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BasicCAT

basiccat.org

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Spec score 8.0 #11 of 29 in Computer-Assisted Translation Software

What it is

BasicCAT is a free, open-source computer-aided translation tool intended to give translators a simple desktop workspace. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows and includes translation memory, terminology management, language checking, Quickfill, AutoCorrect, and interactive machine translation. Users can merge or split segments, export Word files for external review, and create bilingual paragraph files. Listed file support includes TXT, IDML, XLIFF, and Gettext PO, alongside TMX, TBX, and SRX standards. Its documentation lists built-in connections to 12 machine translation services, including Baidu, Google, Microsoft Bing, MyMemory, Tencent Cloud, IBM Watson, and Amazon. Most services require API keys; MyMemory instead requires an email address. Language checks use LanguageTool through its API or locally. Translation memory and terms can be shared through a server program, while Git collaboration is for work files and does not sync those resources. The sharing server requires Java 8 or later.

Spec sheet

Purpose
BasicCAT is an open-source, free computer-aided translation tool aimed at providing a simple tool for translators.Read 3 Oct 2026 · basiccat.org
Support
The support page recommends posting BasicCAT issues on its GitHub issue tracker rather than emailing the maker.Read 3 Oct 2026 · basiccat.org
Collaboration
BasicCAT supports sharing translation memory and terms through a server program, and Git collaboration for work files; Git collaboration does not sync translation memory or terms.Read 3 Oct 2026 · docs.basiccat.org
Export and review
BasicCAT can export Word files for external review and bilingual paragraph files.Read 3 Oct 2026 · basiccat.org
File formats
The homepage lists support for TXT, IDML, XLIFF, and Gettext PO files, and for the TMX, TBX, and SRX standards.Read 3 Oct 2026 · basiccat.org
Integration requirements
The documentation says users need API keys for the listed machine translation services, while MyMemory requires an email address instead of an API key.Read 3 Oct 2026 · docs.basiccat.org
Language checking
BasicCAT uses LanguageTool for language checks, and the documentation says users can use its API or run LanguageTool locally.Read 3 Oct 2026 · docs.basiccat.org
Machine translation integrations
The documentation lists built-in support for 12 machine translation services, including Baidu, Google, Microsoft Bing, MyMemory, Tencent Cloud, IBM Watson, and Amazon.Read 3 Oct 2026 · docs.basiccat.org
Plugins
The download page lists machine-translation plugins including ChatGPT, Gemini, DeepL, Google, and Amazon, plus a Gettext PO filter plugin.Read 3 Oct 2026 · basiccat.org
Service limits
The documentation states that Baidu and Bing have a 2 million limit per month, MyMemory a 10,000-word limit per day, and Yandex a 1 million-word daily and 10 million-word monthly limit.Read 3 Oct 2026 · docs.basiccat.org
Sharing server requirement
The translation-memory and term-sharing server requires Java 8 or later, and the documentation says an access key can be set in key.txt.Read 3 Oct 2026 · docs.basiccat.org
Supported desktop platforms
The download page offers Windows 32-bit and 64-bit, macOS Intel and Apple CPU builds, and a Linux and other platforms archive.Read 3 Oct 2026 · basiccat.org
Translation tools
Features include translation memory, terminology management, language checking, Quickfill, AutoCorrect, interactive machine translation, and segment merging and splitting.Read 3 Oct 2026 · basiccat.org

Plans and prices

BasicCAT Free Open source · free CAT tool Read 3 Oct 2026 · basiccat.org

Every BasicCAT plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free and open-source
  • Supports Linux, macOS, and Windows
  • Includes translation memory and terminology management
  • Exports Word files for external review

Limits

  • Most machine-translation services require API keys
  • Git does not sync translation memory or terms
  • Sharing server requires Java 8 or later

Who it suits

BasicCAT suits translators who want a free desktop CAT tool with translation memory, terminology management, and machine-translation connections. Teams can share memory and terms through its server program or collaborate on work files with Git.

Verdict

BasicCAT covers core translation workflows, file handling, and language checks in a free desktop tool. Its collaboration methods have distinct limits: the server shares translation resources, while Git applies only to work files.

Where Specifiction places it

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