diff --git a/frontend/portal/src/components/account-link/AccountLinkPanel.tsx b/frontend/portal/src/components/account-link/AccountLinkPanel.tsx
index bccf2cfb74..eaf3c86be6 100644
--- a/frontend/portal/src/components/account-link/AccountLinkPanel.tsx
+++ b/frontend/portal/src/components/account-link/AccountLinkPanel.tsx
@@ -56,7 +56,12 @@ export function AccountLinkPanel() {
     <div className="portal-link portal-link--in-settings">
       <header className="portal-link__header">
         <div>
-          <p className="portal-link__page-sub">{t("accountLink.panel.sub")}</p>
+          <p className="portal-link__page-sub">
+            {t(
+              "accountLink.panel.sub",
+              "Link this self-hosted org to its Stirling account so unattended processing bills against your org wallet.",
+            )}
+          </p>
         </div>
         <StatusBadge
           tone={
@@ -68,7 +73,7 @@ export function AccountLinkPanel() {
           }
           size="md"
         >
-          {t(LINK_INFO[linkState].labelKey)}
+          {t(LINK_INFO[linkState].labelKey, LINK_INFO[linkState].labelDefault)}
         </StatusBadge>
       </header>
 
@@ -78,10 +83,13 @@ export function AccountLinkPanel() {
         <section className="portal-link__instances">
           <div className="portal-link__section-head">
             <h2 className="portal-link__section-title">
-              {t("accountLink.panel.instancesTitle")}
+              {t("accountLink.panel.instancesTitle", "Linked instances")}
             </h2>
             <p className="portal-link__section-sub">
-              {t("accountLink.panel.instancesSub")}
+              {t(
+                "accountLink.panel.instancesSub",
+                "Every self-hosted instance registered to this org. Revoke a credential to immediately cut off its unattended access.",
+              )}
             </p>
           </div>
           {instancesState.loading ? (
@@ -93,12 +101,21 @@ export function AccountLinkPanel() {
           ) : instancesState.error ? (
             <Banner
               tone="danger"
-              title={t("accountLink.panel.loadError.title")}
+              title={t(
+                "accountLink.panel.loadError.title",
+                "Couldn't load linked instances",
+              )}
             >
               {instancesState.error instanceof HttpError &&
               instancesState.error.status === 403
-                ? t("accountLink.panel.loadError.forbidden")
-                : t("accountLink.panel.loadError.generic")}
+                ? t(
+                    "accountLink.panel.loadError.forbidden",
+                    "Only the team owner can view the org's linked instances.",
+                  )
+                : t(
+                    "accountLink.panel.loadError.generic",
+                    "Couldn't load the team's linked instances. Try again in a moment.",
+                  )}
             </Banner>
           ) : (
             <LinkedInstancesTable
@@ -109,7 +126,13 @@ export function AccountLinkPanel() {
           )}
 
           {revokeError && (
-            <Banner tone="danger" title={t("accountLink.panel.revokeError")}>
+            <Banner
+              tone="danger"
+              title={t(
+                "accountLink.panel.revokeError",
+                "Couldn't revoke instance",
+              )}
+            >
               {revokeError}
             </Banner>
           )}
diff --git a/frontend/portal/src/components/account-link/LinkAccountCard.tsx b/frontend/portal/src/components/account-link/LinkAccountCard.tsx
index 7231fbbe28..f47accf391 100644
--- a/frontend/portal/src/components/account-link/LinkAccountCard.tsx
+++ b/frontend/portal/src/components/account-link/LinkAccountCard.tsx
@@ -24,30 +24,44 @@ export function LinkAccountCard({ link }: Props) {
       <div className="portal-link__card-head">
         <div>
           <span className="portal-link__eyebrow">
-            {t("accountLink.card.eyebrow")}
+            {t("accountLink.card.eyebrow", "Account link")}
           </span>
-          <h2 className="portal-link__title">{t("accountLink.card.title")}</h2>
+          <h2 className="portal-link__title">
+            {t(
+              "accountLink.card.title",
+              "Link this org to its Stirling account",
+            )}
+          </h2>
         </div>
         <StatusBadge tone={linked ? "success" : "neutral"} size="sm">
           {linked
-            ? t("accountLink.card.linked")
-            : t("accountLink.card.notLinked")}
+            ? t("accountLink.card.linked", "Linked")
+            : t("accountLink.card.notLinked", "Not linked")}
         </StatusBadge>
       </div>
 
