Zendesk Translation: How to Translate Your Help Center in 2026

Zendesk translation is the process of making your help center articles available in multiple languages. While Zendesk Guide supports multilingual content, it doesn't translate articles automatically. You need either manual translation, an app, or a translation management platform.

This guide compares your options and helps you choose the right approach for your help center size and budget.

Quick Summary: Zendesk Translation Options

Approach	Best For	Cost	Speed	Maintenance
Manual	<20 articles	$20-50/article	Days-weeks	High
Swifteq	20-200 articles	Per-article	Minutes	Low
Lokalise/Phrase	100+ articles, multiple translators	$120+/month	Hours	Medium
Export/Import	Tech-savvy teams	Free (DIY)	Hours	High

Option 1: Zendesk Native Features (Manual)

Zendesk Guide supports multiple languages out of the box. Here's how it works:

1. Enable languages in Help Center → Settings → Language Settings
2. Create translated articles manually for each language variant
3. Zendesk tracks "outdated" status when source articles change

What Zendesk Does Well

• Native language switching in help center UI
• Tracks when translations need updates
• SEO-friendly URLs for each language variant

What Zendesk Doesn't Do

• No automatic translation: you write or import translations yourself
• No translation memory: repeated phrases must be re-translated
• No formatting preservation: copy-pasting loses formatting

When Manual Works

Manual translation makes sense if you have fewer than 20 articles that rarely change. Beyond that, keeping translations in sync becomes a full-time job.

Cost estimate: $20-50 per article using professional translators

Option 2: Swifteq Help Center Translate

Swifteq offers an automated translation app in the Zendesk Marketplace. It's the most popular dedicated Zendesk translation tool.

How Swifteq Works

1. Install from Zendesk Marketplace
2. Select articles and target languages
3. Translate automatically (uses AI/MT engines)
4. Review and publish to Zendesk

Strengths

• Direct Zendesk integration: no export/import
• Automatic sync detection: knows when articles need re-translation
• Preserves formatting: links, images, code blocks survive
• Multiple engines: DeepL, Google Translate, etc.

Considerations

• Additional app subscription on top of Zendesk
• Quality depends on machine translation accuracy
• Some languages translate better than others

Best for: Teams with 20-200 articles who want automation without enterprise complexity.

Option 3: Translation Management Platforms

For larger operations, translation management platforms (TMPs) like Lokalise, Phrase, or Crowdin offer more control.

How TMPs Work with Zendesk

1. Connect via Zendesk API
2. Export articles to translation platform
3. Translate using AI, in-house translators, or agencies
4. Import translations back to Zendesk

Popular Options

Lokalise

• Strong Zendesk integration via API
• Translation memory and glossaries
• Starting ~$120/month
• Best for: Teams with multiple translators

Phrase

• Enterprise-grade workflow management
• Automatic content sync
• Custom pricing
• Best for: Large organizations, regulated industries

Crowdin

• Developer-focused with Git integration
• Community translation support
• Starting ~$50/month
• Best for: Open source, tech companies

Strengths

• Translation memory: reuse previous translations
• Glossaries: consistent terminology across articles
• Workflow management: assign, review, approve
• Multiple contributors: translators, reviewers, approvers

Trade-offs

• Export/import overhead (even with API)
• Higher learning curve
• Monthly subscription costs add up

Best for: Teams with 100+ articles, multiple languages, or need for professional human translation.

Option 4: DIY Export/Import

Tech-savvy teams can build their own workflow using Zendesk's API.

The DIY Approach

1. Export articles via Zendesk API (JSON/HTML)
2. Translate using any method (DeepL API, Google Translate, translators)
3. Import translations via API
4. Build monitoring for outdated content

When DIY Makes Sense

• You have engineering resources
• You want full control over the translation pipeline
• You're already using translation tools for other content

When DIY Doesn't Make Sense

• Your team isn't technical
• You need it working this week, not this quarter
• Maintaining custom integrations isn't your strength

Comparison: Zendesk Translation Tools

Feature	Manual	Swifteq	Lokalise	DIY
Direct integration	✅	✅	Via API	Via API
Auto translation	❌	✅	✅	You build
Translation memory	❌	Limited	✅	You build
Formatting preserved	❌	✅	Partial	Depends
Outdated detection	✅ Zendesk	✅	✅	You build
Setup time	None	Hours	Days	Weeks
Ongoing maintenance	High	Low	Medium	High

Which Approach Should You Choose?

