The Current State
Looking at what exists today, it quickly becomes clear that traditional translation processes are a real headache. Between glossary management, adjusting terms project by project, and sorting translation keys, it takes an enormous amount of time and slows everyone down. And in the end, it also impacts the user experience.
There are tools that try to address these problems. We think of translation plugins and services like DeepL or Google Translate. But most work by translating each text segment independently, without taking the overall context into account. The result: inconsistencies, translations that sometimes miss the mark, and a message that loses clarity.
We’ve chosen two plugins to challenge today: one from Phrase and the other from Lokalise. You can find the comparison of the key generation of these two plugins on our blog Gleef vs Phrase: Reshaping Localization Keys Management and Gleef vs Lokalise: Rethinking Localization Keys Management.
Let’s Begin the Showdown
Lokalise Solution
We based our analysis on our own use of the plugin and a selection of the most recurring reviews on G2 and Capterra. The Lokalise plugin offers features like translation synchronization, content import/export, and team member role assignments for better collaboration. However, some limitations exist, particularly in terms of customization and advanced context management, which can impact translation accuracy in specific cases.
Limited Customization: Some users, including ourselves, noticed the lack of customization options, especially regarding reminder notifications, where adding custom fields is restricted. Context is not always present, and it’s quite complicated to change certain words and save them.
Figma Plugin Features: The Lokalise Figma plugin seems to be in an early development stage, working well in ideal scenarios but lacking consideration for less common cases.
Integration Limitations: Some integrations have limitations that prevent optimal usage, requiring improvements for better efficiency.
Phrase
The Phrase plugin for Figma is a solution that facilitates translation management and localization directly within the design interface. It allows teams to sync texts between Figma and the Phrase platform, ensuring better linguistic consistency throughout the project. However, some actions still require direct interaction with the Phrase interface, which can disrupt the designers' workflow. Additionally, the plugin mainly works by translating text segments independently, which can sometimes result in a lack of context (just like Lokalise).
Dependence on Phrase Interface: Although the plugin facilitates synchronization between Figma and Phrase, certain actions require direct interaction with the Phrase interface, which can interrupt the designers' workflow (we’ve mentioned this before, but it can quickly become unbearable).
Word-for-word translations without context: The plugin does not always consider the global context of a sentence (depending on the chosen language), which can lead to inconsistent or inappropriate translations.
Partial Synchronization of Updates: If a translation is updated on Phrase, it may not be immediately synchronized in Figma, leading to discrepancies between content versions and causing delays for designers and developers who need to go back and forth.
What Our Plugin Brings More
After using these other plugins, we wanted to develop a tool specifically for teams who want to automate translation and simplify localization management directly in Figma. The goal is to eliminate repetitive tasks, improve translation quality, and save valuable time (we really insist on that one).
Key Features
The tool integrates several features that optimize the localization process.
First, it offers AI-assisted generation, which automates translation as well as naming and searching for keys. This significantly reduces the time spent on language management.
Next, the tool allows workflow optimization by maintaining clarity and consistency in key names while avoiding duplicates. This feature ensures better organization and uniformity in project management.
Project organization is also simplified thanks to an improved translation management system. It becomes easier to track translated keys and those pending, helping to meet deadlines and ensure precise follow-up.
Finally, to ensure better code quality (we care about that too!), the tool applies formatting rules that ensure uniform and well-structured localization files.
Automating translation and localization management brings several benefits to development and design teams. Here’s a list that clearly shows what our plugin will bring to your daily tasks:
- Significant time savings by reducing manual tasks.
- Better quality and consistency of translations, ensuring a seamless user experience.
- Workflow optimization that enhances team productivity.
- Better control and more flexibility in managing multilingual projects.
- (With a more global vision) Simplified international expansion, thanks to a centralized and efficient localization approach.
With these features, teams can focus on what matters most while ensuring smooth and efficient translation management in Figma. (Incredible, right?)
Context at the Heart of Our Approach
This point is fundamental for us because it fully embodies our philosophy. We place context at the heart of our approach, believing that a clear and well-defined framework is essential for ensuring accurate translations and relevant localization keys.
That’s why we chose to integrate our solution directly into Figma. By staying within this environment, we allow all stakeholders – designers, developers, and translators – to work with the same context. Each key generated is thus perfectly suited to the project, ensuring optimal coherence and precision.
Why Choose Gleef?
A quick memo on what makes us different. Gleef places context at the heart of localization, ensuring precise and consistent translations. Unlike other tools like Phrase or Lokalise, which translate isolated segments, Gleef takes into account the overall context of the project to avoid inconsistencies and preserve the meaning of the texts.
Designed to integrate directly into Figma, Gleef allows designers, developers, and translators to collaborate without interruption. Unlike Phrase, which requires back-and-forth with its external interface, our solution ensures a smoother and more efficient workflow.
With advanced AI, Gleef automates translation, naming, and key management, reducing manual tasks and improving content consistency. For developers, direct access to keys in Figma is a real advantage.
We’ve adopted a contextual approach to preserve the tone and nuances of content. Discover how contextual translation makes all the difference in our article on localization keys! If you want to know more about the functionality and benefits of key generation, I invite you to read this article The Ultimate Solution to Localization Key Challenges.
Adopt Our Plugin
If you’re still here, you’re probably interested, so here are some key steps to get started with our plugin. You’ll see, it’s very quick!
- Upload your localization files: Just drag and drop your existing files to kick things off. It's that simple.
- Pick your source language: Choose the language that your Figma designs are currently in – this will be your starting point for translations.
- Select the screens/frames: Pick the specific screens or frames you want to localize in your Figma project. It's flexible – choose as many as you need.
- Tweak translations and keys: You’re in control! Adjust translations, fine-tune reused keys, and make sure everything feels right before exporting.
- Export your files: Once you're happy with the translations, export them straight into your localization tool, or simply copy-paste the updated file into your IDE.
By integrating Gleef into your Figma workflow, you'll level up your localization game. Save tons of time, keep things consistent, and make your global designs shine effortlessly.