       {!link.loginConfigured && (
         <Banner
           tone="neutral"
-          title={t("accountLink.card.loginNotConfigured.title")}
+          title={t(
+            "accountLink.card.loginNotConfigured.title",
+            "SaaS login not configured",
+          )}
         >
-          {t("accountLink.card.loginNotConfigured.before")}{" "}
+          {t("accountLink.card.loginNotConfigured.before", "Set")}{" "}
           <code>VITE_SAAS_SUPABASE_URL</code>{" "}
-          {t("accountLink.card.loginNotConfigured.after")}
+          {t(
+            "accountLink.card.loginNotConfigured.after",
+            "to enable account linking against the hosted Stirling account. In dev you can simulate sign-in from the link dialog.",
+          )}
         </Banner>
       )}
 
       {link.error && (
-        <Banner tone="danger" title={t("accountLink.card.error.title")}>
+        <Banner
+          tone="danger"
+          title={t("accountLink.card.error.title", "Couldn't link")}
+        >
           {link.error}
         </Banner>
       )}
@@ -56,9 +70,17 @@ export function LinkAccountCard({ link }: Props) {
         <div className="portal-link__actions">
           <span className="portal-link__muted">
             {link.status?.name
-              ? t("accountLink.card.linkedAs", { name: link.status.name })
-              : t("accountLink.card.linkedGeneric")}{" "}
-            {t("accountLink.card.billingNote")}
+              ? t("accountLink.card.linkedAs", "Linked as {{name}}.", {
+                  name: link.status.name,
+                })
+              : t(
+                  "accountLink.card.linkedGeneric",
+                  "This instance is linked.",
+                )}{" "}
+            {t(
+              "accountLink.card.billingNote",
+              "Unattended processing bills against your org wallet.",
+            )}
           </span>
           <Button
             variant="outline"
@@ -66,13 +88,13 @@ export function LinkAccountCard({ link }: Props) {
             loading={linking}
             onClick={link.unlink}
           >
-            {t("accountLink.card.unlink")}
+            {t("accountLink.card.unlink", "Unlink")}
           </Button>
         </div>
       ) : (
         <div className="portal-link__actions">
           <Button loading={linking} onClick={() => openLinkModal()}>
-            {t("accountLink.card.linkButton")}
+            {t("accountLink.card.linkButton", "Link your Stirling account")}
           </Button>
         </div>
       )}
diff --git a/frontend/portal/src/components/account-link/LinkAccountModal.tsx b/frontend/portal/src/components/account-link/LinkAccountModal.tsx
index b0dafac4ec..8c23bbcd0f 100644
--- a/frontend/portal/src/components/account-link/LinkAccountModal.tsx
+++ b/frontend/portal/src/components/account-link/LinkAccountModal.tsx
@@ -66,13 +66,19 @@ export function LinkAccountModal({
       width="md"
       title={
         reauth
-          ? t("accountLink.modal.reauthTitle")
-          : t("accountLink.modal.linkTitle")
+          ? t("accountLink.modal.reauthTitle", "Sign in again")
+          : t("accountLink.modal.linkTitle", "Link your Stirling account")
       }
       subtitle={
         reauth
-          ? t("accountLink.modal.reauthSubtitle")
-          : t("accountLink.modal.linkSubtitle")
+          ? t(
+              "accountLink.modal.reauthSubtitle",
+              "Your session expired — sign back in to your Stirling account. Your instance stays linked.",
+            )
+          : t(
+              "accountLink.modal.linkSubtitle",
+              "Sign in to the account this server should bill against.",
+            )
       }
     >
       {isSaasSupabaseConfigured ? (
@@ -81,13 +87,19 @@ export function LinkAccountModal({
         <div style={{ display: "flex", flexDirection: "column", gap: "1rem" }}>
           <Banner
             tone="neutral"
-            title={t("accountLink.modal.loginNotConfigured.title")}
+            title={t(
+              "accountLink.modal.loginNotConfigured.title",
+              "SaaS login not configured",
+            )}
           >
-            {t("accountLink.modal.loginNotConfigured.before")}{" "}
+            {t("accountLink.modal.loginNotConfigured.before", "Set")}{" "}
             <code>VITE_SAAS_SUPABASE_URL</code>{" "}
-            {t("accountLink.modal.loginNotConfigured.and")}{" "}
+            {t("accountLink.modal.loginNotConfigured.and", "and")}{" "}
             <code>VITE_SAAS_SUPABASE_ANON_KEY</code>{" "}
-            {t("accountLink.modal.loginNotConfigured.after")}
+            {t(
+              "accountLink.modal.loginNotConfigured.after",
+              "to enable in-app linking against the hosted Stirling account.",
+            )}
           </Banner>
           {import.meta.env.DEV && (
             <Button
@@ -97,7 +109,7 @@ export function LinkAccountModal({
                 onClose();
               }}
             >
-              {t("accountLink.modal.simulateSignIn")}
+              {t("accountLink.modal.simulateSignIn", "Simulate sign-in (dev)")}
             </Button>
           )}
         </div>
diff --git a/frontend/portal/src/components/account-link/LinkGate.tsx b/frontend/portal/src/components/account-link/LinkGate.tsx
index 254f4739bc..de56c844e9 100644
--- a/frontend/portal/src/components/account-link/LinkGate.tsx
+++ b/frontend/portal/src/components/account-link/LinkGate.tsx
@@ -29,13 +29,18 @@ export function LinkGate({ children, feature }: Props) {
       tone="info"
       title={
         feature
-          ? t("accountLink.gate.titleFeature", { feature })
-          : t("accountLink.gate.title")
+          ? t("accountLink.gate.titleFeature", "Link to unlock {{feature}}", {
+              feature,
+            })
+          : t("accountLink.gate.title", "Link to unlock")
       }
-      description={t("accountLink.gate.description")}
+      description={t(
+        "accountLink.gate.description",
+        "Link this org's Stirling account to use billable features.",
+      )}
       action={
         <Button size="sm" onClick={() => openLinkModal()}>
-          {t("accountLink.gate.action")}
+          {t("accountLink.gate.action", "Link account")}
         </Button>
       }
     />
diff --git a/frontend/portal/src/components/account-link/LinkedInstancesTable.tsx b/frontend/portal/src/components/account-link/LinkedInstancesTable.tsx
index bfe7fd0258..a6460016d5 100644
--- a/frontend/portal/src/components/account-link/LinkedInstancesTable.tsx
+++ b/frontend/portal/src/components/account-link/LinkedInstancesTable.tsx
@@ -19,15 +19,20 @@ interface Props {
 }
 
