XTM vs Smartling

Smartling is a cloud-based translation management platform that helps businesses centralize and automate their localisation workflows. It enables teams to manage multilingual content, collaborate with translators, and streamline translation for websites, apps, and marketing materials. 

Smartling is often used by companies looking to scale their translation efforts across digital channels. However, for enterprises that require more advanced AI functionality, granular workflow control, and integration flexibility, XTM provides a more powerful alternative. XTM supports multi-LLM translation, intelligent quality scoring, and compliance safeguards — features that go beyond Smartling’s core capabilities.

While both Smartling and LILT operate in the translation and localisation space, they cater to different use cases. 

LILT is designed for speed and simplicity, using adaptive machine translation to assist human translators in real time. It’s ideal for fast-turnaround content and teams that prioritize productivity. Smartling, by comparison, focuses on managing structured localisation workflows with a more traditional translation memory and review process. 

XTM offers a more comprehensive approach than both — combining the structured control of a TMS like Smartling with advanced AI features that continuously learn, score quality, and automate routing. For enterprises looking to scale intelligently and maintain brand consistency across regions, XTM offers the best of both worlds.

Smartling offers machine translation capabilities, but its approach is often tied to a single engine and focuses more on automation and integrations than on AI quality enhancement. XTM stands out by using multi-LLM intelligence — leveraging multiple large language models in parallel to compare outputs and select the best possible translation. Combined with Intelligent Score and contextual adaptation through SmartContext, XTM provides a smarter, more reliable AI translation system that improves over time.

Smartling automates certain aspects of localisation, such as string detection and file handling, but its workflows still rely heavily on manual routing and fixed stages. XTM, in contrast, uses AI-driven workflow automation that adapts dynamically based on content quality and complexity. High-confidence AI translations can bypass human review, while lower-confidence segments are automatically escalated — helping teams localize faster without compromising on quality or control.

Both platforms support enterprise needs, but XTM offers deeper flexibility, especially for global enterprises with complex content pipelines. XTM’s modular architecture, API-first design, and support for bring-your-own LLMs or MT engines make it highly customizable. Plus, features like Language Guard and AI key management give enterprises full control over compliance, security, and AI governance — capabilities not as deeply integrated in Smartling.

Smartling includes tools for translation memory and terminology management, which help maintain some brand consistency. XTM goes further with SmartContext, an AI system that understands context, tone, and brand-specific phrasing across all content types. By learning from your existing content and applying consistent voice and terminology, XTM helps enterprises achieve localisation that not only translates accurately — but also sounds like your brand in every language.