7 App Localization Tools To Help You Reach New Markets

It is a proven fact. If you go to a foreign country and want to endear yourself to the locals you learn a few key phrases of the local language. Remember all the “Ni-Hao’s” from Hollywood stars who visit China?  The “Namasteys” when they visit India? Apps too can encourage adaptability and familiarity by going local. Localization helps you get more downloads and revenue. Worldwide mobile app revenues will rise from $51 billion in 2016 to $101 billion in 2020. If you want a share from this global pie you need to target more markets. Over the years many app publishers have localized their apps for new markets and gained impressive ROIs. Let’s look at a few app localization tools that can help an app go local.

Top App Localization Tools 2021

1. OneSky

OneSky is a cloud-based localization and translation management platform. You can easily localize apps, games websites, and content on the App store with the help of OneSky. OneSky cloud platform ensures consistent and quality service with the help of its intuitive features which streamlines the workflow. It has features like automatic notifications, activity monitoring, drag and drop interface, multiple format support, project time tracking, purchase order management, and more. Once an order is placed by the client, OneSky assigns translators or translators depending upon the project and the assigned translators then directly contact the client through the platform. The client can then track his project and answer any questions the translators may have, related to the project.

OneSky has

• The cloud-based localization management platform
• SDK for tagging and capturing app content for translation
• Professional translation service for 40+ languages
• Crowdsource solutions with the help of your users
• iTunes and Google Play integration

2. Smartling

Smartling is an enterprise translation management platform. Your app can reach every major user group in different countries with the help of its localization services. Smartling’s Global Fluency Platform is automated but it offers the facility of human translators too.

Smartling’s enterprise-grade API  collects your strings, submits them for translation, and returns the translated strings directly to you, automatically. Smartling’s customizable workflow can adapt to the type of translation you prefer, be it machine translation, freelancers, crowdsourced, or Smartling’s team.

You can integrate Smartling into your analytics tool to get a good understanding of the elements which are working for you in the localization process. You can also customize your own glossary and style guide to help the translators with the help of the platform. Its localization tool natively supports all the standard file formats, including Apple iOS strings, Android XML, and XLIFF.

Some of Smartling’s features are

• Automatic Workflow
• In-Context View
• Translation File Organization
• Pattern Matching
• Glossary and Style Guide
• Cost-saving Translation Memory
• Analytics Integration
• Localized Images
• Translation Review Interface

3. Transifex

Transifex is a cloud-based platform. It helps in bringing online editors, translators, reviewers, marketers,s and other agencies -all the collaborators, together in one place. To localize your app, push your content with the help of your API onto the platform. Its translation management system sees that the translations are done optimally and then the files are pulled into your repositories.

You can then use the translations in your apps. Transifex facilitates continuous integration. You can integrate Transifex with your development tools and systems with the help of its REST API. This would help localize every app release or update.

Some of its features are

• Translation Management
• Smart Notifications
• Multiple translation channels
• In-context translations
• Role-based access
• Translation Memory
• Parallel Working
• Auto-detection of strings
• Discussion forums
• Real-time collaboration

4. Applingua

Applingua started in December 2010 and today it is a leading app localization service. It offers translation across Web, iOS, OS X, and Android systems. It can easily localize a game app for you too. You need to send the Applingua game strings in any format and they will be translated skillfully with the help of native human translators.

You can then send a build for testing. Applingua supports almost all languages. They localize app store descriptions and other metadata too. They can help you use metadata localization as a strategy to find out the markets which respond to your app.

Features that set Applingua apart are:

• Applingua’s team of experienced, native translators
• In-Context testing of translation
• Quality Game Localization service
• Metadata Localization market -testing strategy
• On-device QA testing
• Dedicated Project Manager

5. PhraseApp

PhraseApp is an online localization and internationalization management platform. It helps with the translation of Apps content into any language you want. PhraseApp platform is integrated with Gengo API which makes it faster and more efficient. The clients can easily log in and order professional translations into 36+ languages. The jobs are instantly sent to the 8,000 strong pre-tested PhraseApp’s translator team.

The PhraseApp Context View feature enables the translators to see where their translated text would be placed. It also enables the clients to review translations and leave comments. The platform supports many popular localization file formats such as Po, Yaml, resx, txt, .html, .properties, .docx, .xlsx and more.

Some of PhraseApp’s important features are

• Extensive Permission Management
• Right-to-left support
• UTF-8 support
• Slack Integration
• GitHub Sync
• Placeholder Detection and Validation
• In-Context Editor
• Style Guide
• Professional Translations

6. Tethras

Tethras is a cloud-based platform for localization management. It helps you streamline your workflow, localize and maintain apps across multiple platforms in more than 50 languages. Tethras integrates its translation service into app development workflow seamlessly.

It provides extensive support for files of different formats like .strings, .xliff, .po, .xml, .resx, .txt, .html, .plist, .js, .markdown, .json, .rrc and more. Tethras ensures that OS, genre, and organization-specific glossary is applied to the key terms for quality and consistency.

Some of Tethras’s key features are

• Localizes Android, iOS, Mac OS, and Windows Phone Apps
• End-to-end Project Management
• Easy to update ongoing projects
• Sanity checks on content
• Quality translators
• Free translation memory
• Flexible pricing

7. Localize Direct

LocDirect is the localization platform of Localize Direct. LocDirect streamlines the processes and makes them shorter and simpler. It helps you collaborate easily with your development team and translators, shortens your time-to-market period, and enables you to sim-ship in multiple languages.

LocDirect makes localization a seamless part of app development. No need to do it in batches after the development. QA team can correct errors as they find them. No need to manually import and export each translation. LocDirect enables you to reach the markets faster with fewer efforts.

Some of its key features are

• Create and edit strings inside the platform
• Change strings at the source
• Sim-ship in multiple languages
• Version control per string
• Create custom exports in the existing format
• High-quality app translations
• Flexible contracts to suit all business sizes

Wrap Up

All of the tools, platforms, and services mentioned above can help you localize your app in the major languages. If you want to localize your app in a particular language you could consult a few service providers, read about the different localization tools, test their platforms if you can, go through their portfolio, and then zero in on the one you want to give your app localization business to.

If you want to be a part of the global app economy you need to localize your apps. In every country, most of the apps that make it into the top 20 apps list are localized. If you have an interesting app that is doing well in one market you should definitely try to localize it for few other markets. Who knows post localization your app may get popular and figure in the top 20 lists of new markets, raking in the big moolah for you.