 function relativeTime(iso: string | null, t: TFunction): string {
-  if (!iso) return t("accountLink.instances.time.never");
+  if (!iso) return t("accountLink.instances.time.never", "never");
   const diffMs = Date.now() - new Date(iso).getTime();
   const mins = Math.round(diffMs / 60_000);
-  if (mins < 1) return t("accountLink.instances.time.justNow");
+  if (mins < 1) return t("accountLink.instances.time.justNow", "just now");
   if (mins < 60)
-    return t("accountLink.instances.time.minutesAgo", { count: mins });
+    return t("accountLink.instances.time.minutesAgo", "{{count}}m ago", {
+      count: mins,
+    });
   const hrs = Math.round(mins / 60);
-  if (hrs < 24) return t("accountLink.instances.time.hoursAgo", { count: hrs });
-  return t("accountLink.instances.time.daysAgo", {
+  if (hrs < 24)
+    return t("accountLink.instances.time.hoursAgo", "{{count}}h ago", {
+      count: hrs,
+    });
+  return t("accountLink.instances.time.daysAgo", "{{count}}d ago", {
     count: Math.round(hrs / 24),
   });
 }
@@ -42,11 +47,11 @@ export function LinkedInstancesTable({
   const cols: TableColumn<LinkedInstanceRow>[] = [
     {
       key: "name",
-      header: t("accountLink.instances.columns.instance"),
+      header: t("accountLink.instances.columns.instance", "Instance"),
       render: (i) => (
         <div className="portal-link__cell-stack">
           <span className="portal-link__cell-strong">
-            {i.name ?? t("accountLink.instances.unnamed")}
+            {i.name ?? t("accountLink.instances.unnamed", "Unnamed instance")}
           </span>
           <code className="portal-link__device-id">{i.deviceId}</code>
         </div>
@@ -54,21 +59,21 @@ export function LinkedInstancesTable({
     },
     {
       key: "status",
-      header: t("accountLink.instances.columns.status"),
+      header: t("accountLink.instances.columns.status", "Status"),
       render: (i) =>
         i.revoked ? (
           <StatusBadge tone="danger" size="sm">
-            {t("accountLink.instances.revoked")}
+            {t("accountLink.instances.revoked", "Revoked")}
           </StatusBadge>
         ) : (
           <StatusBadge tone="success" size="sm" pulse>
-            {t("accountLink.instances.active")}
+            {t("accountLink.instances.active", "Active")}
           </StatusBadge>
         ),
     },
     {
       key: "lastSeen",
-      header: t("accountLink.instances.columns.lastSeen"),
+      header: t("accountLink.instances.columns.lastSeen", "Last seen"),
       render: (i) => (
         <span className="portal-link__muted">
           {relativeTime(i.lastSeenAt, t)}
@@ -77,7 +82,7 @@ export function LinkedInstancesTable({
     },
     {
       key: "created",
-      header: t("accountLink.instances.columns.linked"),
+      header: t("accountLink.instances.columns.linked", "Linked"),
       render: (i) => (
         <span className="portal-link__muted">
           {relativeTime(i.createdAt, t)}
@@ -97,7 +102,7 @@ export function LinkedInstancesTable({
             loading={revokingId === i.instanceId}
             onClick={() => onRevoke(i)}
           >
-            {t("accountLink.instances.revoke")}
+            {t("accountLink.instances.revoke", "Revoke")}
           </Button>
         ),
     },
@@ -108,8 +113,11 @@ export function LinkedInstancesTable({
       {instances.length === 0 ? (
         <EmptyState
           size="compact"
-          title={t("accountLink.instances.empty.title")}
-          description={t("accountLink.instances.empty.description")}
+          title={t("accountLink.instances.empty.title", "No linked instances")}
+          description={t(
+            "accountLink.instances.empty.description",
+            "Link this org's account, then register your self-hosted instances to see them here.",
+          )}
         />
       ) : (
         <Table
diff --git a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/EnterpriseUpsell.tsx b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/EnterpriseUpsell.tsx
index bff0e91d2c..9ad3cbeae7 100644
--- a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/EnterpriseUpsell.tsx
+++ b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/EnterpriseUpsell.tsx
@@ -15,20 +15,23 @@ export function EnterpriseUpsell({ bare = false }: Props) {
