it, since Lokalise won't.
Export your TM and glossary separately.
- Formats
- 20+
- Risk if rushed
- missing keys, blank strings
Run a pilot project first
Pick a representative project with plurals, placeholders and tagged keys. Import it, then compare key by key against Lokalise. Plurals and metadata don't always map one to one, and this is where you find out. Use the destination's free trial (14 days at most vendors).
- Time
- one to two days
Import everything, base language first
Import the base language so every key exists, then translations one language at a time. Then load TM and glossary to keep future copy consistent. Resolve conflicts as they come up and check counts at the end.
- Risk if rushed
- overwritten translations
Reconnect code and people
Swap the Lokalise CLI in CI for the new one, reconnect your repo, reconfigure machine translation and webhooks, invite members. Screenshots and comments don't come along: redo the screenshots for screens where context matters most.
- Often missed
- webhooks, API tokens
Freeze, cut over, then cancel
LastSet a freeze day with no edits in Lokalise. Do a final export, import the delta, and ship a release from the new platform. Keep Lokalise read-only until everything checks out, then cancel within your notice period.
- Time
- one day
Is your tool missing from this page? Email us: hello@hackceleration.com
What makes a Lokalise migration go wrong
The same mistakes show up in vendor import guides and in user reviews. None is hard to avoid, and each costs more than the time it would have taken to prevent.
Missing the renewal
You shortlist tools, plan the move, and the contract renews in the meantime. Write the date down on day one.
Exporting one platform only
A key assigned to iOS doesn't show up in a Web export by default. Your Android app quietly loses copy.
Overwriting with blanks
Empty translations exported as empty strings replace real ones on import. Choose skip.
Breaking placeholders
A named placeholder that turns into plain text means customers see "{name}" on screen. Test each format in the pilot.
Comparing different units
Keys, strings, hosted words: the same project is 900 units at one vendor and 3,600 at another. If you're really translating a website rather than an app, read our switch from Weglot guide instead.
Forgetting what doesn't export
Screenshots, comments and history stay behind. Keep a full export as an archive. If you automate around Lokalise or Crowdin, our Lokalise with Make and Crowdin with Make pages show what to reconnect.
- Renewal date and notice period written down
- Projects, keys, languages, tags and integrations listed
- Export includes keys from all platforms
- Empty translations skipped
- Placeholders checked on a pilot
- TM and glossary imported
- CLI, repo and webhooks reconnected
- Key screenshots redone
- Freeze day set, delta imported
- Cancellation sent within the notice period
Lokalise alternatives: frequently asked questions
Is there a cheaper alternative to Lokalise for startups?
Yes. Locize starts at $7/month, POEditor at $17/month billed yearly, Localazy at $34/month, all far below Lokalise Explorer at $149/month billed yearly. Tolgee's free plan covers 3 seats and 30,000 hosted words.
Does Lokalise have a free plan?
No. In 2026 the pricing page shows no free plan, only a 14-day trial with no credit card, then Explorer at $149/month billed yearly.
How much does Lokalise cost per year?
At least $1,788 a year on Explorer. Growth comes to $4,548 a year and Advanced to $12,588. Enterprise is quote only.
What's the best open source Lokalise alternative?
Weblate if you want to self-host for free under GPLv3+. Tolgee if you want a more modern editor; its code is open, but self-hosting beyond basic use needs a paid license.
Crowdin vs Lokalise: which one?
Crowdin if you work with many translators, since they're unlimited on any paid plan. Lokalise if your team relies on its in-context screenshots and editor. Remember Crowdin multiplies words by target languages.
How do I export all my translations from Lokalise?
From the download screen, per platform, with the option to include keys from all platforms turned on. Skip empty translations instead of exporting empty strings. JSON works everywhere.
Can I keep screenshots and comments when I switch?
Not through a file import. Translation files don't carry screenshots, comments or history. Archive the full export and redo the screenshots that matter.
How long does a Lokalise migration take?
Export and import fit in a day for a typical project; Localazy claims under an hour for a file import. Plan one to two weeks overall with the pilot, integrations and screenshots. For broader options, see our best translation software ranking and our AI translation picks.
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