XTM vs Smartling

Why leading localisation teams switch from Smartling to XTM

XTM Cloud gives you full control over your localisation ecosystem—without vendor lock-in. Unlike Smartling, XTM is vendor-agnostic and modular, so you can scale with your preferred partners, tools, and workflows while reducing costs and increasing translation quality.

G2 Spring Summer 2025 Stacked ROI and Grid leader hero

 

Book your personalised demo

Book your personalised demo

Why feature-rich teams choose XTM for comprehensive localisation

Smartling covers the basics with website proxy translation and bundled services. XTM delivers comprehensive localisation management with advanced features that actually solve real business problems. Think translation memory that learns from your content, financial tools that track every penny, and connector integrations that automate your entire workflow. When you need features that scale with your business complexity, XTM provides the depth Smartling simply can't match.

 

Here are three reasons why
XTM's features win for localisation

descriptive icon - brain

Advanced translation memory and terminology management

XTM's concept-based translation memory uses AI-enhanced fuzzy matching to maximize content reuse and reduce costs. Smart Leverage technology identifies translation opportunities across projects. Smartling offers basic TM functionality without advanced reuse optimisation or cross-project leverage capabilities.

descriptive icon - management chart

Comprehensive financial and vendor management

Built-in purchase order generation, vendor billing, license sharing, and detailed ROI analytics give you complete control over localisation spending. Smartling's bundled service model limits vendor choice and provides minimal financial management features.

descriptive icon - integration stack

Extensive integration and automation capabilities

Over 40 pre-built connectors integrate with your existing tech stack, whilst advanced workflow automation handles complex business processes. Smartling focuses primarily on web proxy integration with limited connector options for enterprise systems.

What's the difference between XTM and Smartling's feature approach?

Both platforms handle translation management, but their feature philosophies are completely different. Smartling prioritizes simplicity with bundled services and proxy-based website translation. Clean interface, limited customisation, perfect for teams wanting everything handled by one vendor.

XTM takes on comprehensive localisation requirements with deep feature sets across every aspect of translation management. Financial controls, advanced workflows, extensive integrations - all designed for organisations that need granular control over their localisation programmes.

Here's how their feature sets compare for localisation

XTM
Smartling
Feature
Feature
Translation memory management
Translation memory management
Concept-based TM with AI-enhanced fuzzy matching
Basic translation memory with standard fuzzy matching
Advanced financial management
Advanced financial management
Workflow customisation
Workflow customisation
Drag-and-drop workflow designer with conditional logic
Simple linear workflows with limited customisation options
Integration and connectivity
Integration and connectivity
40+ pre-built connectors
Web proxy integration and basic CMS connectors
File format and content support
File format and content support
65+ file formats
Primarily web-focused file format support
Vendor and resource management
Vendor and resource management
Advanced quality assurance
Advanced quality assurance
Support for 65+ formats
Basic file formats
Security and compliance features
Security and compliance features
Take a product tour of XTM - leading localization software - CTA banner

XTM vs Smartling - Translation memory and terminology features

Translation memory and terminology management directly impact localisation costs and consistency. Advanced TM systems maximize content reuse whilst sophisticated terminology management ensures brand voice consistency across all languages and content types.

descriptive icon - list

How Smartling handles translation memory

Smartling provides basic translation memory functionality with standard fuzzy matching capabilities. The system stores previous translations and suggests matches for similar content, but lacks advanced features for maximizing reuse across different projects or content types. Limited terminology management with basic glossary functionality.

descriptive icon - growth

How XTM maximizes translation memory value

XTM's concept-based translation memory goes beyond simple text matching to understand content relationships and context. Smart Leverage technology identifies translation opportunities across projects, content types, and time periods to maximize reuse and minimize costs.

The platform's AI-enhanced fuzzy matching considers context, metadata, and content structure to suggest more accurate matches. Advanced batch operations allow TM maintenance and optimisation across large content volumes.

XTM's translation memory features include:

  • Concept-based TM with contextual understanding
  • Smart Leverage for cross-project reuse optimisation
  • AI-enhanced fuzzy matching with context awareness
  • Batch TM operations and maintenance tools
  • Advanced terminology management with concept relationships
XTM translation memory graphic

XTM vs Smartling - Financial management and cost control

Financial management helps organisations understand localisation spending, control costs, and demonstrate return on investment. Comprehensive financial features eliminate manual processes whilst providing visibility into vendor performance and project profitability.

descriptive icon - lock

How Smartling approaches financial management

Smartling operates primarily through bundled service pricing that combines platform access with translation services. This model simplifies vendor management but limits financial control and transparency. Organisations receive consolidated billing without detailed cost breakdowns or vendor management capabilities.

descriptive icon - financial management

How XTM delivers complete financial control

XTM includes comprehensive financial management directly within the translation workflow. The platform automatically generates purchase orders when vendors accept projects, tracks costs in real-time, and provides detailed analytics on localisation spending across all projects and languages.

Advanced reporting shows translation memory leverage impact on costs, vendor performance metrics, and ROI calculations that demonstrate localisation programme value. Budget controls prevent cost overruns whilst automated billing reduces administrative overhead.

