Poll: Cloud-based CAT tools vs. Desktop apps: Which do you prefer? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
|
|---|
This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Cloud-based CAT tools vs. Desktop apps: Which do you prefer?".
View the poll results »
| | | |
A happy dinosaur...
| | | |
Lieven Malaise 
Belgium
Local time: 08:53
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
I hated cloud-based CAT tools at first, but I'm pretty used to them (MemoQ and Phrase) by now. The main issue remains that you never know how many connexion problems you're going to have.
But I will always prefer a desktop app.
[Bijgewerkt op 2026-06-10 10:57 GMT]
| | | |
Luis M. Sosa
Ecuador
Local time: 01:53
English to Spanish
+ ...
desktop, but the trend is to migrate to online tools. Some of them turn into turtles when large projects are translated. The truth here is that TMs no longer belong to you.
| | |
|
|
|
WolfgangS
France
Local time: 08:53
English to German
+ ...
I have been working with some of the online tools, but, hey, is it you or me who decides which screwdriver to use?
| | | |
Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 08:53
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
WolfgangS wrote:
I have been working with some of the online tools, but, hey, is it you or me who decides which screwdriver to use?
... is it worth losing a good customer over the screwdriver to use? I'm inclined to say no. I would rather learn to use the new screwdriver.
[Bijgewerkt op 2026-06-11 07:00 GMT]
| | | |
Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 08:53
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
Luis M. Sosa wrote:
The truth here is that TMs no longer belong to you.
...there are workarounds to make sure you still have access to everything you translated online in the past.
[Bijgewerkt op 2026-06-11 07:03 GMT]
| | | |
Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 08:53
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
| Depends on payment structure | Jun 11 |
Desktop if I'm paid per word.
Online is acceptable if I'm paid per hour and the hourly rate is high and the work load is not too high enough for me to learn how to use the system efficiently but low enough for me to accept other work from other clients.
If online and I'm paid per word or the hourly rate is very low, then I roundtrip via a desktop tool. If I'm unable to roundtrip, I don't accept the work. Roundtripping can sometimes involve time spent copy/pasting betw... See more Desktop if I'm paid per word.
Online is acceptable if I'm paid per hour and the hourly rate is high and the work load is not too high enough for me to learn how to use the system efficiently but low enough for me to accept other work from other clients.
If online and I'm paid per word or the hourly rate is very low, then I roundtrip via a desktop tool. If I'm unable to roundtrip, I don't accept the work. Roundtripping can sometimes involve time spent copy/pasting between tools, but I factor in that time when deciding whether to accept the work. ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
| Cloud CAT tools are much slower | Jun 11 |
Do we agree that online/cloud-based CAT tools are considerably slower and less user-friendly? If the work is paid hourly online, I gladly accept. Otherwise, I download the bilingual file, work in desktop CAT tools, and upload the translation afterward.
| | | |
WolfgangS
France
Local time: 08:53
English to German
+ ...
| Why loose customers | Jun 11 |
Lieven Malaise wrote:
WolfgangS wrote:
I have been working with some of the online tools, but, hey, is it you or me who decides which screwdriver to use?
... is it worth losing a good customer over the screwdriver to use? I'm inclined to say no. I would rather learn to use the new screwdriver. [Bijgewerkt op 2026-06-11 07:00 GMT]
There are workarounds with online tools.
| | | |
Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 08:53
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
WolfgangS wrote:
Lieven Malaise wrote:
WolfgangS wrote:
I have been working with some of the online tools, but, hey, is it you or me who decides which screwdriver to use?
... is it worth losing a good customer over the screwdriver to use? I'm inclined to say no. I would rather learn to use the new screwdriver. [Bijgewerkt op 2026-06-11 07:00 GMT]
There are workarounds with online tools.
...your customer insists on using their online CAT tool.
| | | |
Login to reply/comment 
