Buying FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions when Buying a Wordfast License
How does Wordfast compare with other tools in terms of cost?
Wordfast Classic, Pro, and Studio licenses are valid for three years and include tech support and all upgrades. At the end of three years, you need to renew your license to continue using the software. The price for a renewal is 50% of the standard list price at the time of renewal and the renewal lasts three years. Other tool providers charge a hefty upfront cost for a “perpetual” license, then a yearly upgrade and tech support fee. Even though perpetual licenses are in principle valid for an unlimited period of time, technical progress of hardware and software may mean that these licenses cannot be used in practice for an unlimited period of time. Because legacy licenses may not be compatible with new operating system versions or computers, in certain situations, upgrading is usually your only solution. As of October 2022, the costs to own comparable, fully-upgraded versions of the following tools, including tech support, for 9 years were:
Wordfast (Pro or Classic): $960
Please see this detailed comparison of the costs to own a Wordfast Pro license with those of other desktop translation tools.
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Where do I get the "full version" of Wordfast after I pay?
When you purchase a Wordfast license, you will receive an email which contains login credentials for our website. You will need those login credentials in order to retrieve your license. For Wordfast Classic, once you are signed into our website, you simply need to download and install Wordfast Classic and it will be automatically licensed. For Wordfast Pro, you should have already downloaded, installed, and tried it. Depending on the version of Wordfast Pro you have installed, you need to activate your license of Wordfast Pro to remove demo mode restrictions. Please follow the procedure explained on our knowledge base to license Wordfast Pro or Wordfast Pro 3 (legacy version). Click here to purchase Wordfast.
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How can I install and license Wordfast products?
You can refer to the Wordfast Knowledge Base for articles on how to download, install, and license Wordfast products.
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Can I use my Wordfast license on more than one computer?
Corporations may use a license on one computer at a time. Individuals (freelance translators) are allowed to use their license on two computers simultaneously. We understand that freelancers often own a desktop and a laptop computer. When you stop using Wordfast on a computer (when you uninstall it or you replace your computer with a new one), you can license Wordfast on your new computer, as long as your license is valid (i.e. it has not expired).
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When you purchase a license or subscription plan, you are automatically entitled to access our email hotline for the duration of your license or subscription period. To access the support hotline, sign in here with the credentials sent to you when you bought your Wordfast license or subscription.
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Do you have a representative or dealer in my country?
Wordfast services its global customer base from offices in France and the USA. Currently, Wordfast is only sold directly from the web. We do not have any resellers* or dealers located in your country. Please note: If you are looking for expert users in your region that provide Wordfast training, see the training section of our website. However, sales transaction can only be done through www.wordfast.com.
*For resellers: We have no special prices or conditions for resellers, except a few long-term partners. Note that re-selling Wordfast licenses is forbidden in the Wordfast end user license agreement. However, you can help a client buy their license(s) and then contact us to change the email ID to your client so they can get license activation keys and contact the hotline if necessary.
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My procurement department needs an invoice before I buy a license. What should I do?
Please send us your billing details and specify how many licenses you need to purchase by filling out the form on this page. We will email an invoice that your procurement department can then settle by credit card or wire transfer. Please note that we charge a $45 transaction fee to accept and reconcile wire transfers. If they prefer to pay by credit card, we charge a 3% credit card processing fee.
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My VAT number is not being accepted when trying to buy a license. What should I do?
Paddle, our payment partner, validates VAT numbers against VIES (https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/#/vat-validation) via the APIs they provide. This is the official source to validate VAT information. In some cases, if the VIES is temporarily down, or if the API requests made by Paddle didn't get the response in time, Paddle will mark the VAT validation as failed, and the checkout will proceed without the VAT information added. In this case, the buyer is recommended to try the checkout at a later time, or they can contact Paddle Buyer Support Team (https://paddle.net/). Please see this page for more details about adjusting your invoice post-purchase and getting a VAT refund.
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Do you accept any other forms of payment beyond what is listed on your website?
Wordfast purchases are handled online through Paddle, our secure e-commerce partner. Paddle accepts credit cards and PayPal. If you have any questions regarding payment through Paddle, please visit their customer service page. As is customary for online sales, an invoice will be sent after your purchase. Follow these instructions to update and download your invoice. For agency/corporate customers who are interested in purchasing site licenses, server-based TM or other enterprise solutions, please contact us.
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Your prices are listed in USD. Can I pay in my country’s currency?
Indeed, our prices are initially shown in USD which is our base currency. However, during the checkout process, our payment partner will automatically detect your location, convert our base price at current market rates, and complete the transaction in the currency of your current detected location.
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After purchasing, how long will I be able to use Wordfast for?
Wordfast Classic, Pro, and Studio licenses are valid for three years from the date of purchase. During the three-year period, users are entitled to free email hotline support, free upgrades to new versions, and free use of Wordfast Anywhere. Users also have the right to relicense the software to keep it running during the license period in the event they change their computer or hard drive. See the Wordfast User License Agreement for more information. As of January 1, 2023, Wordfast Anywhere is a subscription-based service. The subscription fee is $1 for 30-day trial, then $9.90/month, with our usual 50% discount for developing economies. An additional discount will apply for a 10-month plan.
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Can I upgrade to newer versions?
As a license holder, you are entitled to upgrade your version of Wordfast to the latest release free of charge for three years from date of purchase. To do this, simply visit our download page and install the latest version. As long as your install number has not changed, your version will be automatically licensed. If you wish to continue using the software after your three-year license period is up, you will need to renew your license. The price for license renewal is 50% of the standard list price at the time of renewal and the renewal lasts three years.
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I'm a student, can I have Wordfast for free?
Wordfast offers gratuity licenses for educational institutions in order to give students the resources and skills they need to pursue a career in the translation field. Please see this brochure which outlines the benefits for students and faculty, as well as instructions on how to apply for gratuity licenses. Students are NOT entitled to free licenses for their personal use. However, if you are a student, your professor or educational institution can apply for free versions of Wordfast Classic or Pro for use in the classroom for educational purposes. For more information about Wordfast’s academic program, please click here.
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I work for an agency or corporation. Who do I contact for information about enterprise solutions for my company?
For agency/corporate customers who are interested in purchasing site licenses, server-based TM or other enterprise solutions, please contact us.
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Is Wordfast compatible with other tools?
Yes, Wordfast supports industry standard exchange formats for compatibility with most major commercial CAT tools. Wordfast supports TMs in TMX format and glossaries in TBX or tab-delimited text format. Wordfast can also import and translate RWS Trados packages, SDLXLIFF files, and MemoQ MQXLIFF files. For more information on supported file formats, visit the Products section of our website.
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