TranslateDesk vs Prismy: Which Is Better for Intercom Translation?

If you're looking to translate your Intercom help center, you might be comparing TranslateDesk and Prismy. Both offer Intercom Articles integration, but they take very different approaches.

Here's the short version: Prismy is a general-purpose translation management system (TMS) that includes Intercom as one of many connectors. TranslateDesk is built specifically for Intercom help center translation.

Let's break down when each makes sense.

What Each Tool Does

TranslateDesk focuses exclusively on Intercom help centers. You connect your Intercom account, select articles, choose languages, and translate. The entire product is designed around one workflow.

Prismy is a developer-focused localization platform. It handles code strings (via GitHub), Figma designs, Linear tickets, and various content sources including Intercom Articles. It's built for teams managing multiple translation workflows across their tech stack.

Feature Comparison

Feature	TranslateDesk	Prismy
Intercom help center translation	✓ Core focus	✓ One of many connectors
Setup time	2 minutes	15-30 minutes
GitHub integration	Not needed	Required for most workflows
Other content sources	Intercom only	Code, Figma, Linear, more
AI translation	✓ DeepL + Google	✓ Custom AI
Pricing model	Per-article credits	Per-word (hosted words)
Learning curve	Minimal	Moderate

Pricing Breakdown

TranslateDesk: Pay-per-use credit system. Translate an article when you need it. No ongoing subscription required for occasional use.

Prismy: Subscription based on "hosted words" (total content across all languages):

• Free: 10,000 words
• €49/mo: 30,000 words
• €149/mo: 100,000 words
• €249/mo: 300,000 words

The hosted-word model makes sense when you're managing code localization (where word counts are predictable). For help center content, word counts vary significantly by article.

When TranslateDesk Is Better

You only need Intercom translation. If your help center is your only translation need, a general TMS adds unnecessary complexity. TranslateDesk does one thing well.

You want minimal setup. Connect Intercom, pick articles, translate. No projects to configure, no word-count math, no Git workflows to understand.

Your team isn't developer-heavy. Support teams and content writers can use TranslateDesk without understanding Git branches or TMS terminology.

You translate occasionally. The credit-based model means you pay only when translating. No monthly minimum when you're between updates.

When Prismy Is Better

You're already using Prismy for code localization. If your engineering team manages translations through GitHub, adding Intercom to the same workflow makes sense.

You need to translate across multiple platforms. Prismy's strength is unified translation management. If you're localizing your app, marketing site, AND help center, one platform reduces context-switching.

You want developer-native workflows. Prismy commits translations directly to feature branches. If your team thinks in Git, this feels natural.

You need Figma/Linear context. Prismy pulls context from design and PM tools to improve translation quality. Useful for complex product UI.

The Bottom Line

Both tools work for Intercom translation. The choice depends on your broader localization needs.

Choose TranslateDesk if your primary goal is translating Intercom articles without adopting a full TMS. It's simpler, faster to set up, and purpose-built for the job.

Choose Prismy if you need a unified localization platform for code, content, and design and want Intercom included in that workflow.

Most Intercom-focused teams find TranslateDesk gets them translating faster with less overhead. But if you're already invested in Prismy's ecosystem, their Intercom connector works well.

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Ready to translate your Intercom help center? Start with TranslateDesk and translate your first article in minutes.