   const body = (
     <>
       <span className="portal-billing__eyebrow">
-        {t("billing.enterpriseUpsell.eyebrow")}
+        {t("billing.enterpriseUpsell.eyebrow", "Volume discount · 1M+ PDFs")}
       </span>
       <div className="portal-billing__enterprise-head">
         <div>
           <h3 className="portal-billing__section-title">
-            {t("billing.enterpriseUpsell.title")}
+            {t("billing.enterpriseUpsell.title", "Stirling Enterprise")}
           </h3>
           <p className="portal-billing__section-sub">
-            {t("billing.enterpriseUpsell.description")}
+            {t(
+              "billing.enterpriseUpsell.description",
+              "Committed volume discounts, air-gapped deployment, custom MSA and security reviews, and 3rd-party distributor partnerships.",
+            )}
           </p>
         </div>
         {/* Destination wired when the enterprise/sales URL is confirmed. */}
         <Button variant="gradient" size="sm" disabled>
-          {t("billing.enterpriseUpsell.cta")}
+          {t("billing.enterpriseUpsell.cta", "Build your Enterprise quote")}
         </Button>
       </div>
     </>
diff --git a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/FreePdfEditorsCard.tsx b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/FreePdfEditorsCard.tsx
index e6eaa65d51..2744e26d08 100644
--- a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/FreePdfEditorsCard.tsx
+++ b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/FreePdfEditorsCard.tsx
@@ -36,30 +36,39 @@ export function FreePdfEditorsCard() {
           </span>
           <div>
             <h3 className="portal-billing__section-title">
-              {t("billing.freeEditors.title")}{" "}
+              {t("billing.freeEditors.title", "Free PDF Editors")}{" "}
               <StatusBadge tone="warning" size="sm" showDot={false}>
-                {t("billing.freeEditors.previewBadge")}
+                {t("billing.freeEditors.previewBadge", "Preview · sample data")}
               </StatusBadge>
             </h3>
             <p className="portal-billing__section-sub">
-              {t("billing.freeEditors.subtitle")}
+              {t(
+                "billing.freeEditors.subtitle",
+                "Deploy anywhere, for your whole team.",
+              )}
             </p>
           </div>
         </div>
         <MetricStrip className="portal-billing__fleet-metrics">
           <MetricCard
-            label={t("billing.freeEditors.editorsDeployed")}
+            label={t("billing.freeEditors.editorsDeployed", "Editors deployed")}
             value={SAMPLE.editorsDeployed}
           />
           <MetricCard
-            label={t("billing.freeEditors.activeThisMonth")}
+            label={t(
+              "billing.freeEditors.activeThisMonth",
+              "Active this month",
+            )}
             value={SAMPLE.activeThisMonth}
           />
           <MetricCard
-            label={t("billing.freeEditors.pdfsEdited")}
+            label={t("billing.freeEditors.pdfsEdited", "PDFs edited")}
             value={SAMPLE.pdfsEdited}
           />
-          <MetricCard label={t("billing.freeEditors.cost")} value="$0" />
+          <MetricCard
+            label={t("billing.freeEditors.cost", "Cost")}
+            value="$0"
+          />
         </MetricStrip>
         {/* Opens the Users tab with its invite-member modal (via the ?invite param). */}
         <Button
@@ -68,7 +77,7 @@ export function FreePdfEditorsCard() {
           leadingIcon={<PersonAddIcon sx={{ fontSize: 16 }} />}
           onClick={() => navigate("/users?invite=1")}
         >
-          {t("billing.freeEditors.inviteTeammates")}
+          {t("billing.freeEditors.inviteTeammates", "Invite teammates")}
         </Button>
       </div>
     </Card>
diff --git a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/FreePlanView.tsx b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/FreePlanView.tsx
index 2d8526d805..02a5352a43 100644
--- a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/FreePlanView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/FreePlanView.tsx
@@ -35,7 +35,12 @@ export function FreePlanView({ wallet, onSubscribed }: Props) {
 
