Smartcat vs memoQ: Which is best in 2024?

Wondering whether Smartcat or memoQ is the best choice for translation management in your organization? The answer depends on whether you're an enterprise or a language services supplier (LSP).

This detailed comparison article on memoQ vs Smartcat translation tools will explain the difference between the two and show you why Smartcat is the best AI translation platform for global enterprises and government organizations.

Smartcat AI is an end-to-end translation platform. It combines AI-based automation technologies and wide-ranging compatibility with the option to outsource linguistic checks to expert reviewers without onboarding.

The Smartcat translation management system (TMS) connects businesses with AI translation workflows to create a continuous delivery loop without the need for translation companies. It integrates with your CMS to help you localize your text, audiovisual, and software-related content into multiple languages.

Smartcat is designed primarily for enterprises and other types of organizations that want to reduce costs by taking control of their localization processes. It’s suitable for any sector and is a particularly good choice for marketing, L&D, and software localization.

One of Smartcat’s stand-out features is that you can have unlimited users at all pricing levels. This makes it great for large or growing organizations.

The memoQ TMS combines the well-established memoQ computer-assisted translation (CAT) tool with project management capabilities. It’s a popular choice among language service suppliers (LSPs) because it has one of the most feature-rich CAT tools on the market.

It’s important to differentiate the memoQ TMS from memoQ Translator Pro. We’re looking specifically at the TMS, which is aimed at translation companies (memoQ Translator Pro is sold by individual license to translators). And while we’re getting things straight, don't confuse memoQ with Memsource (now rebranded as Phrase). The two are separate companies that have nothing to do with each other.

Below is a quick comparison of the core features of Smartcat and memoQ to help you determine which is the best translation software for your organization.

AI-powered translation uses large language models (LLMs) based on neural networks and proprietary algorithms to produce high-quality translations.

Both Smartcat and memoQ have their own AI translation tool. They also offer integrations to enable you to produce translations using the leading LLMs.

They also let their users create custom prompts to alter the AI outputs, taking into account factors like formality and length.

Smartcat's AI translation software selects the best algorithm for your language pair, learns from human edits, and produces better results over time. This is where Smartcat has the edge over memoQ.

Smartcat and memoQ have well-developed CAT tools that can support an extensive range of file formats, including files created by other CAT tools. You’ll have no problem translating most documents in either of them.

One feature that Smartcat offers is its advanced optical character recognition technology (OCR). This means it can recognize the text in scanned PDFs and images (including photos). You can then edit the source text and produce the translation all inside its CAT tool. memoQ also offers this feature but via a paid third-party plug-in.

One of the reasons why Smartcat is so popular for translating L&D and marketing content in enterprise is that its range of features extend far beyond those of a standard CAT tool.

If you need video translation, for instance, Smartcat can do an AI transcription of your video, produce burned-in subtitles, and even add AI dubbing. Another feature included in Smartcat is its genAI learning content creation tool. This handy feature can create learning courses, including pictures, videos, and quizzes from scratch based on your prompts.

memoQ, on the other hand, doesn’t offer these features, making it less than ideal for enterprises that need multilingual video or interactive content.

Using translation memories (TM) and glossaries has long been a key part of reducing cost, increasing speed, and ensuring consistency in translation. Now, with the advent of AI translation, they’re even more useful.

When you translate using AI in Smartcat or memoQ, both can harness the existing content in your translation memories and glossaries to produce a better translation first time around. This helps to ensure consistency (e.g., brand voice and terminology choices) and reduce human review time.

MemoQ is known for detailed functionality on the technical side of translation, which is one reason why LSPs like working with it.

Smartcat is more straightforward to use. Its TMs and glossaries offer all the functionality that most users need and more.

Smartcat has the edge in its user-friendliness and intuitiveness. If you’re not a translation project manager with extensive training in CAT tools, you’ll find Smartcat easier to learn and train your team to use.

See for yourself how easy it is to build a glossary in Smartcat in this quick create a glossary demo.

Smartcat and MemoQ both enable teamwork. They both work in real time and let users share translation memories and glossaries. This allows multiple people to work on the same project simultaneously, with live updates, progress tracking, and version control.

memoQ is purely a translation platform. So, the company doesn’t have a translation agency or give you the option to source reviewers.

Here, Smartcat is worlds apart from memoQ. With Smartcat, you get access to a procurement platform called the Smartcat Marketplace, which is home to numerous freelance reviewers working across multiple language combinations.

