Crowdin
Estonian localization platform with Git sync, 700+ integrations and over-the-air content delivery for software, mobile apps, websites and games
Quick Overview
| Company | Crowdin OÜ |
|---|---|
| Category | Localization Software |
| Headquarters | Tallinn, Estonia |
| Founded | 2009 |
| EU Presence | Yes - Estonia (EU) |
| Data Location | Processing in the EU, the United States and Ukraine, with transfer safeguards (per its terms) |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Git integrations, 100+ file formats, API, QA checks, in-context preview, glossaries, translation memory, over-the-air updates, 700+ apps and integrations, 40+ MT engines or your own AI keys |
| Pricing | 14-day Team trial and 30-day Enterprise trial; free licences for open source and academic projects; paid plans priced by hosted words and managers, see website |
| Best For | Software, mobile and game teams that want continuous localization wired into Git |
| Replaces | Smartling, Lokalise, Transifex |
Detailed Review
Crowdin is built for teams whose text lives in code. Source files sync from GitHub, GitLab or Bitbucket, translators work in a browser editor with context, and finished translations return to the repository. The vendor lists support for more than 100 file formats and 700+ apps and integrations.
The contracting entity is Crowdin OÜ, a private limited company registered in Estonia under code 14479905. The About page says Serhiy Dmytryshyn founded Crowdin in 2009 and is still its sole owner.
Developer-first workflow
Branch-based translation management lets parallel releases be translated side by side, and built-in QA checks cover consistency, length limits and placeholders. A Figma integration and an in-context preview of the translated UI give translators visual context.
For mobile apps, Crowdin offers over-the-air updates so new translations reach users without an app release, and an Appetize.io emulator for context.
AI and machine translation
You can use more than 40 machine translation engines or bring your own AI or LLM keys, with glossaries and style guides applied for consistency. Managed Balance lets you prepay for machine translation and professional translation services without separate vendor accounts.
Security and jurisdiction
Crowdin states that its information security management system is ISO/IEC 27001 certified and that it complies with GDPR. Its terms say processing may use facilities in the European Union, the United States and Ukraine, with safeguards for transfers outside the EEA, so the data flow needs a look if strict EU-only processing is a requirement.
Limitations to Consider
Crowdin does not offer self-hosting, and its terms state that processing may take place in the European Union, the United States and Ukraine, so it is not an EU-only processing option. The pricing page does not show plan prices in the page source, and the hosted-words metric (words multiplied by target languages) makes costs rise with every added language. If you want an open source or self-hosted platform, look at Weblate or Tolgee.
Who Should Use Crowdin
Software, app and game teams that want Git-synced continuous localization from a vendor contracting in the EU.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Git, Figma and CMS integrations at scale (700+ listed)
- Over-the-air updates for mobile apps
- ISO/IEC 27001 certified (vendor statement)
- Free licences for open source and academic projects
- Bring-your-own AI key or 40+ MT engines
Cons
- No self-hosting
- Processing may occur in the US and Ukraine as well as the EU
- Hosted-words pricing grows with each language
- Plan prices not visible without the calculator
Alternatives to Crowdin
Other European localization software worth comparing before you decide:
Phrase
Germany · Translation management for products that keep changing continuously
Weblate
Czech Republic · Open source localization platform tied to your repository
Tolgee
Czech Republic · Open source localization with in-context editing in your app
LingoHub
Austria · Austrian TMS with AI translation grounded in your glossary
See all European localization software or compare them directly against Smartling on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The contracting entity in the terms is Crowdin OÜ, a private limited company established under Estonian law with its principal place of business in Tallinn.
Its terms say services may be performed using facilities in the European Union, the United States and Ukraine, and that transfers outside the EEA are covered by appropriate safeguards.
It offers a 14-day Team trial, a 30-day Enterprise trial and free licences for open source and academic projects on request. Paid plan prices are shown through a calculator on the pricing page.