TranslateDesk vs Smartling for Intercom Help Center Translation (2026 Comparison)
Compare TranslateDesk and Smartling for translating your Intercom help center. See the differences in pricing, features, and setup complexity to find the right fit.
TranslateDesk Team
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Smartling recently launched an Intercom Help Center connector, adding another option for teams looking to translate their support content. But how does an enterprise Translation Management System (TMS) compare to a purpose-built tool like TranslateDesk?
This guide breaks down the key differences to help you choose the right solution for your team.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | TranslateDesk | Smartling |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Intercom help centers | Enterprise-wide content |
| Pricing | Pay-as-you-go (from ~$0.79/article) | Custom enterprise pricing |
| Setup time | 5 minutes | Days to weeks |
| Translation | AI-powered (DeepL/OpenAI) | Human + machine options |
| Best for | SMBs, startups, lean teams | Large enterprises, agencies |
Pricing: Transparent vs Enterprise Sales
TranslateDesk uses transparent pay-as-you-go pricing. You start with 5 free credits, then buy credit packs (from $79 for 100 credits). Each article translation uses 1-2 credits depending on length. No contracts, no minimums, no sales calls.
Smartling requires contacting sales for pricing. Based on third-party sources and user reviews, costs are typically in the thousands per month range. As one Capterra reviewer noted: "cost-prohibitive and definitely not a 'value'" for smaller teams.
The bottom line: If you're translating your Intercom help center and budget matters, TranslateDesk offers predictable costs. Smartling is positioned for enterprises with larger localization budgets.
Setup Complexity
TranslateDesk setup:
- Install from Intercom App Store
- Connect your Intercom account (OAuth)
- Start translating
Total time: Under 5 minutes. No technical integration required.
Smartling setup:
- Contact sales and complete enterprise onboarding
- Configure the Intercom connector
- Set up translation workflows, glossaries, and style guides
- Train your team on the TMS dashboard
Total time: Days to weeks, depending on your configuration needs.
Feature Focus
TranslateDesk is purpose-built for one thing: translating Intercom help center articles quickly. You select articles, choose languages, and get AI-powered translations in minutes. Features include:
- Bulk translation of multiple articles
- 100+ language support
- Formatting preservation (code blocks, images, links)
- Translation status tracking
- Formality controls
Smartling is a full Translation Management System designed for enterprise content operations. Beyond Intercom, it handles websites, mobile apps, marketing materials, and more. Features include:
- Human translator marketplaces
- Translation memory and glossaries
- Workflow automation
- Detailed analytics and reporting
- Multiple platform integrations
Translation Quality
TranslateDesk uses AI translation powered by DeepL and OpenAI. For help center content (technical documentation, how-to guides, FAQs), AI translation produces production-ready results for most language pairs. You can review translations before publishing.
Smartling offers both machine translation and access to human translators. This hybrid approach works well when you need certified translations or highly nuanced content. However, human translation adds cost and turnaround time.
Which is better? For most Intercom help centers, AI translation handles the job. If you're in a regulated industry requiring certified translations, Smartling's human translator network may be worth the premium.
Who Should Choose TranslateDesk?
- Startups and SMBs translating their Intercom help center
- Teams that want to start translating today, not next month
- Companies with budget constraints who need transparent pricing
- Lean support teams without dedicated localization staff
- Anyone who wants to manage translations directly in one dashboard
Who Should Choose Smartling?
- Large enterprises with content across multiple platforms
- Companies with dedicated localization teams and workflows
- Organizations requiring human translators for compliance
- Teams already using Smartling for other content types
- Businesses needing advanced translation memory features
The Verdict
TranslateDesk and Smartling serve different markets.
Smartling is an enterprise TMS that now supports Intercom among dozens of other integrations. It's built for companies with complex localization needs and the budget to match.
TranslateDesk is built specifically for Intercom help centers. It's the fastest path from English-only documentation to multilingual support: no sales process, no complex setup, no enterprise pricing.
If your goal is simply to translate your Intercom help center and you want to start today, TranslateDesk is the pragmatic choice.
Related Resources
- Does Intercom Support Translation?: Complete breakdown of Intercom's native translation capabilities
- Intercom Translation Options Explained: All your options for translating Intercom content
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