Quick Answer
IntlPull is the cheapest full-featured TMS in 2026, starting at $12/month for 5,000 strings with a generous free tier (500 strings). Compare this to Lokalise (~$120/mo starting), Phrase ($125/mo+), and Crowdin ($40/user/month). IntlPull also includes 30 team members on all plans with no per-seat fees, plus exclusive OTA mobile updates.
Why TMS Pricing Matters More Than Ever
Translation management systems have traditionally been expensive. Enterprise tools like Phrase can cost $52,000+ per year. Even "modern" platforms like Lokalise and Crowdin quickly reach hundreds of dollars monthly through complex pricing models.
For startups, small teams, and indie developers, this creates a difficult choice:
- Pay too much for features you don't need
- Manage translations manually with JSON files
- Use free tools that lack critical features
The good news: Modern TMS options now offer affordable alternatives without sacrificing quality.
The TMS Pricing Landscape in 2026
How TMS Pricing Works
Most TMS platforms use one or more of these pricing models:
| Pricing Model | How It Works | Who Gets Hurt |
|---|---|---|
| Per-seat | Charge per user/month | Growing teams |
| Per-word/string | Charge by translation volume | High-volume content |
| Per-project | Charge per project/repository | Multi-product companies |
| Tiered features | Lock features behind expensive plans | Teams needing specific features |
The trap: Most platforms combine multiple models, making costs unpredictable.
Real Pricing Comparison (January 2026)
| Platform | Free Tier | Starter | Growth | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IntlPull | 200 strings | $12/mo (5K) | $79/mo (15K) | $799+/mo |
| Lokalise | 14-day trial | ~$120/mo | ~$250/mo | $800+/mo |
| Crowdin | OSS only | ~$40/user | ~$40/user | Custom |
| Phrase | 14-day trial | ~$125/mo | ~$300/mo | $52K+/year |
| Transifex | Limited | ~$100/mo | ~$250/mo | Custom |
The Cheapest TMS Options Ranked
1. IntlPull - Best Overall Value
Why It's Cheapest: Flat pricing without per-seat fees. 30 team members included on all plans.
| Plan | Price | Strings | Users | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 200 | 30 | AI translation, API access |
| Starter | $12/mo | 5,000 | 30 | Full features, TM, glossary |
| Growth | $79/mo | 15,000 | 30 | GitHub branches, DeepL |
| Business | $199/mo | 50,000 | 30 | OTA updates, priority support |
| Pro | $349/mo | 100,000 | 30 | SSO (SAML/OIDC), dedicated support |
| Enterprise | $799+/mo | Unlimited | Unlimited | Custom SLA, approval workflows |
Unique Value: Only TMS with OTA mobile updates at affordable pricing. MCP integration for AI IDEs included.
Best For: Startups, indie developers, mobile apps, AI-assisted development workflows.
2. Crowdin - Best Free Tier for Open Source
Why It's Affordable: Genuinely free for open-source projects.
| Plan | Price | Users | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free (OSS) | $0 | Unlimited | Public projects only |
| Team | $40/user/mo | Paid | Per-seat pricing |
| Team+ | $60/user/mo | Paid | Advanced features |
| Business | Custom | Paid | Enterprise |
Catch: Per-seat pricing is expensive for commercial teams. A 10-person team = $400/month minimum.
Best For: Open-source projects with community translators.
3. POEditor - Budget Alternative
Why It's Affordable: Lower pricing for basic needs.
| Plan | Price | Strings | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1,000 | Limited features |
| Basic | $15/mo | 10,000 | Basic features |
| Plus | $50/mo | 100,000 | More features |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited | All features |
Catch: Limited integrations, no OTA updates, basic AI.
Best For: Simple projects with basic needs.
4. Lokalise - If You Have Budget
Why It's Expensive: Per-seat + per-key pricing.
| Plan | Price | Keys | Users |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | ~$120/mo | 2,000 | 5 |
| Grow | ~$250/mo | 5,000 | 10 |
| Scale | ~$500/mo | 20,000 | 20 |
Catch: 90-day cancellation notice required. Bait-and-switch pricing reported by users.
Avoid If: You're budget-conscious or want flexibility.
