Ever needed to juggle big translation projects and keep track of glossaries, memories, formats? SDL Trados Studio does that for you. It’s the kind of tool many translation pros rely on daily.
Born from Trados GmbH and now part of RWS, SDL Trados has decades behind it. It’s widely known in the language tech world for its deep features and enterprise strength.
How SDL Trados Studio Works
You install the desktop tool on Windows. Then you upload source files, set up translation memory (TM) and terminology databases. You translate segments one by one. The tool suggests matches from TM.
It handles multiple formats (XML, HTML, XLIFF, Word, etc). You can integrate machine translation engines. The software even repairs fuzzy matches and auto-inserts tags to preserve formatting.
You can also use its AppStore to add plugins for subtitles, splitting files, number checks, etc.
Key Features & Capabilities
SDL Trados Studio is packed with features:
Translation Memory & segment matching to reuse past work.
Terminology support to keep brand or client terms consistent.
Fuzzy repair & tag automation, which helps preserve structure.
Plugin / AppStore ecosystem to extend functionality.
Project templates & workflow control for agencies or teams.
Comparison tools & analysis to see what’s new, changed, or needs review.
Pricing & Licensing
Here’s how SDL Trados’s pricing works:
For individual translators, the Studio Freelance subscription is about £40/month (monthly) or £35/month (annual).
They also offer Trados Go, a lighter browser-based tool, starting at £30/month.
For corporations, SDL offers:
- Trados Ignite from ~ €125/month
- Trados Team from ~ €900/month
- Trados Accelerate from ~ €1,800/month
- Trados Enterprise on custom pricing
Then there are the perpetual license models: e.g. “Freelance” for $915, “Freelance Plus” $1,110, “Professional” $3,435.
Pros
Deep feature set for professionals
Strong TM and terminology system
Extensible via plugins / AppStore
Good support for format preservation & tag automation
Cons
Steep learning curve for new users
Cost is high for small translators
Occasionally complex setup for teams
Windows only desktop (macOS needs workaround)
Final Thoughts
SDL Trados Studio is a powerhouse for translators and localization teams. It’s not casual it’s for people serious about quality, scale, and control.
If you work on large or recurring translation projects, want consistency, and need automation, this tool can pay itself off.
Just be ready to invest time learning it. Once you do, you’ll likely never go back to raw Word docs or manual workflows.