   function openCheckout() {
     if (wallet.teamId == null) {
-      setMissingTeam(t("billing.freePlan.noTeamResolved"));
+      setMissingTeam(
+        t(
+          "billing.freePlan.noTeamResolved",
+          "No team is resolved on your wallet yet — refresh and try again.",
+        ),
+      );
       return;
     }
     setMissingTeam(null);
@@ -48,7 +53,7 @@ export function FreePlanView({ wallet, onSubscribed }: Props) {
       onClick={openCheckout}
       disabled={wallet.teamId == null}
     >
-      {t("billing.freePlan.switchOnProcessor")}
+      {t("billing.freePlan.switchOnProcessor", "Switch on the Processor →")}
     </Button>
   ) : null;
 
@@ -57,20 +62,20 @@ export function FreePlanView({ wallet, onSubscribed }: Props) {
       {/* Current plan */}
       <div className="portal-billing__current-plan">
         <span className="portal-billing__eyebrow">
-          {t("billing.freePlan.currentPlan")}
+          {t("billing.freePlan.currentPlan", "Current plan")}
         </span>
         <div className="portal-billing__current-plan-row">
           <h2 className="portal-billing__current-plan-name">
-            {t("billing.freePlan.planName")}
+            {t("billing.freePlan.planName", "Editor")}
           </h2>
           <StatusBadge tone="success" size="sm" showDot={false}>
-            {t("billing.freePlan.freeForever")}
+            {t("billing.freePlan.freeForever", "Free forever")}
           </StatusBadge>
           <StatusBadge tone="info" size="sm" showDot={false}>
-            {t("billing.freePlan.ssoIncluded")}
+            {t("billing.freePlan.ssoIncluded", "SSO included")}
           </StatusBadge>
           <StatusBadge tone="purple" size="sm" showDot={false}>
-            {t("billing.freePlan.unlimitedUsers")}
+            {t("billing.freePlan.unlimitedUsers", "Unlimited users")}
           </StatusBadge>
         </div>
       </div>
@@ -81,13 +86,22 @@ export function FreePlanView({ wallet, onSubscribed }: Props) {
       <WalletMeter wallet={wallet} action={switchOnAction} />
 
       {missingTeam && (
-        <Banner tone="warning" title={t("billing.freePlan.checkoutErrorTitle")}>
+        <Banner
+          tone="warning"
+          title={t(
+            "billing.freePlan.checkoutErrorTitle",
+            "Couldn't start checkout",
+          )}
+        >
           {missingTeam}
         </Banner>
       )}
       {!isLeader && (
         <p className="portal-billing__plan-readonly">
-          {t("billing.freePlan.ownerOnly")}
+          {t(
+            "billing.freePlan.ownerOnly",
+            "Only the team owner can switch on the Processor plan.",
+          )}
         </p>
       )}
 