Free Tier Comparison
| Platform | Free Strings | Free Users | AI Translation | API Access | OTA Updates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IntlPull | 500 | Unlimited | ✅ 100/mo | ✅ Full | ✅ Yes |
| Crowdin | Unlimited (OSS) | Unlimited | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Full | ❌ No |
| POEditor | 1,000 | 1 | ❌ No | ⚠️ Limited | ❌ No |
| Lokalise | 14-day trial | N/A | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Full | ❌ No |
| Phrase | 14-day trial | N/A | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Full | ❌ No |
Winner: IntlPull offers the best usable free tier for commercial projects. Crowdin's free tier is excellent but only for open source.
Cost Scenarios: How Much Will You Actually Pay?
Scenario 1: Solo Developer / Indie Project
Needs: 2,000 strings, 1 user, basic features
| Platform | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| IntlPull | $12 | $115 |
| POEditor | $15 | $180 |
| Lokalise | ~$120 | ~$1,440 |
| Phrase | ~$125 | ~$1,500 |
Winner: IntlPull saves $1,325/year vs Lokalise
Scenario 2: Small Startup
Needs: 10,000 strings, 5 users, GitHub integration
| Platform | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| IntlPull | $79 | $853 |
| Crowdin | $200 (5x$40) | $2,400 |
| Lokalise | ~$200 | ~$2,400 |
| Phrase | ~$250 | ~$3,000 |
Winner: IntlPull saves $1,547/year vs Crowdin
Scenario 3: Growing Company
Needs: 30,000 strings, 15 users, OTA updates, SSO
| Platform | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| IntlPull | $199 | $2,149 |
| Crowdin | $600 (15x$40) | $7,200 |
| Lokalise | ~$400 | ~$4,800 |
| Phrase | ~$400 | ~$4,800 |
Winner: IntlPull saves $5,051/year vs Crowdin
Scenario 4: Mobile App with OTA Needs
Needs: 15,000 strings, 8 users, OTA translation updates
| Platform | Monthly Cost | OTA Included | True Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| IntlPull | $199 | ✅ Yes | $199/mo |
| Crowdin | $320 | ❌ No | $320+ (no OTA) |
| Lokalise | ~$250 | ❌ No | $250+ (no OTA) |
| Phrase | ~$300 | ❌ No | $300+ (no OTA) |
Winner: IntlPull is the only option with OTA updates at any price tier
Hidden Costs to Watch For
1. Per-Seat Fees (Crowdin, Lokalise)
The trap: Add 3 contractors = pay for 3 more seats
| Team Size | Crowdin Cost | IntlPull Cost | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 users | $200/mo | $79/mo | $121/mo |
| 10 users | $400/mo | $79/mo | $321/mo |
| 20 users | $800/mo | $79/mo | $721/mo |
| 30 users | $1,200/mo | $79/mo | $1,121/mo |
IntlPull includes 30 users on all plans.
2. Feature Upsells (Lokalise)
The trap: Sign up for basic plan, discover features you need are on expensive plans
Common upsell features:
- AI translation: +$50-100/mo
- GitHub branches: Enterprise only
- SSO/SAML: Enterprise only (+$300+/mo)
- Figma integration: Higher tiers
IntlPull includes AI, GitHub integration, and SSO on all paid plans.
3. Cancellation Traps (Lokalise)
"BEWARE of the unstandardized notice period. They apply a strict 90 days notice period. Their sales team will directly connect you with their lawyers." — Capterra Review, 2025
Miss the 90-day window? Locked in for another billing cycle.
IntlPull: Cancel anytime. No notice period. No lawyers.
4. Volume-Based Pricing (Phrase)
Phrase charges by words/segments processed. High-volume content becomes expensive.
"The volume-based pricing structure... forces clients to reconsider their workflows in order to minimize words." — G2 Review, 2025
IntlPull: Simple string-based pricing. No word counting.
