Posted on October 8, 2025 by DForD Software
Let's be honest, the number one reason most companies don't translate their software into more languages is the cost. Traditional localization, with its expensive agencies and slow, manual processes, can be a major budget-killer. But what if you could slash those costs without sacrificing quality? Thanks to Large Language Models (LLMs), that's not just a pipe dream anymore. Here are five practical ways you can use AI to make your localization process dramatically more affordable.
This is the single most effective way to cut costs. Instead of paying a human translator to translate every single word from scratch, use an LLM to do the initial "first pass." The AI can generate a high-quality draft translation in seconds, for a fraction of the cost. This leaves your human expert to do what they do best: review and perfect the AI's work, rather than starting from a blank page.
The smartest and most cost-effective localization strategy isn't about replacing humans with AI; it's about creating a dream team. Let the LLM handle the bulk of the work, and then bring in a human reviewer to do a final "post-edit." This "human-in-the-loop" approach gives you the best of both worlds: the incredible speed and low cost of AI, plus the nuance and quality assurance of a human expert. You're paying for a quick review, not a full translation, and the savings are huge.
"The secret to cost-effective localization is to let the AI do the heavy lifting and let your human experts do the smart lifting."
Your software probably has a lot of repeated phrases or sentences. You shouldn't be paying to translate them over and over again. By using a Translation Memory (TM) system alongside your LLM, you can store all of your previously approved translations. The next time the same string appears, the TM can fill it in automatically, for free. The LLM only needs to translate the new stuff. This is a simple change that can lead to massive savings over time.
Not all LLMs are created equal, and neither are their price tags. The cost of using an AI can vary wildly from one provider to another. Do your homework. Some providers offer generous free tiers or pay-as-you-go plans that are perfect for smaller projects. For bigger jobs, you might find that a subscription model is more cost-effective. And if you really want to control your costs, you can even look into hosting your own open-source LLM.
The more re-work you have to do, the more money you're wasting. The key is to help the AI produce the most accurate translation possible on the very first try. How do you do that? You give it context. By providing things like screenshots, developer notes, and a glossary of your key terms, you can dramatically improve the quality of the AI's first draft. That means less time and money spent on editing, and a faster path to a finished product.
By weaving these AI-powered strategies into your localization workflow, you can transform it from a major cost center into a lean, mean, and affordable part of your development process. It's all about working smarter, not harder, and letting the powerful combination of human and machine intelligence do the work for you.
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