In India, more than 88% of new internet users prefer content in their native language. As regional digital adoption accelerates, localising websites is no longer optional; it’s essential for any organisation aiming to build inclusive, high-impact online experiences.
From BFSI to eCommerce and government portals, enterprises are investing heavily in localisation to engage users in the languages they trust. Yet, many teams still underestimate the true scope and cost of localisation. Translating text is only one part of the equation. Real localisation involves engineering, design adaptation, multilingual SEO, accessibility compliance, and ongoing updates — all of which contribute to the total cost of ownership.
This guide breaks down what website localisation actually costs in 2025, why budgets vary so widely across vendors, and how enterprises can reduce expenses sustainably through automation, translation reuse, and smarter workflows.
Key Takeaways
- Localisation is more than translation. It covers engineering, QA, SEO, and workflow management, not just per-word translation rates.
- Recurring updates drive long-term cost. Maintenance typically adds 15–30% annually if not automated.
- Automation and reuse matter. Translation memory and API-based sync can cut localisation workload by 40–50%.
- Hybrid models deliver balance. Combining AI translation with human review maintains accuracy while controlling cost.
What “Website Localisation Cost” Includes
When companies start budgeting for localisation, they often focus only on translation rates. But in reality, translation is just one piece of a much larger ecosystem.
Website localisation cost includes every process involved in making your site linguistically accurate, culturally relevant, technically functional, and SEO-ready for multiple regions.
To understand it better, let’s distinguish between localisation and translation:
| Aspect | Translation | Localisation |
| Definition | Converting text from one language to another. | Adapting an entire website, text, visuals, layouts, and code for a new language and culture. |
| Scope | Words only. | Includes translation, design, engineering, QA, SEO, and management. |
| Goal | Linguistic equivalence. | Functional, cultural, and contextual equivalence. |
| Typical Cost Metric | Per word or per page. | Project-based or workflow-based. |
| Example | Translating English text into Hindi. | Translating content, adjusting UI, fonts, and formatting for Hindi users. |
So while website translation cost covers linguistics alone, website localisation cost covers engineering time, design effort, testing, SEO, and long-term maintenance.
This difference explains why two localisation projects with the same word count can have drastically different budgets.
Pro Tip: When planning localisation budgets, calculate cost per page or workflow instead of per word, as it gives a more realistic view of total spend.
Why Website Localisation Costs Vary So Much
No two localisation projects cost the same. A five-page marketing website and a five-hundred-page eCommerce portal might use the same translation rate per word, yet their total budgets can differ by thousands of dollars. The reason is simple: localisation is influenced by more than just word count. It involves variables like technical setup, quality control, and workflow automation.
Below are six core factors that determine how much a website localisation project truly costs in 2025.
1. Number of Languages and Word Volume
This is the most direct cost driver. Most translation vendors still charge by the word, with rates typically ranging between USD $0.08 – $0.25 per word (approximately ₹ 7.10 – ₹ 22.17 per word) depending on the language pair, subject complexity, and industry domain.
For example:
- Translating 10,000 words at $0.10 (₹ 8.87) per word costs around $1,000 (₹ 88,690).
- For highly technical or regulated content at $0.20 (₹ 17.74) per word, the same project can reach $2,000 (₹ 177,380).
Once you scale across five languages, translation alone can easily reach $5,000–$10,000 (₹ 443,450 – ₹ 886,900) before adding QA, engineering, or design adjustments. Indian-language localisation can be more affordable, but it still demands specialised reviewers to ensure accuracy across scripts.
2. Type of Website and Content Format
The structure and purpose of a website directly influence localisation costs. A static corporate website costs much less to adapt than a feature-rich web application.
| Website Type | Complexity | Cost Impact |
| Static marketing site | Few templates, minimal logic | Low |
| CMS-based site (WordPress, Drupal) | Requires plugin or API workflow | Medium |
| eCommerce portal | Dynamic data, product listings, interactive UI | High |
| Government or BFSI portal | Security, compliance, and accessibility layers | Very High |
Dynamic content, embedded text within images, and JavaScript-based components increase costs because developers must extract and re-inject text manually.
3. Level of Customisation and Technical Integration
Integration depth often defines whether localisation remains a one-time project or becomes a sustainable workflow.
Plugin-based localisation (such as WPML for WordPress) may have a lower upfront cost but needs constant supervision and manual review.
API-based integration or connector workflows require more setup initially, but dramatically reduce long-term maintenance and errors.
In short, manual exports and imports save money upfront but create recurring costs. Automated systems require investment once but pay for themselves through faster updates and fewer mistakes.
4. Quality and Review Workflows
Quality assurance is where many budgets expand without visibility. Professional translation is only the first step; contextual review, linguistic QA, and compliance checks often add 20–30 percent to base translation costs.
Enterprises in regulated industries such as finance or healthcare cannot skip this stage. However, integrated platforms with built-in reviewer dashboards and automated approvals help control these costs while keeping quality consistent.
5. Continuous Updates and Maintenance
A website is never static. New pages, seasonal campaigns, and UI changes all require translation and redeployment. Without automation, these repetitive updates can consume 15–30 percent of the initial localisation budget every year.