XTM's financial management features include:

  • Automatic purchase order generation and vendor billing
  • Real-time cost tracking with budget controls and alerts
  • Translation memory leverage reporting showing cost savings
  • Vendor performance analytics and payment tracking
  • ROI dashboards with localisation programme value metrics
XTRF quote preview graphic showing the cost of a translation from German to English

XTM vs Smartling - Integration and connectivity options

Integration capabilities determine how well your translation management system fits into existing business processes. Comprehensive connector libraries and API capabilities eliminate manual content handling whilst ensuring seamless workflow automation.

descriptive icon - cursor

How Smartling handles integrations

Smartling focuses primarily on web proxy integration for website translation along with basic CMS connectors. The proxy approach automatically detects website content changes and initiates translation workflows, which works well for web-focused organisations but limits flexibility for complex content ecosystems.

descriptive icon - connection

How XTM connects everything together

XTM provides over 40 pre-built connectors covering major CMS platforms, marketing automation tools, ecommerce systems, and enterprise software. Advanced API capabilities enable custom integrations whilst webhook support provides real-time workflow automation.

The platform's connector framework supports complex content workflows including automated content detection, translation initiation, and publication back to source systems. Custom field mapping and metadata preservation ensure content integrity across system boundaries.

XTM's integration capabilities include:

  • 40+ pre-built connectors for major business systems
  • Advanced API framework for custom integrations
  • Webhook support for real-time workflow automation
  • Custom field mapping and metadata preservation
  • Automated content detection and publication workflows
Integration

XTM vs Smartling - Workflow customisation and automation

Workflow customisation determines how well your translation management system adapts to unique business processes. Advanced workflow capabilities accommodate complex approval chains, regulatory requirements, and multi-stakeholder coordination.

descriptive icon - checklist

How Smartling handles workflow customisation

Smartling provides simple workflow templates designed for web content translation. Standard approval stages work well for straightforward localisation processes but lack flexibility for complex enterprise requirements involving multiple review stages, regulatory approval, or non-linguistic workflow steps.

descriptive icon - workflow

How XTM adapts to your business processes

XTM's workflow designer allows organisations to create sophisticated automation matching their exact business requirements. Drag-and-drop interface enables custom approval chains, conditional routing based on content type or language, and integration with external approval systems.

Advanced workflow features include non-linguistic steps for legal review, marketing approval, and regulatory compliance. Automated task assignment based on content complexity, language expertise, and workload balancing ensures efficient resource utilisation.

XTM's workflow customisation features include:

  • Drag-and-drop workflow designer with conditional logic
  • Non-linguistic workflow steps for business process integration
  • Automated task routing based on content analysis and resource availability
  • Multi-stage approval chains with role-based permissions
  • External system integration for seamless business process flow
XTM intelligent workflow depicting the process of a translation job
Request pricing CTA

XTM vs Smartling - Security and compliance capabilities

Security and compliance features ensure localisation workflows meet industry regulations whilst protecting sensitive content. Advanced security controls provide audit trails, access management, and data protection for highly regulated organisations.

descriptive icon - shield

How Smartling handles security and compliance

Smartling provides standard SaaS security features including data encryption and basic access controls. The platform meets general security requirements but lacks advanced compliance features needed for highly regulated industries like healthcare, finance, or government sectors.

descriptive icon - shield

How XTM delivers enterprise-grade security

XTM's security framework includes ISO 27001 certification, comprehensive audit trails, and role-based access controls that meet strict regulatory requirements. Advanced data encryption, secure deployment options, and compliance reporting ensure protection for sensitive content.

The platform supports private cloud and on-premises deployment for organisations requiring data sovereignty. Detailed audit logs track every user action and content change whilst role-based permissions ensure appropriate access controls.

XTM's security and compliance features include:

  • ISO 27001 certification with comprehensive audit trails
  • Role-based access controls with granular permission management
  • Advanced data encryption and secure deployment options
  • Compliance reporting for regulated industries
  • Private cloud and on-premises deployment capabilities
Security shield icon with padlock and ISO 27001 certified badge, representing XTM’s commitment to data protection and compliance

Try XTM, the feature-rich alternative to Smartling's limitationsalternative

Go beyond basic proxy translation with XTM. Our enterprise-grade platform solves real business challenges—from advanced translation memory to full financial control.

Start your free trial or speak to our experts to see how XTM transforms localization while giving you the control and flexibility you need.

Activate your free trial
Book your demo

Smartling FAQs

What is Smartling used for?

Smartling is used to manage translations and automate content delivery in multiple languages.

Is Smartling a good company to work for?

Smartling is generally well-regarded and considered a good employer in the localisation space, though team experience may vary.

Who is the CEO of Smartling?

The current CEO of Smartling is Jack Welde, who has led the company since its inception.

What is the difference between Smartling and LILT?

LILT’s strength is in human-AI collaboration; Smartling leans more on structured workflows. XTM blends both with flexible AI-driven tools.

Double arrow - lemon

Your current TMS is holding you back.
XTM moves you forward.

Break free from rigid tools and see what modern localization looks like.

Switch to XTM now