What is Crowdin?
Crowdin is a translation management system that started with software localization but now handles all content types. It comes in two versions, both supported by BeLazy: Crowdin.com for smaller operations and Crowdin Enterprise for larger teams with complex workflows. From an integration perspective, Crowdin serves three distinct purposes:
- A translation management system
Like other translation management systems, it has translation and project management capabilities where clients can send you tasks or you can set them up.
- A content management system middleware
This is Crowdin’s real strength: 600+ integrations with 200+ content management systems, ready to use and optimized for translation workflows. These integrations extract content while preserving structure, metadata, and formatting—something that would otherwise require custom development.
- An AI translation powerhouse
Crowdin has invested heavily in AI-driven processes with a key difference: it’s not a black box. You get control and customizability over AI translations, quality thresholds, and post-editing workflows. While BeLazy enables you to use iPaaS solutions with any translation management system, Crowdin offers built-in AI capabilities if you need them.
Many BeLazy users have started using Crowdin specifically for its content management system integrations, not as their primary translation management system.
What is BeLazy?
BeLazy is a translation centralization platform that, among other things, connects translation management systems with business management systems. It excels at:
- Creating and grouping translation tasks.
- Sending them to the appropriate business management systems (including XTRF, Plunet, Protemos) and/or other translation management systems.
- Working with XLIFF files, downloading the source content and returning the translated content seamlessly.
- Automating delivery rules and vendor assignments.
Think of BeLazy as the logistics layer of your localization workflow. It adds business management functionality, workflow and supply chain flexibility and project management monitoring beyond the capabilities of translation management systems.
What are the main differences between Crowdin and BeLazy?
| Crowdin | BeLazy | |
|---|---|---|
|
Core Function |
Processes translations with strong content management system and AI connectivity |
Connects and harmonizes multiple localization tools, enabling comprehensive translation business management and vendor management
|
|
Integration philosophy |
All-in-one platform with optional external connections |
Tool-agnostic orchestration layer to centralize all projects in one platform |
|
Automation approach
|
Template-based within Crowdin ecosystem
|
Rule-based using project metadata across various systems
|
|
Vendor management |
Manages Crowdin-specific user assignments |
Centralizes vendors across all connected systems |
|
Reporting |
Crowdin-specific metrics and progress tracking |
Unified analytics across all tools
|
|
Setup requirements |
Simple setup. Most integrations only need API-based or user-based authentication |
Simple setup. Most system connections – including Crowdin – don’t require any setup changes or discussion with customers
|
In which cases is Crowdin a better option than BeLazy only?
Choose Crowdin as a standalone tool when:
- All your content can exist in one single translation management system.
- You don’t have a need for a business management system or environment.
- All your translators are willing and ready to work within the Crowdin environment.
- You’re interested in investing in one of the few translation management systems researching AI natively.
In which cases is BeLazy a better option than Crowdin only?
Choose BeLazy with Crowdin if:
- You use more than just Crowdin in your organization for translation management.
- You use a business management system such as Plunet or XTRF.
- You want to translate Crowdin content in other tools such as Phrase or memoQ.
BeLazy does not replace the functionality of Crowdin, it expands and adds it to your centralization hub.Thus if you are already using Crowdin, plug it into BeLazy for more capabilities around interoperability and business management, or if you need to harmonize multiple tools in the organization. If you are already using BeLazy, consider Crowdin for its cost-efficient content connectors and AI automation capabilities.
What are the top 3 use cases of using Crowdin with BeLazy?
Since BeLazy connects all your localization tools, adding Crowdin extends your capabilities in three key scenarios:
Scenario 1: You need CMS integrations beyond iLangL
If your client uses a CMS (Content Management System) not directly supported by iLangL or BeLazy, Crowdin’s integration often fills that gap, automatically pulling content from any Crowdin-supported CMS, including WordPress, Paligo, Kontent.ai, Pimcore, Webflow, Storyblok, Figma, etc. BeLazy orchestrates and automates the entire workflow over multiple systems, pulling content through Crowdin’s connector while maintaining your existing project management in Plunet, XTRF, Protemos, or your preferred BMS.