Using translation memory and glossary management can reduce that by half, since repeated phrases or UI labels are reused automatically instead of being re-translated from scratch.
6. Tooling, Project Management, and Vendor Overhead
Hidden management and tooling expenses often make up a significant share of total spend. Manual coordination between translators, developers, and QA reviewers can add another 25–35 percent on top of the direct translation budget.
Licensing standalone tools also increases costs when each user needs a separate seat.
Platforms like Anuvadak centralise these processes by automating project tracking, translation memory, and content deployment. The result is lower administrative effort, faster turnaround, and clearer cost visibility.
Pro tip: Separate your one-time setup costs (initial translation, integration) from operational costs (updates, QA, hosting, reviews). This distinction prevents under-budgeting and keeps future localisation expenses predictable.
Typical Website Localisation and Translation Costs in 2025
The overall cost of website localisation depends on multiple variables, including the number of pages, the complexity of design, the integration level, and the review requirements. However, it’s possible to estimate realistic cost ranges based on industry benchmarks from localisation providers such as RWS, Lokalise, and Webstacks.
All figures use the latest exchange rate of 1 USD = ₹ 88.69 INR.
| Project Type | Typical Scope | Approximate Cost Range (USD) | Approximate Cost Range (INR) | Key Drivers |
| Small static website (2–3 languages) | 10–15 pages, minimal CMS setup | $1,000 – $3,000 | ₹ 88,690 – ₹ 266,070 | Translation + light QA |
| Mid-size CMS-based site (5+ languages) | 50–100 pages | $5,000 – $20,000 | ₹ 443,450 – ₹ 1,773,800 | Workflow automation, CMS integration |
| Large enterprise or eCommerce site (10+ languages) | 200+ pages or dynamic content | $25,000 and above | ₹ 2,217,250 and above | Continuous localisation, full QA, compliance |
| Annual maintenance | Recurring updates and translations | 15–30 % of the initial cost | 15–30 % of the initial cost | Depends on the content change frequency |
What this means:
A company spending $10,000 (≈ ₹ 886,900) on initial localisation might expect another ₹ 130,000–₹ 260,000 per year for content maintenance. Without automation, this recurring cost compounds annually.
Breakdown by component (average proportions):
- Translation: 35–45%
- Engineering and integration: 20–25%
- Review and QA: 20%
- Project management: 10–15%
- Tools and licences: 5–10%
Pro tip: Use translation memory (TM) and central glossaries to reduce long-term costs. Once built, they can cut translation workload by 30–50% across updates.
Hidden or Overlooked Costs
Localisation budgets often fail not because of visible translation or engineering expenses, but because of unplanned secondary costs. These are subtle, harder to quantify, and easy to overlook during initial scoping.
1. Engineering Rework
When translated text expands or changes alignment, developers may need to adjust layouts, breakpoints, or content containers. This re-engineering effort isn’t always budgeted and can add days of work per language.
How to reduce it: Use flexible layouts and variable-width design early in development to prevent layout breakage.
2. Design Adjustments
Different languages vary in length and script complexity. A sentence that fits neatly in English may overflow in Hindi or Arabic. Visuals containing embedded text must also be re-created.
Design-related revisions can add 10–15% to total localisation cost if not planned upfront.
How to reduce it: Keep text separate from images and use Unicode-compatible fonts across all assets.
3. International SEO Setup
Each language version must be properly tagged with hreflang attributes, canonical links, and translated metadata. Failing to do so leads to duplicate indexing and poor ranking.
Reconfiguring SEO later is both time-consuming and costly.
How to reduce it: Integrate multilingual SEO during localisation planning and automate hreflang tagging through your CMS or localisation platform.
4. Project Management and Coordination
Managing multiple vendors, file exchanges, and version approvals creates an invisible workload. Internal teams may spend hours every week aligning changes, testing updates, and coordinating between departments.
How to reduce it: Use a centralised localisation platform that automates file exchange, reviewer approvals, and change notifications.
5. Legal and Compliance Review
Industries such as banking, healthcare, and government require every translated word to pass compliance validation. This step often involves legal teams and can add both time and cost.
How to reduce it: Establish pre-approved glossaries and maintain audit logs within your localisation workflow to streamline legal review.
These “hidden” costs often equal 20–40% of the total localisation spend when unaccounted for. Transparent workflows and automation can significantly reduce their impact.
How to Reduce Website Localisation Cost Without Cutting Quality
Reducing localisation costs doesn’t mean compromising linguistic accuracy or user experience. The goal is to optimise effort, eliminate repetition, and automate wherever possible. The most successful organisations treat localisation as a continuous, data-driven workflow instead of a one-time expense.
Here are five proven strategies to lower website localisation costs without affecting quality.
1. Reuse Translations Through Translation Memory (TM)
Translation Memory stores previously translated text and automatically reuses it when the same phrase appears again.
For enterprise websites with recurring UI labels, FAQs, or legal disclaimers, this can reduce translation workload by 30–50% over time.
A well-maintained TM also helps maintain consistency across pages and products.
