Platform Comparison

TypeGlot takes a fundamentally different approach to internationalization. While traditional platforms are powerful cloud services, TypeGlot is a developer-first, Git-native toolchain that keeps everything local.

Quick Comparison

Feature	TypeGlot	Lokalise	Crowdin	Phrase	Transifex	Weglot	Smartling
Type Safety	✅ Full TypeScript	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No
Git-Native	✅ Yes	⚠️ Via sync	⚠️ Via sync	⚠️ Via sync	⚠️ Via sync	❌ No	⚠️ Via sync
Local-First	✅ 100% local	❌ Cloud	❌ Cloud	❌ Cloud	❌ Cloud	❌ Cloud	❌ Cloud
AI Translation	✅ Your AI	✅ Built-in	✅ Built-in	✅ Built-in	✅ Built-in	✅ Built-in	✅ Built-in
Context Extraction	✅ JSDoc/TSDoc	⚠️ Manual	⚠️ Manual	⚠️ Limited	⚠️ Manual	❌ No	⚠️ Limited
VS Code Integration	✅ Native	⚠️ Extension	⚠️ Extension	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No
Pricing	✅ Free	💰 $120+/mo	💰 $50+/mo	💰 $19+/mo	💰 $99+/mo	💰 $29+/mo	💰 Enterprise
Translation Memory	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Collaboration UI	⚠️ Local only	✅ Web	✅ Web	✅ Web	✅ Web	✅ Web	✅ Web
Professional Services	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Workflow Management	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Integrations	⚠️ Growing	✅ 50+	✅ 500+	✅ 100+	✅ 60+	✅ 20+	✅ 40+

What TypeGlot Does Best

🔒 True Type Safety

TypeGlot is the only i18n solution that provides compile-time type safety. Every translation key becomes a fully-typed TypeScript function with autocomplete and parameter validation.

// Autocomplete shows all available translations
m.welcome({ name: string }); // ✅ Type-checked at compile time
m.items_count({ count: number }); // ✅ Pluralization rules included

📦 Zero Sync Anxiety

Your translations live in your Git repository. No cloud sync means:

• No subscription fees - it's just files in your repo
• No sync conflicts - Git is your source of truth
• No vendor lock-in - standard JSON and TypeScript files
• Works offline - no internet required for development

🤖 Context-Aware AI

TypeGlot uses the AI you already pay for (GitHub Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT) and gives it the context it needs:

/**
 * @desc Shown in the checkout flow when user clicks to finalize purchase.
 * Should be action-oriented and create urgency.
 */
const button = m.checkout_complete_purchase();

The JSDoc comment travels with the key, ensuring AI translators understand the exact context, tone, and usage.

💻 Developer Experience

Built by developers, for developers:

• Watch mode - instant recompilation on changes
• Local UI - manage translations without leaving your workflow
• VS Code integration - inline previews, quick fixes, AI translation in your editor
• CLI-first - automate everything in your CI/CD pipeline

What TypeGlot Doesn't Have (Yet)

We're honest about our limitations:

❌ Translation Memory

TypeGlot doesn't have built-in translation memory or glossaries. We rely on AI models which already have massive linguistic knowledge, but we don't persist learnings across projects.

Our take: For 90% of use cases, modern AI with good context beats traditional TM. For large enterprises with highly specialized terminology, established platforms may be better.

❌ Professional Translation Services

We don't offer human translation services or connect you with professional translators.

Alternative: Use TypeGlot for the technical infrastructure, and hire translators independently to review AI output. Export JSON, send to translators, import back.

❌ Non-Developer Collaboration

Our local UI is great, but it requires running a local server. Non-technical team members can't access a web portal to suggest translations.

Alternative: For small teams where developers handle translations, this is fine. For larger organizations, you might need a hybrid approach.

❌ Extensive Integrations

We don't integrate with Figma, Sketch, marketing automation tools, CMS platforms, etc.

Our take: We're focused on the developer experience. If you need deep integrations with business tools, traditional platforms are more mature.

❌ Advanced Workflow Management

No approval workflows, reviewer assignments, or translation project management features.

Alternative: Use GitHub's PR review system. Translations are code, so use code review workflows.

Who Should Use TypeGlot?

✅ Great Fit

• Startups & small teams - need i18n without monthly fees
• Open source projects - everything in Git, community-friendly
• TypeScript projects - want full type safety
• Developer-led teams - devs handle or oversee translations
• AI enthusiasts - already pay for GitHub Copilot or similar
• Privacy-conscious - no data sent to third-party platforms

⚠️ Maybe Not Ideal

• Large enterprises - need professional translation services and workflow management
• Marketing-heavy orgs - require extensive integrations with business tools
• Non-technical teams - translators need web-based collaboration portals
• Specialized domains - rely heavily on translation memory for technical jargon

The Bottom Line

TypeGlot isn't trying to replace enterprise translation platforms. We're building a better solution for developers who:

• Value type safety and developer experience
• Want to avoid subscription fees and vendor lock-in
• Trust modern AI over legacy translation memory
• Prefer Git-based workflows

If that's you, give TypeGlot a try →