A local alternative to Lokalise, Crowdin and BabelEdit

Online localization platforms bring developers, translators and managers together around a hosted project, with dozens of integrations. If you build apps alone or with one teammate, what you may need most is a good editor for your files, on your own machine.

In the app

Real LocalePilot screens, captured on a demo project.

LocalePilot export summary: the French ARB file ready with its three changes unfolded, the German file held back by a blocking issue, backups turned on.
Export: what will be written, file by file, before anything is written Open full-size image
LocalePilot glossary: brand names kept as is, French terms with forbidden alternatives, one term awaiting review, and the project's translation context.
Glossary: brand terms, forbidden translations, the project's context Open full-size image

Two kinds of tools

Lokalise and Crowdin are online platforms: the translation project lives on their servers, every participant has an account, and integrations (GitHub, GitLab…) sync strings with your repository. They also provide machine translation, translation memory and, at Lokalise, ordering professional translations.

BabelEdit and LocalePilot are desktop apps: you open your project files and edit them in place. BabelEdit covers many web frameworks and Flutter (JSON, YAML, ARB, XLIFF…). LocalePilot focuses on the files of mobile and web apps: ARB for Flutter, i18next JSON for React Native, Expo and the web, .strings and .xcstrings for Apple, plus the App Store listing.

Formats, features and prices change: check each tool's website before you choose (Lokalise, Crowdin, BabelEdit; descriptions checked on their websites on September 27, 2026).

When LocalePilot is the right fit

  • You ship a Flutter, iOS, React Native/Expo or web app and your files are ARB, i18next JSON, .strings or .xcstrings.
  • You don't want an account or a server: your files stay in your repository, on your machine.
  • You want placeholder QA (ICU, %@, %1$@…) before every export.
  • You translate with the AI you choose, free and local or cloud with your key.
  • You also want to translate your App Store listing in your fastlane files.

When an online platform fits better

  • Translators or an agency need to work in the same project as you.
  • You need continuous sync, roles and shared history.

LocalePilot has no cloud sync or team features. It is meant for the person who owns the files.

Frequently asked questions

Can LocalePilot open files exported from Lokalise or Crowdin?

Yes, as long as they are ARB, JSON, .strings or .xcstrings files: LocalePilot reads the files wherever they come from.

Can several people work together?

Not inside the app: there is no account and no sync. Your files stay in your repository, which you share with your usual tools (Git…).

How much does LocalePilot cost?

A free version covers one project up to 300 keys with local AI. Pro is a perpetual license with no subscription, covering every 1.x version and any major version released within 12 months of purchase; its price is on the pricing page.

Get notified at launch

LocalePilot is being finalized. Leave your email to hear when it launches.

  • macOS 12 or later · Ollama or LM Studio optional
  • App interface in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.