FlutterLocalisation vs Lokalise: Flutter-First Tool vs Enterprise TMS
When it comes to Flutter localization, developers often compare FlutterLocalisation with Lokalise. One is built specifically for Flutter; the other is an enterprise translation management system. Which is right for your project?
Quick Comparison
| Feature | FlutterLocalisation | Lokalise |
|---|---|---|
| Built for Flutter | Yes (Flutter-first) | No (enterprise TMS) |
| Free tier | Yes | No (14-day trial only) |
| Starting price | $9/month | $120/month |
| AI translation | Yes (Flutter-aware) | Yes (Pro AI) |
| Git integration | GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket | 60+ integrations |
| ARB support | Native primary format | Supported format |
| Over-the-air SDK | Coming soon | Yes (Flutter SDK) |
| Minimum commitment | Monthly | Annual (monthly available) |
What Is FlutterLocalisation?
FlutterLocalisation is a localization platform designed exclusively for Flutter developers. It streamlines the ARB file workflow with AI-powered translations and Git integration.
Key strengths:
- Built from scratch for Flutter's ARB format
- AI that understands ICU message syntax
- Visual side-by-side translation editor
- Simple pricing, generous free tier
- 5-minute setup time
What Is Lokalise?
Lokalise is an enterprise-grade translation management system that connects with 60+ tools including Figma, GitHub, Contentful, and Webflow. It serves large organizations with complex localization needs.
Key strengths:
- Massive integration ecosystem
- Advanced workflow automation
- Flutter SDK for over-the-air updates
- Enterprise security (SOC 2, ISO 27001)
- Professional translation ordering
The Pricing Reality
Let's be direct about pricing—this is often the deciding factor.
FlutterLocalisation Pricing
| Plan | Price | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Limited projects, core features |
| Pro | $9/month | Unlimited AI translations, Git sync |
| Team | $29/month | Collaboration, multiple projects |
Lokalise Pricing
| Plan | Price | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Trial | Free (14 days) | Full access, then locked |
| Essential | ~$120/month | 5,000 keys, basic features |
| Pro | ~$230/month | 10,000 keys, glossary, in-context |
| Advanced | Custom | 1M+ words, advanced AI |
| Enterprise | $70,000+/year | Full feature access, priority support |
The math is clear: FlutterLocalisation Pro at $9/month costs you $108/year. Lokalise's entry point is ~$1,440/year—over 13x more expensive.
Winner: FlutterLocalisation — Dramatically more affordable.
Detailed Feature Comparison
1. Flutter-Specific Optimization
FlutterLocalisation treats Flutter as its only platform:
// FlutterLocalisation natively understands Flutter ARB
{
"welcomeMessage": "Welcome, {userName}!",
"@welcomeMessage": {
"description": "Greeting shown on home screen",
"placeholders": {
"userName": {
"type": "String",
"example": "John"
}
}
}
}
Every feature is designed around Flutter's localization patterns. Placeholder validation, ICU message support, and ARB export are all optimized for flutter gen-l10n.
Lokalise supports 50+ file formats. Flutter ARB is one of many. While it works, you're using a general-purpose tool for a specific job.
Winner: FlutterLocalisation — Specialist beats generalist for Flutter.
2. AI Translation
FlutterLocalisation AI:
- Context-aware translations
- Understands Flutter placeholder syntax
{variable} - Preserves ICU message format (plurals, select, gender)
- Learns from your project context
Lokalise AI:
- Pro AI with 150,000+ words/year (Advanced plan)
- AI orchestration for quality
- Custom AI profiles (Enterprise)
- Translation scoring
Both offer AI, but FlutterLocalisation's AI is tuned for Flutter's specific patterns. Lokalise's AI is more powerful but general-purpose.
Winner: Tie — Different strengths for different needs.
3. Over-the-Air Updates
This is Lokalise's standout feature for Flutter:
// Lokalise Flutter SDK
dependencies:
lokalise_flutter_sdk: ^1.0.0
With Lokalise's SDK, you can push translation updates without releasing a new app version. Fix typos, update copy, add new strings—all without App Store review.
FlutterLocalisation currently focuses on build-time translations via Git-synced ARB files. OTA is on the roadmap but not available yet.
Winner: Lokalise — OTA is a game-changer for production apps.
