Comparing Wordfast Pro 5 and Across Translator Edition v7

Which software is better? Here is a rundown of features and reviews to help you make your decision.


Name	Wordfast Pro 5	Across Translator Edition v7
Review breakdown	(8 reviews)	(6 reviews)
Most helpful review	Huge time saver By Ruth Simpson Wordfast Pro 5 is a standalone CAT tool that is compatible in my experience with Word, Powerpoint, InDesign and most other office software programs. I work on a mac system and it is perfectly compatible. I also need to use Trados for one client, but consistently use Wordfast Pro 5 for all others because of how easy and practical it is. Highly recommended! And a training session to get you started is also highly recommended, to get the most out of it. 5 out of 5 found this review helpful. Read more reviews →	By far the worst translating tool on the market By johannes van de pavert This is the one translation tool that should be avoided at all cost. (Unfortunately, a major customer of mine switched to Across some time ago, and I had little choice but to go along. My previous experience with Across had already placed it on my blacklist, and I had made it a rule to refuse any offers that involve Across.) First, there's the mere size of it. On my system, the Basic Edition of V7 claims 1.17 GB (!) according to the "Programs and Features" of the Windows Control Panel. Seeing that number alone, you know that shit gonna be bad. It will also slurp up your memory (currently running at 467 MB, together with its satellites, making Chrome's memory usage a laugh). On slightly older computers, Across will cripple the whole system, especially during uploads and downloads (stop your music). Then, it co-installs a spy-ish application called CodeMeter which is unclear as far at its intentions are concerned, and without which it will not run. You will be working directly through your client's server and speed will very much depend on your connection and on how that server feels. This may compromise the whole application to a great degree; the very concept is a guarantee for super slow working pace. In order to start working, you will have to retrieve orders from the client's server. The process is slow and it is totally unclear what is being downloaded and where it is stored, or even what the use of that procedure may be. In fact, you have no local control whatsoever of the material you are working on. There is no memory on your system, there are no files for you to use on your disk, and there is no archive of any previous order. Any work you do just vanishes though your internet connection with the client's server and there is no reward in the form of any library on your local disk. Every string translated is simply donated to the client's server. There is no export function that will allow you to keep a local copy of your work (except as stated below). The interface is sloppy and counter-productive. There is an overview of the strings of the texts in which you cannot directly work; instead, for inexplicable reasons you have to edit texts in a separate pane. This may not be the worst of all disadvantages, but it sure ranks high on the ladder of stupidity. Quality assurance features (number checks, tag verification, term recognition, spelling) are many, but far too cumbersome to be happy about. Term recognition is quite useless, as it is not aware e.g of cases of nouns in languages that have declensions. Spelling correction is as slow as one can possibly imagine, positively reaching the "I wouldn't bother if I cared" level. You can either correct or add spelling mistakes; the option to ignore unknown words (names!) in the whole text is not included. In fact, the only way to use Across is to avoid using it as much as possible. There is, however, one one single ray of light in this darkness: through the "Correction Mode" pane, you can generate a side-by-side overview of all strings in HTML that can subsequently be imported into other programs (e.g., Word) and then translated using other translation tools; you will just need to take the time to copy your translation back into Across on a phrase-by-phrase base when you are finished. This way, you can speed up the translating process with Across, so that it may perhaps take less than ten times more of your precious time than any other tool, but it will also reward you with your own translation memory for future use. 30 out of 31 found this review helpful. Read more reviews →
Product description	Wordfast Pro is the latest version of the standalone, multi-platform TM tool designed to address the needs of translators, language service providers and multinational corporations.	Across Translator Edition v7 Deliver high-quality translations with our fast and secure CAT tool. You can integrate machine translation and other third-party systems. The Across Translator Basic Edition is free for freelancers. Full-Fledged Translation Environment Translation memory, terminology system, quality assurance, and project management. Basic or Premium Chose from the variant of the Across Translator Edition that best suits your needs based on your mode of operations and project volume. Versatile Work Environment Multiple configuration options, intuitive and easy use, quick overview of project and tasks. Systematic Translation The Across Translator Edition supports nearly all languages and more than 60 file formats. Speed up your translations by connecting machine translation and quality assurance tools. New business opportunities with crossMarket Communicate easier and faster with customers and peers with your crossMarket profile. Get Started Immediately Create a crossMarket profile, download and install the Across Translator Edition with just a few clicks. Support The support for the Across Translator Edition and crossMarket is free for freelance translators. You can find information on how to contact our customer support team on our website. Free Learning Resources How-to guides File formats tips and tricks YouTube tutorials Blog Video
Price	$460	Basic Free / Premium from € 19.50 monthly (included in crossMarket membership)
File formats	Virtually any file format, including MS Office, Adobe InDesign, FrameMaker, PDF, HTML, XML, SDL Trados Xliff, MemoQ Xliff, and more	Works with 60+ file formats. View full list (page 186).
License type	3-year license	Software as a service (subscription)
Operating system	Windows, MacOS, Linux	Windows
System requirements	Minimum: Intel or AMD CPU-based computer manufactured after 2013, 4 GB of System Memory, and Screen Resolution of 1366 x 768	Microsoft .NET 4.7.1. RAM: 2 GB of memory. 15 GB hard disk space, min. screen resolution 1280x800 px. Browser-based work: IE 11, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Chrome, Safari.
Compatibility	Install dependencies to run Wordfast on Linux OS typically ‘sudo apt install libconf2-4’ or ‘sudo apt-get install –f’ or ‘yum install libX’"	Supports open standard file formats XLIFF, TMX, TBX.
Support and upgrades offered/included	Free upgrades for duration of license/Subscription	Free upgrades to all future versions, Free technical support via support ticket center
Support and tutorial links	Online support center	Free support for freelance translators.
Free trial	Yes, 30 days of fully-functional trial available. Unlimited use of a demo version.	Download Across Translator Edition free basic package.
Languages supported	All languages.	Across is capable of supporting practically all languages.