diff --git a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/InvoicesList.tsx b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/InvoicesList.tsx
index 425bd10582..8b13670148 100644
--- a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/InvoicesList.tsx
+++ b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/InvoicesList.tsx
@@ -83,13 +83,13 @@ export function InvoicesList() {
   const columns: TableColumn<Invoice>[] = [
     {
       key: "date",
-      header: t("billing.invoices.columnDate"),
+      header: t("billing.invoices.columnDate", "Date"),
       render: (inv) =>
         inv.createdAt ? formatPeriodDate(inv.createdAt, { year: true }) : "—",
     },
     {
       key: "pdfs",
-      header: t("billing.invoices.columnPdfsProcessed"),
+      header: t("billing.invoices.columnPdfsProcessed", "PDFs processed"),
       align: "right",
       // Billed units on the invoice's metered line item; "—" when the
       // line-item table isn't synced into the Stripe mirror.
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ export function InvoicesList() {
     },
     {
       key: "amount",
-      header: t("billing.invoices.columnAmount"),
+      header: t("billing.invoices.columnAmount", "Amount"),
       align: "right",
       render: (inv) =>
         inv.totalMinor == null
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ export function InvoicesList() {
     },
     {
       key: "status",
-      header: t("billing.invoices.columnStatus"),
+      header: t("billing.invoices.columnStatus", "Status"),
       render: (inv) => (
         <StatusBadge tone={statusTone(inv.status)} size="sm">
           {inv.status}
@@ -116,10 +116,11 @@ export function InvoicesList() {
     },
     {
       key: "description",
-      header: t("billing.invoices.columnDescription"),
+      header: t("billing.invoices.columnDescription", "Description"),
       render: (inv) => (
         <span className="portal-billing__invoice-desc">
-          {inv.description ?? t("billing.invoices.descriptionFallback")}
+          {inv.description ??
+            t("billing.invoices.descriptionFallback", "Invoice")}
         </span>
       ),
     },
@@ -135,11 +136,15 @@ export function InvoicesList() {
               href={inv.hostedInvoiceUrl}
               target="_blank"
               rel="noopener noreferrer"
-              aria-label={t("billing.invoices.viewAriaLabel", {
-                number: inv.number ?? inv.id,
-              })}
+              aria-label={t(
+                "billing.invoices.viewAriaLabel",
+                "View invoice {{number}} in Stripe",
+                {
+                  number: inv.number ?? inv.id,
+                },
+              )}
             >
-              {t("billing.invoices.viewLink")}
+              {t("billing.invoices.viewLink", "View ↗")}
             </a>
           )}
           {inv.invoicePdf && (
@@ -148,11 +153,15 @@ export function InvoicesList() {
               href={inv.invoicePdf}
               target="_blank"
               rel="noopener noreferrer"
-              aria-label={t("billing.invoices.downloadAriaLabel", {
-                number: inv.number ?? inv.id,
-              })}
+              aria-label={t(
+                "billing.invoices.downloadAriaLabel",
+                "Download invoice {{number}} as PDF",
+                {
+                  number: inv.number ?? inv.id,
+                },
+              )}
             >
-              {t("billing.invoices.pdfLink")}
+              {t("billing.invoices.pdfLink", "PDF ↓")}
             </a>
           )}
         </div>
@@ -163,7 +172,7 @@ export function InvoicesList() {
   return (
     <Card padding="loose">
       <h3 className="portal-billing__section-title">
-        {t("billing.invoices.title")}
+        {t("billing.invoices.title", "Invoice history")}
       </h3>
 
       {invoices === null && !error && (
@@ -176,15 +185,22 @@ export function InvoicesList() {
 
       {error && (
         <p className="portal-billing__error" role="alert">
-          {t("billing.invoices.loadError", { error })}
+          {t(
+            "billing.invoices.loadError",
+            "Couldn't load invoices: {{error}}",
+            { error },
+          )}
         </p>
       )}
 
       {invoices !== null && invoices.length === 0 && !error && (
         <EmptyState
           size="compact"
-          title={t("billing.invoices.emptyTitle")}
-          description={t("billing.invoices.emptyDescription")}
+          title={t("billing.invoices.emptyTitle", "No invoices yet")}
+          description={t(
+            "billing.invoices.emptyDescription",
+            "Once your team subscribes and the first cycle closes, your invoices appear here.",
+          )}
         />
       )}
 