4. Integration Ecosystem
Lokalise connects with 60+ tools:
- Design: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD
- Development: GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps
- CMS: Contentful, Contentstack, Webflow
- Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams
- And many more...
FlutterLocalisation focuses on the essentials:
- Git providers: GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket
- CI/CD: Standard Git workflows
Winner: Lokalise — Unmatched integration breadth.
5. Setup and Learning Curve
FlutterLocalisation Setup:
- Sign up (30 seconds)
- Connect Git repository (1 minute)
- Import existing ARB files (automatic)
- Start translating (immediate)
Total: ~5 minutes
Lokalise Setup:
- Sign up and onboard
- Create project with correct settings
- Configure Flutter ARB export format
- Set up integrations
- Train team on workflow
- Configure automation rules
Total: Hours to days depending on complexity
Winner: FlutterLocalisation — Dramatically simpler.
6. Team and Workflow Features
Lokalise excels for large teams:
- User groups and permissions
- Flexible workflow automation
- Branching and versioning
- Chained tasks
- Translation review stages
- Advanced reporting
FlutterLocalisation handles typical team needs:
- Role-based access (Developer, Translator, Reviewer)
- Real-time collaboration
- Comment threads
- Activity tracking
Winner: Lokalise — Better for complex enterprise workflows.
7. Security and Compliance
Lokalise is enterprise-ready:
- SOC 2 Type II certified
- ISO 27001 certified
- ISO 27017 certified
- GDPR compliant
- SSO/SAML support
FlutterLocalisation:
- Standard security practices
- Data encryption
- GDPR compliant
Winner: Lokalise — Essential for regulated industries.
When to Choose FlutterLocalisation
Choose FlutterLocalisation if:
- You build Flutter apps (exclusively or primarily)
- Budget matters — $9/month vs $120+/month
- You want simplicity — No enterprise complexity
- Small to medium team — Under 20 people
- Quick setup — 5 minutes, not 5 days
- AI translation — For most of your translations
Perfect for:
- Solo developers
- Startups and indie developers
- Small Flutter agencies
- Side projects
- MVPs and prototypes
When to Choose Lokalise
Choose Lokalise if:
- You need OTA updates — Critical for production apps
- Multi-platform projects — Flutter + React Native + Web
- Large enterprise — 50+ people, complex workflows
- Compliance requirements — SOC 2, ISO certifications
- 60+ integrations — Figma, Contentful, etc.
- Budget is flexible — $1,440+/year is acceptable
Perfect for:
- Large enterprises
- Regulated industries (finance, healthcare)
- Multi-platform development teams
- Companies with dedicated localization managers
Cost Analysis: 1-Year Comparison
Scenario: Small Team (5 developers, 10 languages)
| Platform | Annual Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FlutterLocalisation Pro | $108 | Unlimited translations |
| Lokalise Essential | ~$1,440 | 5,000 keys limit |
Savings with FlutterLocalisation: $1,332/year
Scenario: Medium Team (15 people, 20 languages)
| Platform | Annual Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FlutterLocalisation Team | $348 | Full collaboration |
| Lokalise Pro | ~$2,760 | 10,000 keys, more features |
Savings with FlutterLocalisation: $2,412/year
Scenario: Enterprise (50+ people, compliance needs)
| Platform | Annual Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FlutterLocalisation | May lack features | Enterprise needs |
| Lokalise Enterprise | $70,000+ | Full enterprise suite |
For true enterprise needs, Lokalise may be necessary.
The Verdict
For 90% of Flutter developers, FlutterLocalisation is the better choice.
Here's the reality:
- You probably don't need Lokalise's enterprise features
- You definitely don't need to pay 13x more
- Flutter-specific tooling beats generic platforms
- 5-minute setup beats 5-day implementation
The one exception: If over-the-air updates are critical for your production app, Lokalise's Flutter SDK is currently unmatched. This single feature might justify the price difference for some teams.
Try Before You Decide
FlutterLocalisation:
- Start free — No credit card, no time limit
- Upgrade when you need more
Lokalise:
- 14-day free trial — All features
- Requires credit card to continue
Ready to stop overpaying for localization? Try FlutterLocalisation free — The Flutter localization tool that costs less than a coffee per month.