2. Automate Content Sync via APIs
Manual copy-paste workflows are slow and error-prone. API-based localisation allows content to flow directly between your CMS or codebase and the localisation platform.
This eliminates redundant file handling, prevents version mismatches, and shortens turnaround times for updates.
3. Centralise Review and Approval Workflows
One of the biggest hidden expenses in localisation comes from scattered reviewer feedback and inconsistent approval processes.
Centralising reviews on a single platform ensures visibility, reduces back-and-forth edits, and enforces quality standards through version control.
4. Localise Incrementally
Instead of translating every page at once, start with the highest-impact content, landing pages, key product sections, and navigation.
By focusing on pages with the most traffic or conversion potential first, you can demonstrate ROI quickly and build a sustainable budget for future phases.
5. Use Hybrid AI + Human Review Models
Machine Translation (MT) has advanced significantly, but it’s most effective when paired with human review.
Using MT for initial drafts and human linguists for contextual refinement can cut costs and turnaround time without sacrificing readability or tone.
Pro tip: The most cost-efficient localisation strategies are those that balance automation with human oversight. Automate what can be standardised, and humanise what defines your brand.
Where Anuvadak Lowers Total Cost of Ownership
For large-scale websites with multiple languages, manual localisation quickly becomes inefficient. This is where Anuvadak transforms localisation economics.
Anuvadak is Reverie’s enterprise-grade website and app localisation platform, purpose-built for Indian languages and multilingual scale. It helps organisations move from one-time translation projects to continuous localisation pipelines, reducing operational costs while improving quality and speed.
1. Automated Translation and Reuse
Anuvadak integrates directly with CMSs and web applications through APIs. It automatically identifies new or modified content, reuses previously approved translations, and sends only the delta for review.
This automation eliminates repetitive human effort and brings immediate cost savings.
2. Built-in Review and Approval Workflows
Instead of juggling spreadsheets and vendor portals, teams can manage translations, reviewer approvals, and version tracking from a single dashboard.
This centralisation reduces project management overhead and shortens review cycles from weeks to days.
3. Continuous Deployment and Maintenance
Anuvadak automates multilingual content updates in real time. Whether you’re adding a new service page or updating legal copy, approved translations sync instantly across all language versions.
This approach turns localisation from a manual cost centre into an automated process with predictable spend.
4. Security, Compliance, and Auditability
Enterprises and government departments often face strict compliance standards. Anuvadak ensures every translation, approval, and change is tracked with user-based audit trails and encryption.
This not only supports data integrity but also reduces legal risk and manual documentation costs.
5. Quantifiable Cost Reduction
On average, enterprises using Anuvadak achieve up to 40–60% reduction in localisation lifecycle costs compared to manual or vendor-driven models.
The savings come from translation reuse, reduced human coordination, and automated deployments.
| Cost Category | Manual Process | With Anuvadak |
| Translation | Pay-per-project | Reuse with translation memory |
| Review | External coordination | In-platform approvals |
| Deployment | Manual uploads | API-based publishing |
| Maintenance | Recurring translation fees | Automated updates |
| Total | 100% baseline | 40–60% reduction long-term |
Example:
A multilingual eCommerce retailer managing eight languages cut its yearly localisation spend by nearly half after integrating Anuvadak. The platform automated content sync from the CMS, reused 42% of translations, and reduced deployment time from 10 days to less than 2.
Conclusion
Understanding the true cost of website localisation is the first step to building a scalable multilingual digital strategy. The actual expense isn’t just in translation; it lies in how efficiently content moves through your ecosystem, from creation to approval to live deployment.
For enterprises, government organisations, and digital service providers, the key is to combine automation, reuse, and human oversight. That balance ensures quality while keeping budgets predictable and sustainable.
Anuvadak enables exactly that.
It transforms localisation from a fragmented, manual workflow into a streamlined, centralised process that lowers costs, accelerates updates, and ensures linguistic consistency across every channel.
Explore how Anuvadak can optimise your localisation workflow.
FAQs
1. How much does website localisation cost in 2025?
Typical website localisation projects range from $1,000 to $25,000 (₹ 88,690 – ₹ 2,217,250), depending on content volume, language count, and technical complexity. For enterprises managing multiple languages or CMS integrations, ongoing maintenance adds another 15–30% annually.
2. What’s the difference between website translation cost and localisation cost?
Translation cost only covers the linguistic conversion of text. Localisation cost includes translation plus design adaptation, technical integration, SEO updates, and quality review, essentially, everything needed to make the website work natively in another language.
3. Why do localisation costs vary so widely across vendors?
Prices depend on language pairs, content type, and workflow sophistication. Manual vendor-driven models include project management overhead, while automation platforms reduce human coordination and recurring costs.
4. How can enterprises lower localisation costs without affecting quality?
Reuse translated content through translation memory, automate content sync, and use hybrid AI + human models for accuracy. Centralising review workflows also prevents duplication and rework.
5. How does Anuvadak help reduce localisation costs?
Anuvadak automates content extraction, translation reuse, and reviewer approvals through an integrated dashboard. It reduces recurring localisation costs by up to 60%, shortens deployment cycles, and provides full audit trails for compliance.