@@ -204,14 +220,28 @@ export function InvoicesList() {
                 onClick={() => setShowAll((v) => !v)}
               >
                 {showAll
-                  ? t("billing.invoices.showFewer", { count: DEFAULT_VISIBLE })
+                  ? t(
+                      "billing.invoices.showFewer",
+                      "Show fewer (top {{count}})",
+                      { count: DEFAULT_VISIBLE },
+                    )
                   : atFetchLimit
-                    ? t("billing.invoices.showMostRecent", { count: total })
-                    : t("billing.invoices.showAll", { count: total })}
+                    ? t(
+                        "billing.invoices.showMostRecent",
+                        "Show {{count}} most recent",
+                        { count: total },
+                      )
+                    : t("billing.invoices.showAll", "Show all {{count}}", {
+                        count: total,
+                      })}
               </Button>
               {showAll && atFetchLimit && (
                 <span className="portal-billing__invoice-note">
-                  {t("billing.invoices.fetchLimitNote", { count: FETCH_LIMIT })}
+                  {t(
+                    "billing.invoices.fetchLimitNote",
+                    "Showing your {{count}} most recent invoices. Older invoices are in the Stripe portal.",
+                    { count: FETCH_LIMIT },
+                  )}
                 </span>
               )}
             </div>
diff --git a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/LinkAccountPrompt.tsx b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/LinkAccountPrompt.tsx
index 72fb366142..df7429784e 100644
--- a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/LinkAccountPrompt.tsx
+++ b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/LinkAccountPrompt.tsx
@@ -14,11 +14,14 @@ export function LinkAccountPrompt() {
     <Card padding="loose">
       <EmptyState
         size="default"
-        title={t("billing.linkPrompt.title")}
-        description={t("billing.linkPrompt.description")}
+        title={t("billing.linkPrompt.title", "Link your Stirling account")}
+        description={t(
+          "billing.linkPrompt.description",
+          "Manual PDF editing — view, sign, merge, split, watermark, compress, convert, manual OCR — is always free, linked or not. Link to claim 500 free PDFs of metered processing (automation, AI, and the API); when you need more, turn on the Processor plan and only pay for what you use.",
+        )}
         actions={
           <Button variant="gradient" onClick={() => openLinkModal()}>
-            {t("billing.linkPrompt.cta")}
+            {t("billing.linkPrompt.cta", "Link Stirling account")}
           </Button>
         }
       />
diff --git a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/PaymentMethodCard.tsx b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/PaymentMethodCard.tsx
index 9876a8a4f3..ee2a1a4f01 100644
--- a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/PaymentMethodCard.tsx
+++ b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/PaymentMethodCard.tsx
@@ -46,33 +46,45 @@ export function PaymentMethodCard({ onManage, managing }: Props) {
       <div className="portal-billing__subscription-head">
         <div>
           <span className="portal-billing__eyebrow">
-            {t("billing.paymentMethod.eyebrow")}
+            {t("billing.paymentMethod.eyebrow", "Payment method")}
           </span>
           {hasCard ? (
             <>
               <h3 className="portal-billing__section-title">
-                {t("billing.paymentMethod.cardEnding", {
-                  brand: titleCase(
-                    pm.brand ?? t("billing.paymentMethod.cardFallback"),
-                  ),
-                  last4: pm.last4,
-                })}
+                {t(
+                  "billing.paymentMethod.cardEnding",
+                  "{{brand}} ending {{last4}}",
+                  {
+                    brand: titleCase(
+                      pm.brand ??
+                        t("billing.paymentMethod.cardFallback", "Card"),
+                    ),
+                    last4: pm.last4,
+                  },
+                )}
               </h3>
               <p className="portal-billing__section-sub">
                 {pm.expMonth != null && pm.expYear != null
-                  ? t("billing.paymentMethod.expiresBilledMonthly", {
-                      expiry: `${String(pm.expMonth).padStart(2, "0")}/${pm.expYear}`,
-                    })
-                  : t("billing.paymentMethod.billedMonthly")}
+                  ? t(
+                      "billing.paymentMethod.expiresBilledMonthly",
+                      "Expires {{expiry}} · billed monthly",
+                      {
+                        expiry: `${String(pm.expMonth).padStart(2, "0")}/${pm.expYear}`,
+                      },
+                    )
+                  : t("billing.paymentMethod.billedMonthly", "Billed monthly")}
               </p>
             </>
           ) : (
             <>
               <h3 className="portal-billing__section-title">
-                {t("billing.paymentMethod.managedTitle")}
+                {t("billing.paymentMethod.managedTitle", "Managed in Stripe")}
               </h3>
               <p className="portal-billing__section-sub">
-                {t("billing.paymentMethod.managedSub")}
+                {t(
+                  "billing.paymentMethod.managedSub",
+                  "Your card and billing details are kept securely in Stripe's customer portal.",
+                )}
               </p>
             </>
           )}
@@ -83,7 +95,7 @@ export function PaymentMethodCard({ onManage, managing }: Props) {
           loading={managing}
           onClick={onManage}
         >
-          {t("billing.paymentMethod.update")}
+          {t("billing.paymentMethod.update", "Update")}
         </Button>
       </div>
     </Card>
diff --git a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/PdfsProcessedCard.tsx b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/PdfsProcessedCard.tsx
index 1718ea2a19..ba5ac17ea9 100644
--- a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/PdfsProcessedCard.tsx
+++ b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/PdfsProcessedCard.tsx
@@ -12,25 +12,33 @@ import type { Wallet, WalletCategoryBreakdown } from "@portal/api/billing";
 const SEGMENTS: ReadonlyArray<{
   key: keyof WalletCategoryBreakdown;
   labelKey: string;
+  labelDefault: string;
   descKey: string;
+  descDefault: string;
   cls: string;
 }> = [
   {
     key: "api",
     labelKey: "billing.pdfsProcessed.segmentApiLabel",
+    labelDefault: "API",
     descKey: "billing.pdfsProcessed.segmentApiDesc",
+    descDefault: "Direct API requests",
     cls: "blue",
   },
   {
     key: "ai",
     labelKey: "billing.pdfsProcessed.segmentAgentsLabel",
+    labelDefault: "Agents",
     descKey: "billing.pdfsProcessed.segmentAgentsDesc",
+    descDefault: "AI agent actions",
     cls: "purple",
   },
   {
     key: "automation",
     labelKey: "billing.pdfsProcessed.segmentAutomationLabel",
+    labelDefault: "Automation",
     descKey: "billing.pdfsProcessed.segmentAutomationDesc",
+    descDefault: "Automations & pipelines",
     cls: "teal",
   },
 ];
@@ -43,14 +51,14 @@ export function PdfsProcessedCard({ wallet }: { wallet: Wallet }) {
   return (
     <Card padding="loose">
       <span className="portal-billing__eyebrow">
-        {t("billing.pdfsProcessed.eyebrow")}
+        {t("billing.pdfsProcessed.eyebrow", "PDFs processed this period")}
       </span>
       <div className="portal-billing__bignum-row">
         <span className="portal-billing__bignum">
           {wallet.billableUsed.toLocaleString()}
         </span>
         <span className="portal-billing__bignum-unit">
-          {t("billing.pdfsProcessed.unit")}
+          {t("billing.pdfsProcessed.unit", "metered PDFs")}
         </span>
       </div>
 