Not only that, but Smartcat has the first AI-matching algorithm in the industry to help you find the perfect reviewer for your project. Just set your desired skills, topic, and budget and connect with top-notch reviewers in seconds.

Smartcat is an all-in-one platform that connects businesses with translation professionals, facilitating collaboration and continuous translation delivery among a diverse network of experts. Through Smartcat, you can cut out intermediaries and work directly with vendors. A single contract and payment through the platform will lower costs and eliminate onboarding.

Smartcat and memoQ each offer their own project management features to help you improve your localization workflow.

These include task assignment, deadline setting, and progress tracking. Project managers can assign specific roles, monitor progress, and set priorities. Both platforms offer detailed reporting options that let you assess productivity and the quality of AI output.

Smartcat’s workflows are driven by AI. This gives Smartcat the edge over memoQ because it helps project managers automate more tasks to work faster and more efficiently. If its AI detects any problems related to quality, timings, or price, you can let the system intervene and reassign reviewers.

When it comes to user experience, Smartcat is known for its clean and intuitive interface. memoQ, on the other hand, struggles with a dated UI design and steep learning curve. The images below say it all.

Experienced CAT users will still take a few hours to learn how to use memoQ. And even after that, the lack of intuitiveness means you’ll probably need to refer back to the training materials multiple times.

Enterprises choosing memoQ should expect all their users to need several hours of training to be able to understand how to use it. Top-up training may be necessary.

The Smartcat dashboard is the complete opposite. Users can quickly learn how to navigate and use it. The G2 reviews say it all: Smartcat has 9.6 for ease of set-up compared with 7.8 for memoQ. As far as ease of use is concerned, Smartcat scores 9.3 while memoQ has 8.4.

Smartcat offers a wider range of integrations than memoQ.

memoQ focusses on the needs of translators and translation agencies. It has excellent support for the different online translation engines and supports CMS platforms and some API integrations for automation. However the developers of this tool are less concerned with external market integration, which means fewer integrations of this type are available.

Smartcat also supports API connections for custom workflows. But unlike memoQ, Smartcat has integrations that let you automate workflows between your different tech stacks, such as your marketing stack, and its CAT tool.

Smartcat has more integrations to improve your workflow when it comes to software localization, mobile translation, and eCommerce translation. Check out all the Smartcat integrations available to you.

Smartcat and memoQ are both known to offer good customer service and multilingual support.

Both have a responsive customer support team to help you with inquiries and technical support needs. They also both have a help center with step-by-step guides and extensive documentation.

One difference lies in the training resources:

Smartcat offers an up-to-date set of free courses through the Smartcat Academy. memoQ offers a range of free and paid courses to help you learn how to use its software and manage projects with it.

The complexity of using memoQ is reflected in the time it takes to complete its courses. Its content is useful for people looking for a career in project management in the language industry, but much more than the average corporate user needs.

Smartcat pricing is based on simple plans that include a 14-day free trial, a small-team option, and a customizable enterprise option.

It has a consumption-based subscription model based on how much you translate and whether you use its marketplace. There are also efficient and cost-effective integration development options.

memoQ also works with pricing tiers, which primarily depend on how many project managers you have and how much storage you need.

Smartcat offers an unlimited seat model at all price levels. This is much more flexible than memoQ, which gives you five user licenses with every one project manager license. So, with Smartcat, you have unlimited use cases and access rights, which means you can involve as many people as you want to make your localization project a success.

Without a doubt, Smartcat is the best choice for enterprises and other types of organizations. Its unlimited number of user seats, intuitive interface, and versatile integrations make it ideal for software, marketing, and eLearning localization.

This, combined with its reviewer marketplace and the ability to translate, subtitle, and dub audiovisual content, makes Smartcat a comprehensive solution that businesses can use in-house to control their localization processes.

MemoQ is best for language service suppliers that manage their own teams to serve end clients. These users have the right expertise and need to be able to take full advantage of its features.

Still unsure whether you need Smartcat or memoQ? Here’s a quick reminder of the main advantages Smartcat offers over memoQ:

• AI translation uses your memories and glossaries to learn and get even better over time (+95% accuracy on the first attempt).

• Unlimited seats in the pricing model means you get unlimited use cases.

• Easy to learn and use.

• Marketplace with AI reviewer sourcing and project monitoring for fast, top-quality human review.

• Vendor procurement without onboarding (Smartcat contracts vendors and pays them).

• Translates texts in images with advanced OCR recognition.

• End-to-end video transcription and subtitling with AI voiceover.

• AI learning content generation.

• Numerous integrations for your tech stacks.

• Excellent customer support and training resources.