Small Help Center (<20 articles)

Recommendation: Manual translation

The volume doesn't justify tool costs. Use professional translators for quality, or internal team members who speak the target languages.

Medium Help Center (20-100 articles)

Recommendation: Swifteq or similar app

Automation pays off at this scale. Apps like Swifteq handle the heavy lifting while keeping you in Zendesk.

Large Help Center (100+ articles)

Recommendation: Translation management platform

At scale, you need translation memory, glossaries, and workflow management. Lokalise or Phrase will save time long-term.

Multi-Platform (Zendesk + Intercom, etc.)

Recommendation: Platform-specific tools for each

Different platforms have different integration requirements. Using the right tool for each platform beats a one-size-fits-all approach.

The Intercom Alternative

If you're evaluating help center platforms, Intercom's help center is worth considering, especially if translation is a priority.

Why Intercom for multilingual support:

• More modern API architecture
• TranslateDesk offers one-click automated translation with direct Intercom integration
• Real-time translation sync when articles update
• Formatting perfectly preserved

TranslateDesk currently supports Intercom exclusively, with direct integration for importing, translating, and publishing articles without export/import workflows.

→ See how TranslateDesk works with Intercom

Considering Zendesk → Intercom Migration?

If you're migrating from Zendesk to Intercom, we've written a guide on preserving translations during migration.

Tips for Better Zendesk Translations

Regardless of which approach you choose:

1. Start with High-Traffic Articles

Use Zendesk's analytics to identify your most-viewed articles. Translate those first for maximum impact.

2. Maintain a Glossary

Document product names, technical terms, and brand language. Share this with translators (human or machine) for consistency.

3. Simplify Source Content

Clear, simple English translates better, whether by humans or machines. Avoid idioms, jargon, and unnecessarily complex sentences.

4. Review Machine Translations

Automated translation is impressive but not perfect. Have native speakers review critical content, especially anything involving:

• Legal/compliance information
• Safety instructions
• Pricing and billing

5. Set Up Monitoring

Outdated translations are worse than no translations. Use Zendesk's native outdated flags or your tool's sync features to catch stale content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Zendesk have built-in translation?

Zendesk Guide supports multiple languages natively, but doesn't translate content automatically. You can enable languages in Help Center settings, then manually create or import translated versions of each article.

What's the best Zendesk translation app?

Swifteq Help Center Translate is the most popular automated option on the Zendesk Marketplace. For larger teams, Lokalise or Phrase offer more control with translation memory and professional workflows. Your choice depends on volume and budget.

How much does Zendesk translation cost?

Costs vary by approach: Manual translation runs $0.10-0.30 per word. Automated apps like Swifteq charge per-article or monthly. Translation management platforms like Lokalise start around $120/month. Your total depends on article count and languages.

Can I use DeepL or Google Translate with Zendesk?

Not directly within Zendesk, but apps like Swifteq and Lokalise use these translation engines behind the scenes. You can also export articles, translate externally, and re-import, though this adds manual overhead.

How do I keep Zendesk translations in sync?

Zendesk marks translations as "outdated" when source articles change, but re-translation is manual. Apps like Swifteq can detect changes and re-translate automatically. Translation management platforms require re-export/import workflows.

Related Guides

• How to Translate Zendesk Help Center: Step-by-Step
• Zendesk Help Center Translation Tool Guide
• Does Intercom Support Translation?: Comparing Intercom's multilingual features
• Complete Guide to Help Center Translation: Platform-agnostic best practices
• Zendesk to Intercom Migration: Multilingual Guide