App Localization Cost in 2025: Complete Pricing Guide
How much does it cost to localize your mobile app? The answer ranges from $0 to $50,000+ depending on your approach, app complexity, and number of languages.
This guide breaks down every cost factor so you can budget accurately.
Quick Cost Overview
| Approach | Cost per Language | Time | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Translation | $0-50 | Hours | Good |
| Freelance Translator | $200-2,000 | Days | Great |
| Agency Translation | $2,000-10,000 | Weeks | Excellent |
| In-house Team | $5,000+/month | Ongoing | Variable |
Factors That Affect Localization Cost
1. Word Count
Most translators charge per word:
| Translation Type | Cost per Word |
|---|---|
| AI/Machine | $0.00-0.02 |
| Crowdsource | $0.02-0.05 |
| Freelance | $0.05-0.15 |
| Professional | $0.10-0.25 |
| Specialized | $0.20-0.50 |
Example: A 5,000-word app:
- AI: $0-100
- Freelance: $250-750
- Agency: $500-1,250
2. Number of Languages
More languages = more cost, but not linear. You get efficiencies:
| Languages | Typical Discount |
|---|---|
| 1-3 | None |
| 4-10 | 10-15% |
| 11-20 | 15-25% |
| 20+ | 25-40% |
3. App Complexity
| App Type | Strings | Estimated Cost (10 languages) |
|---|---|---|
| Simple utility | 100-300 | $500-2,000 |
| Standard app | 500-1,000 | $2,000-8,000 |
| Complex app | 1,000-3,000 | $5,000-20,000 |
| Enterprise | 3,000-10,000 | $15,000-50,000+ |
4. Content Type
Some content costs more:
| Content Type | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| UI strings | 1x |
| Marketing copy | 1.5-2x |
| Legal content | 2-3x |
| Technical docs | 1.5x |
Hidden Costs to Budget For
Development Costs
| Task | Developer Hours | Cost ($100/hr) |
|---|---|---|
| i18n setup | 4-8 hours | $400-800 |
| RTL support | 8-24 hours | $800-2,400 |
| Testing per language | 2-4 hours | $200-400 |
| Ongoing maintenance | 2 hours/month | $200/month |
Platform/Tool Costs
| Tool | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| FlutterLocalisation | Free - $99 |
| Lokalise | $120+ |
| Phrase | $25+ |
| POEditor | $14.99+ |
App Store Localization
| Asset | Languages | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Screenshots (design) | 10 | $500-2,000 |
| Description translation | 10 | $200-500 |
| Keywords research | 10 | $300-1,000 |
Cost Comparison: Real Examples
Example 1: Indie Developer (5 Languages)
App: Fitness tracker, 400 strings
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| FlutterLocalisation (AI) | $9/month |
| AI translation | Included |
| Human review (critical) | $150 |
| Dev time (10 hours) | $1,000 |
| Total Year 1 | $1,258 |
Example 2: Startup (10 Languages)
App: E-commerce, 1,200 strings
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Translation platform | $49/month |
| AI + human hybrid | $2,500 |
| Dev time (40 hours) | $4,000 |
| ASO localization | $1,500 |
| Total Year 1 | $8,588 |
Example 3: Enterprise (25 Languages)
App: Banking app, 5,000 strings
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Enterprise platform | $500/month |
| Professional translation | $25,000 |
| Legal review | $5,000 |
| Dev team (200 hours) | $20,000 |
| QA testing | $10,000 |
| Total Year 1 | $66,000 |
How to Reduce Localization Costs
1. Start with AI Translation
Modern AI translates UI strings with 90%+ accuracy. Use it as your baseline.
Traditional approach: $0.15/word × 5,000 words × 10 languages = $7,500
AI-first approach: $50 × 10 languages = $500 (then human review critical 10%)
Savings: $6,300
2. Use a Flutter-Specific Tool
Generic tools require format conversion and extra dev work. FlutterLocalisation exports native .arb files directly.
3. Prioritize Languages by ROI
Don't translate everything at once. Start with:
- Spanish - 559M speakers, high mobile usage
- Portuguese (Brazil) - Large market, less competition
- German - High purchasing power
- French - Multiple markets (France, Canada, Africa)
- Japanese - Premium app spending
4. Automate the Pipeline
Manual processes cost developer time. Set up:
- Git integration for automatic syncing
- CI/CD for translation validation
- Automated missing key detection
5. Write Translation-Friendly Copy
- Use simple, clear language
- Avoid idioms and cultural references
- Keep sentences short
- Use placeholders consistently
Free vs Paid: What Do You Get?
Free Tools (FlutterLocalisation Free Tier)
✅ Basic translation management ✅ AI translation (limited) ✅ ARB file export ✅ 1-2 team members
Paid Tools ($9-49/month)
✅ Unlimited AI translation ✅ Team collaboration ✅ Git integration ✅ Translation memory ✅ Quality checks
Enterprise ($100+/month)
✅ Dedicated support ✅ Custom workflows ✅ API access ✅ SSO/SAML ✅ SLA guarantees
ROI Calculator
Use this formula to justify localization spend:
ROI = (New Users × Revenue per User × Retention Boost) - Localization Cost
Example:
- Current: 10,000 users, $5 ARPU
- Add Spanish: +3,000 users expected
- Localization cost: $2,000
ROI = (3,000 × $5 × 1.0) - $2,000 = $13,000 profit
Typical payback period: 1-3 months
Conclusion
App localization cost depends heavily on your approach:
| Budget | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| $0-500 | AI-only with FlutterLocalisation free tier |
| $500-2,000 | AI + selective human review |
| $2,000-10,000 | Hybrid approach with quality tools |
| $10,000+ | Full professional localization |
The best investment is usually the AI-first hybrid approach: use AI for 90% of strings, human review for customer-facing content.
Calculate your exact cost: Try FlutterLocalisation free and see how much you can save with AI-powered translation.