Technical forums » Localization »
Which would you rather buy and why: Passolo or Catalyst?
Thread poster: Michal Dadan
Michal Dadan
Michal Dadan  Identity Verified
Poland
Local time: 08:43
English to Polish
+ ...
Mar 13, 2009

I'm going to buy myself a serious localization tool to offer localization services directly to the end clients. Please help me choose between SDL Passolo Professional and Alchemy Catalyst Localizer Edition. The price is no issue. Which would you rather buy and why? What are their strong and weak sides? Which one allows you to work faster? Would it be in any way beneficial to have both of these tools if I can afford it?
 
Grzegorz Gryc
Grzegorz Gryc  Identity Verified
Local time: 08:43
French to Polish
+ ...
Try 'em yourself... Mar 13, 2009

Michal Dadan wrote:

I'm going to buy myself a serious localization tool to offer localization services directly to the end clients. Please help me choose between SDL Passolo Professional and Alchemy Catalyst Localizer Edition.

Approx. two years ago, I faced the same question (I was implementing this kind of tool with my one of my major customers).
So, I tested the most important visual localization tools on the market.
The reason why I selected Passolo are:
- they have a damn good parser able to parse huge (1 MB) rc files (e.g. Multilizer hung or was unable to display the file, I don't remember exactly)
- the licensing is flexible (you may ask a dongle, you can't do it for Catalyst neither for RC-WinTrans)
- the multilingual localization simply works (see below).

Please, note, it was some time ago and I may be inexact now...

The price is no issue.

You're wrong
For the Catalyst Localize price, you may have Passolo Team (5 bundles) with some essential plugins you really need.
It may be interesting if you want to send bundles for outsourcers.
If not, Passolo will be cheaper.
So you can afford another tool like Multilizer/Sisulizer

Which would you rather buy and why? What are their strong and weak sides?

The most stupid thing in Catalyst is they use system fonts to display the localized GUI.
I.e., if you want to localize to Polish, Russian, Arabic and Chinese, you're f!#$%d.
Royally.

Which one allows you to work faster?

Probably Catalyst.
Passolo is slow on large projects but you can easily export the texts as CSV or Trados XML, translate in an external CAT (e.g. DVX, it works like a Gatling gun...), then import back to Passolo and proofread.

Would it be in any way beneficial to have both of these tools if I can afford it?

Generally, it doesn't make sense to have two tools like this unless you are a middle size or (damn) big translation office.
They're VERY expensive.
I can afford it 'cause one of my important customers works with Passolo.
Otherwise, you really need a good marketing

BTW.
Take a look on RC-WinTrans and/or Multilizer/Sisulizer too.

PS.
My second choice would have been RC-WinTrans.
E.g. the SDL Trados integration works better than in SDL Passolo...
Unfortunately, no dongles

Cheers
GG

[Edited at 2009-03-13 20:07 GMT]
 
longmian
longmian
United States
Local time: 01:43
English to Chinese
+ ...
Passolo NOT cheaper than Catalyst - ANY MORE! Jun 11, 2009


You're wrong
For the Catalyst Localize price, you may have Passolo Team (5 bundles) with some essential plugins you really need.
It may be interesting if you want to send bundles for outsourcers.
If not, Passolo will be cheaper.
So you can afford another tool like Multilizer/Sisulizer


Last checked on this today.
SDL Passolo Team 5: USD 4800 (Add-ins extra)
SDL Passolo Team Unlimited: USD 9700 (Add-ins extra)
Catalyst Developer: USD 9163 (EURO 6499, Add-ins extra)

For pro version/localizer version, Passolo is still a bit cheaper:
SDL Passolo Professional: USD 2422 (Add-ins extra)
Catalyst Localizer: USD 5638 (EURO 3999, Add-ins extra)
Catalyst Pro/Translator: USD 704 (EURO 499, Add-ins extra)

Of course, they both have a free version to work with Team/Developer version.

Since bought by SDL, Passolo has gone through a major pricing make-over. Good or bad????
 


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:

Moderator(s) of this forum
Maya Gorgoshidze[Call to this topic]
Mahmoud Akbari[Call to this topic]

You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Which would you rather buy and why: Passolo or Catalyst?






Trados Studio 2022 Freelance
The leading translation software used by over 270,000 translators.

Designed with your feedback in mind, Trados Studio 2022 delivers an unrivalled, powerful desktop and cloud solution, empowering you to work in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

More info »
CafeTran Espresso
You've never met a CAT tool this clever!

Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer. Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools. Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free

Buy now! »