Microsoft Translator vs Crowdin
Which one should you choose? Here's how they compare.
| Feature | Microsoft Translator | Crowdin |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 3.9 | ★ 4.4 |
| Pricing | Free | $29-199/mo |
| Type | free | freemium |
| Company | Microsoft | Crowdin |
| Founded | 2015 | 2009 |
Microsoft Translator Features
- •70+ languages
- •Offline mode
- •Office integration
- •API
Crowdin Features
- •Crowd translation
- •AI suggestions
- •Version control
- •Developer integrations
Microsoft Translator Pros
- ✓Free
- ✓Offline mode
- ✓Office integration
Microsoft Translator Cons
- ✗Fewer languages than Google
- ✗Less accurate
- ✗Smaller community
Crowdin Pros
- ✓Great for software localization
- ✓Community collaboration
- ✓Developer-friendly
Crowdin Cons
- ✗Complex for non-developers
- ✗Free tier limited
- ✗Learning curve
The Verdict
Microsoft Translator and Crowdin are two of the most popular tools in the translation category, but they take different approaches to solving the same problems. Microsoft Translator, developed by Microsoft (founded 2015), is described as "microsoft's translation service with offline capabilities.". Meanwhile, Crowdin by Crowdin (founded 2009) "collaborative localization platform for managing translations of software, websites, and apps.". In terms of overall user satisfaction, Crowdin edges ahead with a rating of 4.4/5.0, compared to Microsoft Translator's 3.9/5.0 — a difference of 0.5 points. Crowdin's strongest advantages include great for software localization, community collaboration, while Microsoft Translator is praised for free. On the pricing front, Microsoft Translator offers a free model at Free, making it the more budget-friendly option for teams watching their spend. Neither tool is perfect: Microsoft Translator's main drawbacks include fewer languages than google, less accurate, while Crowdin users typically cite complex for non-developers as its biggest limitation. However, Microsoft Translator has an edge in business translation, which might be the tiebreaker if that's important to you. In terms of target audience, Microsoft Translator is particularly popular among business users and office workers, while Crowdin tends to attract developers and localization managers. Our verdict: Crowdin is the stronger choice overall, especially if you value great for software localization. However, if free matters more to your workflow, Microsoft Translator remains a solid alternative.
- • You need free
- • You need offline mode
- • You need great for software localization
- • You need community collaboration