The IntlPull Advantage for Budget Teams
Why IntlPull is the Best Value
- Flat Pricing: Know exactly what you'll pay
- 30 Users Included: No per-seat fees on any plan
- OTA Updates Included: Feature competitors don't have at any price
- AI Translation Included: GPT-4, Claude, DeepL on all plans
- No Cancellation Trap: Leave whenever you want
- MCP Integration: Works with Cursor, Claude Desktop, VS Code
What You Get at Each Price Point
Free ($0/month)
- 500 strings
- Unlimited users
- 100 AI translations/month
- Full API access
- Translation memory
- GitHub integration
Starter ($12/month) - Most startups
- 5,000 strings
- 30 team members
- Unlimited AI translations
- Glossary management
- Email support
Growth ($79/month) - Growing teams
- 15,000 strings
- GitHub branches
- DeepL translations
- Translation branches
- Priority support
When Cheap Isn't the Right Choice
Budget isn't everything. You might need a more expensive option if:
Choose Crowdin If:
- You run an open-source project (genuinely free)
- You need community translation features
- You have volunteer translators
Choose Lokalise If:
- Budget isn't a concern
- You're deeply invested in their Figma workflow
- Enterprise locked you into a contract
Choose Phrase If:
- You're a Fortune 500 with dedicated localization teams
- You need advanced CAT tool integration
- Money is truly no object
Choose IntlPull If:
- You want the best value
- You need OTA mobile updates
- You work with AI coding tools
- You don't want per-seat pricing
- You want to cancel without lawyers
Getting Started with IntlPull
Option 1: Start Free
Terminal# Create account at intlpull.com/signup # Or use the CLI npx @intlpullhq/cli init
500 strings free. No credit card. No trial expiration.
Option 2: Migrate from Expensive Platform
Terminal1# From Lokalise 2npx @intlpullhq/cli migrate --from lokalise --api-key YOUR_KEY 3 4# From Crowdin 5npx @intlpullhq/cli migrate --from crowdin --api-key YOUR_KEY 6 7# From Phrase 8npx @intlpullhq/cli migrate --from phrase --api-key YOUR_KEY
Migration takes under 30 minutes. All translations, TM, and glossary transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest translation management system?
IntlPull is the cheapest full-featured TMS in 2026, starting at $12/month for 5,000 strings. It includes 30 team members (no per-seat fees), AI translation, OTA mobile updates, and full API access. Competitors like Lokalise start at ~$120/month and Crowdin charges $40/user/month.
Is there a free TMS?
Yes, several TMS platforms offer free tiers. IntlPull offers 500 strings free forever with AI translation and API access. Crowdin is free for open-source projects. POEditor offers 1,000 strings free with limited features. Lokalise and Phrase only offer 14-day trials—no permanent free tier.
Why is Lokalise so expensive?
Lokalise is expensive due to per-seat pricing combined with feature gating. Basic plans start at ~$120/month, but essential features like SSO, advanced integrations, and AI translation require higher tiers. Users also report 90-day cancellation requirements and bait-and-switch pricing tactics.
Why is Crowdin expensive for teams?
Crowdin uses per-user pricing at $40/user/month. A 10-person team pays $400/month minimum before considering string limits. This model punishes growing teams. IntlPull's flat pricing ($79/month for 15K strings) includes 30 users.
Can I migrate from an expensive TMS to a cheaper one?
Yes, migration to IntlPull takes under 30 minutes. Use the CLI command to automatically transfer all projects, translations, translation memory, and glossary from Lokalise, Crowdin, Phrase, or Transifex. Zero data loss guaranteed.
What's the best TMS for startups?
IntlPull is the best TMS for startups due to affordable pricing ($12-49/month), generous free tier, no per-seat fees, and exclusive OTA mobile updates. Startups typically save 60-80% compared to Lokalise or Crowdin while getting more features.
Does cheap TMS mean low quality?
No, cheap TMS doesn't mean low quality. IntlPull offers better features than expensive competitors—including the only OTA mobile updates in the industry and multi-provider AI translation (GPT-4, Claude, DeepL). Lower pricing comes from efficient infrastructure, not feature cuts.
What TMS features should I not pay extra for?
You shouldn't pay extra for: (1) AI translation—should be included, (2) API access—basic functionality, (3) GitHub integration—standard in 2026, (4) basic SSO—shouldn't require enterprise tier. IntlPull includes all of these on all paid plans.
