DeepL
Lokalise
| Feature | DeepL | Lokalise |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $8.74/mo | From $120/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.7 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | translators, international-businesses, writers, academics, legal-teams | mobile-developers, product-teams, agile-teams, design-teams |
| Founded | 2017 | 2016 |
| Translation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Document Translation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Glossary | ✓ | ✗ |
| Write Assistant | ✓ | ✗ |
| Api | ✓ | ✗ |
| Browser Extension | ✓ | ✗ |
| Desktop App | ✓ | ✗ |
| Over The Air Updates | ✗ | ✓ |
| Screenshot Ocr | ✗ | ✓ |
| Branching | ✗ | ✓ |
| Figma Plugin | ✗ | ✓ |
| Api Cli | ✗ | ✓ |
| Quality Assurance | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ DeepL Pros
- Superior translation quality for European languages
- Document translation preserving formatting
- Glossary for consistent terminology
- Write feature for AI writing assistance
✗ DeepL Cons
- Fewer languages than Google Translate (33 vs 130+)
- Free tier limited to 1,500 characters
- Less accurate for Asian languages
✓ Lokalise Pros
- Over-the-air translation updates
- Screenshot OCR for context
- Excellent developer experience
- Figma and design tool integration
✗ Lokalise Cons
- Pricing based on word count
- Can get expensive quickly
- Limited free trial
The Verdict
DeepL is built for translators and international businesses, with a focus on translation and document-translation. Lokalise targets mobile developers and product teams and leads with over-the-air-updates and screenshot-ocr.
On pricing, DeepL is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $8.74/mo compared to $120/mo for Lokalise. That $111.26/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
DeepL has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Lokalise requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, DeepL offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Lokalise takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.