Those in the translation industry have heard the term “CAT tool” or “CAT tool” at least once. So what is a CAT tool? Why is it used? We have examined this concept, which is a gift of rapidly developing technology to the translation industry, for you.
What is CAT Tool?
CAT (Computer-Assisted Translation) tools are a type of software that is frequently used in the translation industry and aims to speed up the translation process and preserve semantic integrity. Turkish language "Computer Aided TranslationThis type of software, which can be transferred as ", ensures both the rapid completion of the project and the preservation of the integrity of meaning in the project by keeping the sentences or phrases that the translator has previously translated in the translation memory and recommending these records to the translator in the next suitable matches or transferring them directly to the target text. Although the most popular CAT tools are generally software that can be installed directly on the computer and store the data in the physical storage unit of the computer, cloud-based CAT tools have also gained popularity with the development of cloud technology in recent years. In this article, we have brought together the 5 best CAT tools on the market and listed them with their pros and cons:
1. SDL Trados Studio
Trados Studio is a computer-aided translation software package that is the successor to the older Translators Workbench, originally developed by the German company Trados GmbH. With the acquisition of Trados by SDL plc in 2005, it was renamed SDL Trados Studio. SDL Trados Studio, known as the oldest CAT tool in the translation industry, has improved itself over time and has managed to maintain its "first" advantage in the market thanks to the plug-in support and cloud-based translation functions it offers. Although it is one of the most popular software, it is difficult to say that it is the most “user-friendly” software available compared to its competitors.
2. MemoQ
MemoQ, developed by the Hungarian company Kilgray as a rival to SDL Trados Studio, appears with a simple and understandable interface compared to its competitors. Thanks to its easily manageable translation and term memory, it allows you to easily manage large projects as well as small ones. It also allows you to benefit from the benefits of cloud technology under the name MemoQ Server. MemoQ is currently SDL Trados Studio's biggest competitor in the market. Although successful, due to exchange rates, most translation office are largely turning to free alternatives.
3.Matecat
Matecat, developed by an Italian localization company and published as open source, is one of the best free cloud-based translation tools. Matecat, which is free to use, stands out with its simple interface and the convenience it provides in multiple projects. Although being cloud-based and free brings with it some disadvantages in terms of TM and glossary management, we can easily say that it is currently the most popular cloud-based CAT tool on the market. With Matecat, you can manage your small and medium-sized translation projects with peace of mind. Matecat is a candidate to be the best CAT tool thanks to the flexible project management options it provides.
4.Smartcat
Smartcat, another cloud-based CAT tool, attracts attention with the simple interface it offers to translators. Additionally, with Smartcat, which has a built-in payment system and freelancer pool, you can easily carry out small-scale translations and get involved in translation projects if you are working as a freelancer. With these functions, it may be the best CAT tool in its cloud-based class. Unfortunately, this paid software imposes a 10,000 word limit per month for its free version, but it is worth a try for individual translators.
5.Memsource
Memsource has a module that you can use both offline with the desktop application and web-based. If this module is active in the project, you can perform the translation assigned to you on the desktop in an environment without internet. At the same time, with this feature, you can quickly focus on your translation without internet connection problems and web interface hangups.
In this article, we introduced you to the best CAT tools on the market. Since the area of use and purpose of each vehicle is different, it is always best to choose the CAT vehicle according to the current project.
