When organizations evaluate translation providers, the visible differences often seem minor: price per word, turnaround times, or the number of supported languages. What matters far more is the operating model behind the service. That model determines whether translation is treated as a disposable task or as an integral part of international growth.
Gengo and Translated represent two distinct philosophies. One was built as a marketplace optimized for rapid transactions. The other is designed as a long-term localization partner, combining professional linguists with proprietary AI and structured governance. Understanding how these models behave over time is essential before choosing between them.
How work is organized
Gengo’s on-demand marketplace
Gengo is structured as a digital marketplace where translation requests are posted and picked up by available freelancers. The platform’s primary role is matchmaking. Once a job is completed and delivered, the relationship effectively resets.
This approach favors speed and accessibility. It reduces friction for clients who need quick translations of limited scope and are comfortable treating each project independently. The platform excels when continuity, domain depth, or stylistic consistency are not critical constraints.
Translated’s managed localization ecosystem
Translated operates as a managed ecosystem rather than a marketplace. Linguists are not simply available resources; they are selected for each assignment based on demonstrated performance, subject expertise, and historical results.
Technology plays a coordinating role. AI supports translator selection, production, and quality management, but does not replace human responsibility. The result is a system designed to accumulate knowledge over time, where every project strengthens the next rather than standing alone.
Quality is not inspected the same way
Marketplace quality is verified after delivery
In marketplace environments, quality control typically happens once the translation is finished. Translators are admitted through standardized tests, and completed work is scored to determine whether it meets platform thresholds.
Translated treats quality as a production input rather than an output metric. Linguists work with adaptive AI that reinforces terminology, tone, and stylistic rules while the translation is being created.
Edits made by human experts are captured and reused. This allows quality improvements to propagate automatically across large volumes of content, reducing variability and minimizing corrective cycles. The emphasis is on preventing errors, not simply measuring them.
Translator selection is fundamentally different
Static access versus continuous evaluation
In a marketplace, once translators pass the entry tests, they remain eligible for work. Performance scores may influence reputation, though.
Translated uses continuous translator selection recalculated for every project, based on real outcomes rather than initial credentials. Speed, accuracy, and domain specialization are constantly reassessed, ensuring that the best-suited linguist is chosen each time.
Pricing reflects priorities
Transactional pricing for individual jobs
Gengo’s pricing structure is designed for clarity at the project level. Per-word rates and service tiers make costs easy to forecast for single jobs. This works well when translation is occasional and treated as a discrete expense.
Investment in efficiency and consistency
Translated’s pricing reflects a broader economic logic. By reducing rework, enforcing consistency, and automating large portions of the workflow, overall localization costs decrease as volume increases. The value emerges across programs and quarters, not just on individual invoices.
Consistency over time
Variability as a byproduct of scale
Marketplaces scale by expanding the pool of available translators. As that pool grows, stylistic variation becomes harder to control. For non-critical content, this may be acceptable. For brand, legal, or customer-facing material, it introduces risk.
Accumulated intelligence as a stabilizer
Translated’s system is designed to retain institutional knowledge. Terminology, style, and preferences are preserved and reinforced through technology and human oversight. As content volume grows, consistency improves rather than deteriorates.
Support and accountability
Platform support versus human ownership
Marketplace support models prioritize efficiency. Documentation and ticket-based assistance are effective for resolving issues but do not provide strategic guidance. Clients remain responsible for defining quality standards and managing outcomes.
Translated assigns accountability. Dedicated project managers oversee workflows, advise on localization strategy, and ensure that quality targets are met. This creates a clear point of ownership and a collaborative working relationship.
Which model fits which organization
Gengo is a practical choice for teams that need fast, low-commitment translations with minimal setup. It is optimized for simplicity and speed.
Translated is built for organizations (of any size, including thousands of individuals, too) that operate across markets and languages at scale. Its model supports growth, complexity, and consistency, making localization a repeatable and measurable business capability rather than a series of isolated tasks.
Final consideration
The difference between Translated and Gengo is not primarily about tools or pricing. It is about whether translation is treated as a short-term transaction or as a strategic system. For companies where language directly affects brand, revenue, or user experience, that distinction defines the outcome.