AI-assisted localization services, reviewed by human experts
Machine speed. Expert judgement.
Send up to 2,500 words of your own content. Judge a free, no‑obligation test translation before you commit.
- Up to 70%faster than a traditional agency
- Up to 50%cheaper than a traditional agency
- Years in localization
- 20+
- Projects delivered
- 60,000+
- Language pairs
- 150+
- EU servers, files deleted within 7 days of project completion
- EU
Hourglass localization services at a glance
Hourglass OÜ is a localization company based in Tallinn, Estonia (EU) that delivers AI-assisted translation reviewed by human experts in 150+ language pairs, up to 70% faster and up to 50% cheaper than a traditional agency, for organizations that need multilingual content, including language service providers.
Hourglass has more than 20 years of experience in localization and has completed 60,000+ projects across 150+ language pairs. The service is often called machine translation post-editing (MTPE): AI produces the draft, a human expert reviews it.
Hourglass quotes every project individually, based on language pair, volume and content complexity, and offers a free, no-obligation test translation of up to 10 standard pages (2,500 words) on your own content.
Hourglass stores client files on EU servers (Hetzner data centre, Frankfurt), carries out AI translation on EU servers only, and permanently deletes files no later than 7 days after project completion. Hourglass works with XLIFF, SDLXLIFF and MQXLIFF files from CAT tools and leaves locked segments untouched.
Capabilities
What every project includes
Large projects, short timelines
Large multilingual projects are routine: in our case study, a website of 100 pages per language for 4 regions was delivered in 6 business days.
Multi-pass workflow
Layered AI passes work on context, tone and terminology before a human expert reviews the draft.
Your terminology and style
Your terminology, tone of voice and style guide are applied to every project.
XLIFF and CAT support
We work directly in XLIFF, SDLXLIFF and MQXLIFF. Files are validated before delivery and go straight back into your CAT tool, so your translation memory stays intact.
GDPR compliance
Files are stored on EU servers in line with the GDPR and permanently deleted no later than 7 days after project completion. Client content is never used to train AI models.
Pricing
Quoted per project. Tested for free first.
Every quote is based on three things: language pair, volume and content complexity.
Your quote
Response within 24 hours on business days
Send us your content and target languages, and we will come back with a quote for your project.
Try it first
Free test: up to 10 pages (2,500 words)
No obligation. See the quality on your own content before you commit.
Case study
Case study: large volume, short timeline.
Website localization: 4 regions, 100 pages per language, 6 business days instead of 20.
Hourglass OÜ localized a manufacturing company’s website for 4 regions, 100 pages per language, in 6 business days instead of 20 and at half the cost of a traditional agency.
Turnaround time
Total cost
Comparison based on Hourglass’s 20 years of experience with traditional agency workflows and rates.
Workflow
Works inside your existing CAT tool workflow.
Keep your CAT tool and your process. Send us XLIFF, SDLXLIFF or MQXLIFF files and get them back translated with your glossary and style guide applied and reviewed by a human expert. Locked segments are left untouched, and your translation memory stays intact. If you prefer to edit the AI draft yourself, you can do so free of charge in Hourglass’s professional post-editing environment: your edits are saved automatically and applied to your future projects.
- XLIFF, SDLXLIFF, MQXLIFF
- Locked segments left untouched
- Free post-editing environment
- EU servers, processing in line with the GDPR
Try it first
Free test: up to 10 pages (2,500 words)
On your own content, no obligation
Get a free test translation| Source | AI draft | Expert review |
|---|---|---|
| Press the start button. | Drücken Sie die Starttaste. | Drücken Sie die Starttaste. |
| Allow 30 seconds for the update. | Warten Sie 30 Sekunden auf das Update. | Planen Sie für das Update 30 Sekunden ein. |
| © 2026 Example GmbH | Locked, untouched | |
What clients say about Hourglass
Results in our clients’ words
A four-hundred-page website project came back flawless, and cost half of what we’d budgeted, in a fraction of the time.
Ten times faster and 80% less expensive than a conventional translation process, exactly what we needed for a large internal document set.
FAQ
Localization and AI translation: common questions
How is Hourglass different from a traditional translation agency?
A traditional agency typically has human translators produce the first draft. At Hourglass OÜ, AI produces the draft in layered passes that apply your glossary, tone of voice and style guide, and a human expert reviews it before delivery. The result is typically a shorter turnaround at lower cost: in our case study, a four-region website project was delivered in 6 business days instead of 20, at half the cost.
Is Hourglass a GDPR-compliant translation service, and where is my data processed?
Hourglass OÜ is registered in Tallinn, Estonia (EU). Client files are stored on EU servers in the Hetzner data centre in Frankfurt, Germany, in line with the GDPR, and permanently deleted no later than 7 days after project completion. AI translation runs on EU servers only. Client content is never used to train AI models.
Can Hourglass work with our existing CAT tools?
Yes. Hourglass supports XLIFF, SDLXLIFF and MQXLIFF and leaves locked segments untouched, so your translation memory and existing workflow stay intact.
Who is Hourglass for?
Hourglass OÜ works with any organization that needs translation or localization services, including language service providers (LSPs) and translation agencies. Every project follows the same process: AI-assisted translation reviewed by a human expert.
What languages does Hourglass cover?
Hourglass OÜ provides professional translation from and into English, German, French, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and most other world languages: 150+ language pairs in total. Tell us your source and target languages and we will confirm coverage with your quote.
How does human review work at Hourglass?
AI produces the draft in layered passes that apply your glossary, tone of voice and style guide. A human expert then reviews and post-edits the full text for accuracy, terminology and style before delivery. Our experts are professional linguists with relevant qualifications and experience, and native speakers of the target language.
How do I get started?
Send up to 2,500 words (10 standard pages) of your own content to team@hourglasshq.eu for a free, no-obligation test translation, or your files and target languages for a quote. You can also call +371 26 18 27 88. Hourglass replies within 24 hours on business days.
How much does localization with Hourglass cost?
Hourglass OÜ does not publish a fixed price list; every project is quoted individually, depending on the language pair, the volume and the complexity of the content. Send your content and target languages to team@hourglasshq.eu and Hourglass replies within 24 hours on business days. Before you commit, you can request a free, no-obligation test translation of up to 10 standard pages (2,500 words).
How fast does Hourglass deliver?
Turnaround depends on volume and language pairs and is confirmed in the quote. In one case study, Hourglass OÜ localized a website of 100 pages per language for 4 regions in 6 business days, where a traditional agency would have needed 20.
Is Hourglass an AI translation company with human review, based in the EU?
Yes. Hourglass OÜ is a localization company based in Tallinn, Estonia (EU). Its standard process is AI-assisted translation followed by review by a human expert before delivery. Hourglass covers 150+ language pairs, stores files on EU servers and deletes them no later than 7 days after project completion, and offers a free, no-obligation test translation of up to 10 standard pages (2,500 words).
Contact
Request a quote or a free test translation
Send us your content and target languages for a quote, or up to 2,500 words for a free, no-obligation test translation. We respond within 24 hours on business days.
- Phone
- +371 26 18 27 88
- team@hourglasshq.eu
- Address
- Katusepapi tn 6, Lasnamäe, Tallinn 11412, Estonia