Pontoon

Spec sheet

Purpose

Pontoon is a web-based translation management system for translating, reviewing, and managing strings for Mozilla products and websites.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pontoon.mozilla.org

Intended users

Pontoon documentation is for localizers, administrators and project managers, and developers, including people who deploy their own instance.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pontoon.mozilla.org

Audience

The documentation is for localizers, administrators and project managers, and developers who contribute to or deploy Pontoon.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pontoon.mozilla.org

API

Pontoon’s documentation includes a REST API guide.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pontoon.mozilla.org

Support

The project README directs users to GitHub Discussions for feedback, support, and third-party deployments.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

License

The project repository states that Pontoon is licensed under the New BSD License.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

API access

YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · pontoon.mozilla.org

API token

Personal Access Tokens expire one year after creation and can be deleted manually at any time.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pontoon.mozilla.org

Batch actions

Users with translator permissions can perform mass actions, including approving or rejecting suggestions and finding and replacing text across selected strings.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pontoon.mozilla.org

Deployment limit

The project README says deployment documentation is available for Heroku and does not yet document deployment to other platforms.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Development setup limit

The project states that its local development setup is not suitable for production use.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Features

The home page lists machine translation, mass actions, localization dashboards, deadline and priority information, and notifications.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pontoon.mozilla.org

File formats

Pontoon supports localization formats including Fluent, Gettext PO, XLIFF, .properties, and DTD.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pontoon.mozilla.org

Glossary tools

YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · pontoon.mozilla.org

Import limit

Uploaded translation files must be under 5000 kB and match the format of the selected resource.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pontoon.mozilla.org

In-context localization

Mozilla describes Pontoon as focused on in-context localization.Read 12 Oct 2026 · blog.mozilla.org

Localization workflow

The home page describes a workflow where contributors suggest translations and trusted localizers approve them.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pontoon.mozilla.org

Open-source focus

Pontoon specializes in community-driven open-source localization and is available as open-source software maintained by Mozilla.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pontoon.mozilla.org

Repository sync

Pontoon pulls strings from Git and Mercurial repositories and can write translations back automatically.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pontoon.mozilla.org

Review and quality

Pontoon supports suggestion and approval workflows and automatically checks translations for issues such as punctuation, capitalization, and variables.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pontoon.mozilla.org

Self-hosting

Pontoon is open source, and its documentation includes instructions for deploying a production instance.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pontoon.mozilla.org

Source control

Pontoon can pull strings from Git and Mercurial repositories and write translations back automatically.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pontoon.mozilla.org

Support and feedback

The project directs users seeking feedback, support, or help with third-party deployments to GitHub Discussions.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Translation memory

YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · pontoon.mozilla.org

Translation tools

The workspace includes terminology, source string comments, translation-memory suggestions, machine translation, and translations from other locales.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pontoon.mozilla.org

Website translation

YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · pontoon.mozilla.org

Where Specifiction places it

• Localization Management Software#28 of 637.4
• Translation apps#113 of 1587.5
• Translation Software#120 of 1567.4