Smartcat for translators: what it does with scans, and where LoreAI fits

What Smartcat is

Smartcat describes itself as one AI translation platform for content in any language, with AI translation into 280+ languages[1]. Under that sits a classic CAT workflow. You upload a file to a project, the editor splits it into segments, and confirmed segments go into a translation memory that is free on every plan[3].

It also runs a marketplace. Its homepage says the integrated Marketplace has 500,000+ translators, editors, proofreaders and agencies[1]. That is why many freelancers have a Smartcat account even when their own work runs in Trados or memoQ: a client sends the job through Smartcat and they translate it in the platform's editor.

Note that the search term "smartcat" also covers a cat litter brand and a software company called SmartCat. This page is about the translation platform at smartcat.com.

Can Smartcat translate a scanned PDF?

Yes. Its supported formats page says scanned PDFs are processed automatically with OCR to extract the text, and lists JPG, PNG, TIFF and image only PDF among the formats it reads that way[4]. Each page that needs recognition uses one OCR page from your balance, so a 20 page scan uses 20 OCR pages[2]. OCR is a paid service, and you buy more pages under Productivity Services[2].

There are three PDF workflows to choose from[5]:

AI PDF Translation

Returns a translated PDF. Its help page says it does not support scanned PDFs or handwriting, and charges 1000 Smartwords per page per target language[5]

Image Pipeline (PDF Image Only)

Treats each page as an image and is the recommended route for scans, including handwriting. You set it up by hand and it returns a PDF[5]

Standard workflow

Runs OCR, converts the PDF to Word for translation in the editor, and exports a PDF. The help page says tables and multi column layouts often need rework[5]

So the scan does get in. What you pay for is the OCR page count, and what you get is the layout the converter produces.

How much does Smartcat cost?

The pricing page lists four plans. Only Adapt has a public price, $1,200 a year billed annually with 100K Smartwords and unlimited users[3]. Accelerate, Anticipate and Autonomous are custom priced, with 1M, 2M and 6M Smartwords[3]. There is a 15 day free trial including API access, and no permanent free plan is listed[3].

Smartwords are the allowance that AI work draws on, and you can top them up during the contract year[3]. OCR pages are a separate balance[2].

Smartcat and LoreAI side by side

Everything about Smartcat above comes from its own pages on the date in the caption.

Using LoreAI before Smartcat

The two tools do different jobs, and translators often use both. Smartcat is where the project lives. LoreAI is where a scan becomes a clean source file.

1. Upload the scan to LoreAI with OCR Only. You get an editable Word file in the source language, with headings, lists and tables in the order of the original.
2. Choose CAT-ready on a paid plan. CAT-ready joins OCR line breaks into whole paragraphs, puts one paragraph in each table cell and leaves out text boxes, so the CAT editor splits it into clean segments.
3. Import the Word file into your Smartcat project. It is treated like any other DOCX, so you work with your translation memory and glossary as usual.

When you only need a readable translation, skip the CAT step. Pick a target language in LoreAI and you get the translated Word file directly. Your first document is free, up to 3 pages.

Which one fits your job?

• Pick Smartcat when a client or agency runs the project there, when you work in a team, or when you want AI translation into one of its 280+ languages inside a managed workflow[1].
• Pick LoreAI when the source is a scan or a phone photo and you want an editable Word file you can check, count and import anywhere.
• Use both when a scanned job arrives in Smartcat. Convert the scan in LoreAI, then work in the CAT editor with your memory.

For the wider picture of CAT tools, see what a CAT tool is and how scans fit in. To price a scanned job before you accept it, use the PDF word counter and the translation rates guide.

Questions people ask