Scenario 2: You manage projects across multiple tools
When you receive tasks directly in Crowdin from clients but need to:
- Track them in your BMS or in a spreadsheet for invoicing and purchase orders
- Assign them to vendors based on data that is not in Crowdin
- Generate consolidated reports across all your translation management systems
BeLazy automatically creates corresponding projects in your business management system, syncs vendor assignments and task completion information, and centralizes reporting data.
[highlight] With BeLazyyou can control Crowdin from the business management system or seamlessly synchronize what is happening in Crowdin any other system, without any human intervention.
Scenario 3: You want Crowdin's integrations but different CAT tools
- Extract via Crowdin → Process in Trados/memoQ → Deliver via Crowdin
- Use Crowdin for specific content types while maintaining other translation management systems for different clients
- Leverage Crowdin’s AI features for first-pass translation, then refine in specialized CAT tools
Crowdin pricing
Crowdin uses a hosted words model: source words multiplied by target languages. For example:
- 10,000 source words translated into 5 languages = 50,000 hosted words
Pricing tiers:
- Pro (from €46/month): Includes 2 integrations, suitable for focused use cases
- Team+ (from €410/month): Unlimited integrations, advanced workflows
Some content management system integrations may carry additional monthly fees, typically €50-150 depending on the platform.
This model works well with BeLazy since you only pay Crowdin for active content while BeLazy charges per project, regardless of volume. This combination often reduces total costs compared to traditional per-word translation management system pricing, especially for high-volume continuous localization.
Crowdin alternatives
When you need CMS connectivity beyond Crowdin’s integrations, you have several options:
Specialist CMS middleware
Systems such as iLangL or Wordbee Beebox allow excellent integrations installed directly as an extension to the CMS in question. The number of these integrations is limited, though, and may not cover the system you are looking for, or the fact that installation and configuration is needed may make the integration difficult to achieve due to the unwillingness or the lack of resources of the CMS team.
TMS-native connectors
Most enterprise translation management systems offer CMS connectors that work perfectly well with BeLazy. However, these typically come with significant costs—often a high upfront development fee plus monthly maintenance charges. You might pay thousands upfront plus hundreds monthly for a single WordPress connector. If you need multiple CMS integrations, costs multiply quickly. Crowdin’s model—where 200+ integrations are included in your plan—often proves to be faster and economical.
Direct CMS translation plugins
Many CMS platforms have marketplace plugins that connect directly to Google Translate or specific LSPs. While these seem convenient, they bypass your established workflows entirely—no TM leverage, no quality control, no vendor management. They’re built for small websites, not enterprise localization programs.
iPaaS orchestration platforms
For simple integrations—extracting articles from Zendesk or basic content from Shopify—iPaaS platforms work well. But complex CMSes quickly expose their limitations. Try handling HubSpot’s multi-object relationships, Salesforce Knowledge’s categorization hierarchies, or Adobe Experience Manager’s experience fragments through generic automation tools, and you’ll discover why purpose-built connectors exist. iPaaS excels at simple workflows but struggles with the nuanced content structures of enterprise platforms.
Traditional custom development
Building and maintaining custom CMS integrations requires dedicated developers who understand both localization workflows and each platform’s specific APIs. Beyond initial development costs, you face ongoing maintenance as APIs evolve, authentication methods change, and new content types emerge. Most organizations underestimate the total cost of ownership—it’s not just building the connector, but keeping it reliable as both systems evolve.
Why Crowdin + BeLazy is the optimal approach:
- Breadth without breaking the bank: Access 200+ integrations for less than maintaining 2-3 custom ones
- Complexity handled: Crowdin’s connectors understand each platform’s quirks
No vendor lock-in: Use Crowdin’s connectors while processing in your preferred translation management system via BeLazy - Maintained by specialists: When a CMS updates its API, Crowdin updates the connector—not your problem
- Proven at scale: These connectors handle millions of words daily across thousands of organizations
The key insight: you don’t need to become a Crowdin user to benefit from their integration library. Through BeLazy, you can leverage their CMS connectivity while maintaining your existing TMS and vendor relationships. This gives you enterprise-grade CMS coverage without the enterprise-grade development costs. And we all know that not all connectors are made equal. However, it is hard to know the differentiators upfront – they surface when you start using the system. It is a good idea to start experimenting with Crowdin, even if you are not happy with one of their connectors, you will quickly understand what you are looking for.
