Software localization services

SimulTrans provides software, web app, and mobile app localization services, including thorough testing, in 100+ languages.

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Complete user interface localization and testing

Whether they’re cloud-based or on-premise, software applications must be localized for international users. However, localizing software isn’t just about translating text.

Thanks to our expertise with a variety of resource file formats, we can parse text for translation and provide files you can immediately use, saving you from copying and pasting or manually importing text.

SimulTrans offers complete localization services for SaaS, desktop, and mobile applications, including:

Translating all interface strings and other user-facing text
Collaborating with developers to address details like line breaks and locale-specific text anomalies
Testing localized applications to ensure linguistic accuracy in context and catch internationalization bugs

Our in-house engineers understand all popular programming languages and file formats, including XLIFF, JSON, PO, XML, YAML, .resx, and many more.

Our large, skilled quality assurance team tests software in each target language to ensure all text appears correctly and is contextually accurate.

SimulTrans can connect our system to your file repository so we can quickly translate content whenever you make updates.

How it works

1.To begin the translation process, upload your files, receive a free quote, and approve it.
Pro tip: For ongoing translation needs, connectors to your file repository make the content transfer process even faster and easier.
2.SimulTrans’ project managers select the best subject-matter expert linguists for your software.
3.SimulTrans translates your content into your requested languages on your schedule.
4.SimulTrans’ reviewers check content for terminology accuracy and linguistic style.
5.SimulTrans incorporates the translations into their original source formats and checks the integrity of each file to ensure all code and keys surrounding translatable text remain intact.
6.Once you've received your files and compiled the application, SimulTrans starts the testing, reporting, and signing off process to ensure your localized software is ready for release.
7.When you need updates or have more content to translate, SimulTrans uses translation memory to ensure you don’t pay to translate the same text twice.

Your long-term partner for software translation services

SimulTrans is the preferred software localization partner of so many leading brands because we’re able to meet all translation needs as businesses grow and change.

Our experienced teams are always available to work with you to find the best solution for your needs. This flexible, hands-on attitude is why we’ve been able to achieve a 97% customer satisfaction rate in 2025 and remain a leader in the industry since 1984.

Benefits of partnering with SimulTrans:

There’s never an added cost to you for the tools and technology we use to translate your materials.
We’ll always suggest the most cost-effective solution for your needs.
Translation memory saves time and money by reducing unnecessary rework while maintaining consistency.
The SimulTracker portal keeps every project organized and improves collaboration between teams.
We connect our systems to yours to automate ongoing translation projects, accelerating work and reducing admin needs.

Featured Resource

Featured Resource

26-Point Software Localization Checklist

To localize software effectively, developers should consider internationalization challenges, provide context to translators, and thoroughly test localized versions. Use this checklist to prepare your software for the localization process.

Download

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Frequently asked questions

How much does software localization cost per language?

Costs vary by language and primarily correspond to the cost of living in the target countries. For example, translation into Simplified Chinese is approximately one-third the cost of translation into Swedish.

Key cost factors include:

Word count
Number of target languages
File format and engineering requirements
Localization testing scope
Turnaround time requirements

Get a free quote tailored to your project.

How long does software localization take?

Project timelines depend on word count, project complexity, and team size. Translators usually translate software at a rate of about 2,000 words per day, and our translators work simultaneously so the number of target languages won’t impact your timeline.

We can accommodate almost any timeline by scaling your translation team. A typical team has three translators and two reviewers per language, while some projects have over 100 translators per language!

If your project requires post-translation engineering builds and testing, please allow for additional time in the schedule.

What file formats do you support for software localization?

SimulTrans supports all major software resource file formats. We commonly receive strings as key-value pairs in:

Properties files, XML, JSON, YAML
iOS .strings and Android Strings XML
PO/POT files, XLIFF, RESX
PHP, JSP, ASPX, and JavaScript application files

As long as localizable values are consistently delimited, we can identify, extract, and return translated content in the original format, no manual copying or pasting required on your end.

