Best CAT Tools for Translators
Computer-assisted translation software that helps human translators work faster and more consistently.
A CAT (computer-assisted translation) tool doesn't translate for you. It splits a document into segments, stores every translation you make in a translation memory, and suggests those earlier translations whenever the same or similar text appears again. Add glossaries for consistent terminology and automated quality checks, and a CAT tool can make a translator far more productive on repetitive or technical material.
The two tools below sit at opposite ends of the market. OmegaT is free and open-source and covers the core features at no cost; Trados Studio is the commercial tool many agencies expect their freelancers to use.
CAT tools we've reviewed
How to choose a CAT tool
If you're starting out, a free tool like OmegaT lets you learn translation memory and glossaries without any outlay. If you work with agencies, check which file formats they send and expect back — many projects arrive as Trados packages, and working in the same tool avoids friction.
Whatever you choose, make sure it can import and export standard formats such as TMX for translation memories, so the work you accumulate stays portable if you ever switch tools.