Forum Discussion
Articulate Localization – A Licensing Trap?
Our Situation
During the previous billing term, we purchased Articulate Localization credits and used them to translate several courses. However, while our subscription was still active, the licensing terms were fundamentally changed.
When our current billing term began, we decided not to purchase additional Localization credits because of these new conditions. At that point, we discovered that the translated courses we had already paid for could no longer be used as expected.
What We Find Problematic
We paid for the translation of our courses. Nevertheless, without an active Localization license, we can no longer use the translated content in the way we originally anticipated. Most importantly, it is no longer possible to save projects to individual languages or export a translated courses in a single lanuage as SCORM packages.
From our perspective, this raises several concerns:
- Changes to the Licensing Terms
The licensing terms were changed during our contract period. As a result, we now have no real options for working with translations that we already paid for than we had at the time of purchase.
- Previously Paid Translations Are Effectively Locked
The translation service was delivered and paid for. However, the translated content can no longer be freely exported and used. From our perspective, it feels as though we are being required to pay again just to access and use content that we already own.
Furthermore, the full translation cost is incurred again for every change after the current billing term - even if only a few words need to be updated or a single-language course simply needs to be re-exported.
- Lack of Transparency Before Purchase
Our official Articulate reseller did not inform us that projects created using the Localization feature would become significantly restricted once Localization credits were no longer available.
Had we known this in advance, we would most likely not have purchased the Localization feature.
- No Opportunity to Adjust Our Subscription
We made several attempts to change our existing billing term to an annual subscription. Unfortunately, this option was not made available to us. As a result, we were placed under significant time pressure and were unable to properly assess the impact of the licensing changes before making renewal decisions.
Our Conclusion
We paid not only for the translation of our courses but also with the expectation that the translated content would remain available for long-term use.
Discovering that courses that had already been translated could not even be exported as single-language courses once the localization license had expired was neither transparent nor foreseeable.
Clear and transparent information about these restrictions would have significantly influenced our purchasing decision and could have prevented a great deal of frustration
4 Replies
Hello Jay365,
Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed explanation of your experience. I can understand why this has been frustrating, especially when it affects translations you've already invested in and changes your team's long-term workflow.
Some of what you've described is specific to your subscription history and renewal experience, so I've escalated your existing case with us to our Customer Success Team. They can review your account, clarify how the current licensing applies to your projects, and discuss any options available based on your situation.
You've raised several important concerns about expectations, transparency, and the impact of licensing changes on your ability to work with existing translated projects. I appreciate you outlining those points so clearly.
While I can't comment on the decisions behind licensing policies or make changes to account terms here in the community, I do want you to know that I've heard your concerns. In particular, your feedback about understanding the limitations before purchase, the impact on previously translated content, and the challenges around maintaining and exporting localized courses provides valuable context.
Thank you again for taking the time to document your experience so thoroughly. I understand how disruptive unexpected workflow changes can be, and I appreciate you sharing this feedback with us.
When we started looking at Articulate Localization, everything was pretty shrouded in mystery. Luckily, the rep we spoke with let us know that if our credits expired, access to translated content would be lost; we'd essentially have to rebuild those courses with no syncing. This, and our quoted price of $500/credit, was absolutely wild to me.
Sounds like your rep did you dirty by leaving out that crucial detail. The whole pricing structure (wait, what pricing structure?) and lack of transparency have been pretty harmful to their brand, in my opinion.
We luckily have subject matter experts who can translate content for us, otherwise we'd probably look at something like DeepL to get us most of the way there and at a fraction of the price ($350/yr vs. $10,000/yr.)Hello JenLynnRusso,
Thanks for sharing your experience and perspective. I appreciate you taking the time to explain what factored into your evaluation.
I understand why clarity around how Localization works after credits expire is important when you're deciding whether it's the right fit for your team. Clear expectations upfront can have a big impact on purchasing decisions and long-term planning, so I appreciate you calling that out. I’ve also connected you with our Customer Success team in a support case so they can speak with you directly.
I also hear your feedback about the pricing model and the value comparison you made while evaluating other options. Every organization has different localization needs and workflows, and it's helpful for us to understand how those considerations influence your decisions.
Thank you again for contributing to the discussion. Feedback like yours helps us better understand what's most important to customers as they evaluate and use Localization.
Thanks for the reply Luciana! Seems like Localization has got mixed feedback, kind of like cilantro (you either really like it or you don't). We just don't have the proper use case for it to justify the expense, plus have readily available SME-translators who can use the correct verbiage for our industry 🙂