Which character encoding should I use for software localization?

The goal is to support the full character set of all target languages from a single encoding standard. SimulTrans recommends Unicode.

UTF-8 is the most widely adopted choice for web and mobile applications
UTF-16 is common in platforms such as Windows and Java

Do you offer localization testing and linguistic QA for software interfaces?

Yes, once the software is recompiled in the target languages, we offer several types of localization testing:

Linguistic testing: Verifying the correct use of terminology in context.
User interface testing: Ensuring the software looks and behaves correctly from a user perspective, and that no controls are truncated.
Internationalization testing: Checking for the correctness of user input in various character sets and verifying the accurate display and processing of locale-specific information (including time and date formats, currency, numbers, and sorting).
Functionality testing: Checking for correct software operation using the test plans and scripts created to test your original source-language software.
Compatibility testing: Verifying the localized software works with target-language operating systems and localized supporting applications, such as browsers.

SimulTrans is able to complete these tests together as part of a single test pass.

How do you handle software localization for SaaS platforms with frequent updates?

At Simultrans, we operate as an extension of your development workflow, so new and updated strings move into translation the moment they're ready, and come back reviewed and approved before your release date, every time.

API and connector integrations pull new strings directly from your repository or CMS, so nothing waits in an email queue
Dedicated translation teams are already briefed on your product terminology, style guide, and tone, with no ramp-up time
Translation memory retains every previously approved string, so only new or changed content is translated, cutting both cost and time
AI-powered workflows are deployed across languages, meaning a six-language release takes no longer than a single-language one
A named account manager and project manager are available to triage urgent strings when a release date moves

What is the difference between translation and localization?

Translation is the process of converting written content from one language to another. A skilled translator takes your document, rewrites it in French, Spanish, or Japanese, preserving the original meaning as closely as possible. In other words, translation focuses on changing words from one language into another, meaning stays the same, and accuracy is the main goal.

Localization (commonly abbreviated as l10n) is the process of adapting your app for a specific locale, meaning language, region, and cultural context. It goes further than translation. It means your app looks, feels, and behaves natively for every user, regardless of where they are in the world.

What are the most common software localization issues?

The most frequent issues SimulTrans encounters — and resolves — include:

Hard-coded strings that developers have embedded in the source code and cannot be externalized for translation
Missing string IDs or inconsistent key naming that make it difficult to match translations back to the correct UI element
File formats incompatible with standard localization toolsets
Insufficient context provided to translators, leading to mistranslations of ambiguous UI labels
Text expansion causing truncation in fixed-width UI controls — particularly in German, Finnish, and other languages that run 20–30% longer than English

SimulTrans' localization engineers review source files before translation begins to flag and resolve these issues early, reducing costly rework later in the development cycle.

Do your software translators have subject matter expertise in my industry?

Yes. SimulTrans works exclusively with professional linguists who are native speakers of the target language and have a minimum of five years of specialized industry experience.

For software localization, our linguist network includes deep expertise in:

SaaS and enterprise software
Cybersecurity and network management
Fintech and financial services platforms
Medical device software and health IT
Developer tools and technical documentation

Translators are matched to your project based on both linguistic qualifications and domain expertise, ensuring accurate, context-appropriate terminology throughout.

How do I prepare my software files for localization?

The best preparation steps before sending files to SimulTrans are:

Externalize all UI strings into separate resource files — avoid hard-coded text in source code
Use Unicode (UTF-8) encoding throughout your application
Provide unique, descriptive IDs or keys for each string to give translators context
Include developer notes or screenshots where string meaning may be ambiguous
Allow 30–40% text expansion in UI layouts to accommodate languages longer than English
Run pseudo-localization testing to catch layout and encoding issues before translation begins

SimulTrans' engineering team can review your files before the project starts and flag any internationalization issues that would affect translation quality or delivery time.

We’re ready for your next translation or localization project.

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