# Weblate / Tolgee

Strings you host. Weblate is GPL-3.0; Tolgee is Apache-2.0 (skip ee/) — Crowdin without the hosted localization seat.

**Replaces:** Crowdin

**Tier:** Medium

## Problem

Crowdin is a hosted localization OS: strings, translators, and a Git hook. You wanted that desk on a box you run. Weblate is GPL-3.0 (WeblateOrg/weblate; last push 24 Oct 2026). Tolgee is Apache-2.0 outside ee/ (tolgee/tolgee-platform; last push 24 Oct 2026) — skip ee/. This is not Crowdin's every agency, MT, or In-Context SKU. Machine translation of a string stays on /replace/deepl (LibreTranslate). Grammar stays on /replace/grammarly (LanguageTool). Typeform Video / VideoAsk was skipped: no product-level self-hosted video-survey path.

## Stack

- [Weblate](https://weblate.org/) — GPL-3.0 localization platform — the published Crowdin path
- [Tolgee](https://tolgee.io) — Apache-2.0 localization platform (skip ee/)

## Estimated SaaS cost saved

| You stop paying | Typical / year | Self-host instead |
|---|---:|---|
| Crowdin / hosted localization (small team) | $1,200 | Weblate or Tolgee + a database |

**About $1,200 / year** on a small team, before you count lock-in.

## Deploy on Railway

Placeholder: Weblate (or Tolgee) plus a database and a volume for translation memory. Bind HTTP to 0.0.0.0:$PORT. No one-click template in this repo yet — Start on Railway. A translate API stays on /stacks/libretranslate.

[Start on Railway](https://c17.io/go/railway/weblate-i18n?from=%2Fstacks%2Fweblate-i18n.md)

[LibreTranslate if this is an MT API, not a localization desk](https://c17.io/stacks/libretranslate)

## AGENT_PROMPT

```
Replace Crowdin with Weblate (preferred) or Tolgee (https://weblate.org/ / https://tolgee.io).

- Official docs. Persist the database. Import one component or one project. Do not claim Crowdin agency, MT, or In-Context parity.
- Tolgee: skip ee/. LibreTranslate if the job is an MT API — /stacks/libretranslate.
- Write AGENT_PROMPT.md.
```

## FAQ

### Weblate or Tolgee?

Weblate if you want the published Crowdin path (Git-tight GPL). Tolgee if you want that Apache-2.0 desk — skip ee/. /compare/weblate-vs-tolgee.

### Is this DeepL?

No. Machine translation of a string stays on /replace/deepl (LibreTranslate). This page is a localization desk.

### Where is Typeform Video?

Skipped. There is no product-level self-hosted video-survey path. Crowdin is the substitute on this wave.

### Are these free?

Weblate is GPL-3.0. Tolgee's default tree is Apache-2.0 if you skip ee/. You pay hosting. Template users never pay c17.

Source: https://c17.io/stacks/weblate-i18n