@@ -59,7 +67,10 @@ export function PdfsProcessedCard({ wallet }: { wallet: Wallet }) {
           <div
             className="portal-billing__segbar"
             role="img"
-            aria-label={t("billing.pdfsProcessed.segbarAriaLabel")}
+            aria-label={t(
+              "billing.pdfsProcessed.segbarAriaLabel",
+              "Metered PDFs split by category",
+            )}
           >
             {SEGMENTS.map((s) =>
               b[s.key] > 0 ? (
@@ -79,16 +90,20 @@ export function PdfsProcessedCard({ wallet }: { wallet: Wallet }) {
                   aria-hidden
                 />
                 <span className="portal-billing__seglegend-label">
-                  {t(s.labelKey)}
+                  {t(s.labelKey, s.labelDefault)}
                 </span>
                 <span className="portal-billing__seglegend-val">
-                  {t("billing.pdfsProcessed.legendValue", {
-                    count: b[s.key],
-                    formatted: b[s.key].toLocaleString(),
-                  })}
+                  {t(
+                    "billing.pdfsProcessed.legendValue",
+                    "{{formatted}} PDFs",
+                    {
+                      count: b[s.key],
+                      formatted: b[s.key].toLocaleString(),
+                    },
+                  )}
                 </span>
                 <span className="portal-billing__seglegend-desc">
-                  {t(s.descKey)}
+                  {t(s.descKey, s.descDefault)}
                 </span>
               </div>
             ))}
@@ -96,7 +111,10 @@ export function PdfsProcessedCard({ wallet }: { wallet: Wallet }) {
         </>
       ) : (
         <p className="portal-billing__section-sub">
-          {t("billing.pdfsProcessed.emptyPeriod")}
+          {t(
+            "billing.pdfsProcessed.emptyPeriod",
+            "No metered processing yet this period.",
+          )}
         </p>
       )}
     </Card>
diff --git a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/SpendLimitCard.tsx b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/SpendLimitCard.tsx
index d4861dc2d1..2593810017 100644
--- a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/SpendLimitCard.tsx
+++ b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/SpendLimitCard.tsx
@@ -127,10 +127,10 @@ export function SpendLimitCard({
     return (
       <Card padding="loose">
         <span className="portal-billing__eyebrow">
-          {t("billing.spendLimit.eyebrow")}
+          {t("billing.spendLimit.eyebrow", "Spend limit")}
         </span>
         <h3 className="portal-billing__section-title">
-          {t("billing.spendLimit.editTitle")}
+          {t("billing.spendLimit.editTitle", "Set your monthly ceiling")}
         </h3>
 
         <SharedSpendCapControl
@@ -138,7 +138,10 @@ export function SpendLimitCard({
           onChange={setDraftCap}
           pricePerDocMinor={wallet.pricePerDocMinor}
           currency={wallet.currency}
-          note={t("billing.spendLimit.capControlNote")}
+          note={t(
+            "billing.spendLimit.capControlNote",
+            "Changes apply immediately — raise or lower the ceiling any time.",
+          )}
         />
 
         {proj && draftCap !== proj.suggestedMajor && (
@@ -147,19 +150,31 @@ export function SpendLimitCard({
             className="portal-billing__suggested"
             onClick={() => setDraftCap(proj.suggestedMajor)}
           >
-            {t("billing.spendLimit.useSuggested", {
-              amount: formatMoneyMajor(proj.suggestedMajor, wallet.currency),
-            })}
+            {t(
+              "billing.spendLimit.useSuggested",
+              "Use suggested · {{amount}} / month",
+              {
+                amount: formatMoneyMajor(proj.suggestedMajor, wallet.currency),
+              },
+            )}
           </button>
         )}
 
         <div className="portal-billing__guardrail">
-          <strong>{t("billing.spendLimit.guardrailLabel")}</strong>{" "}
-          {t("billing.spendLimit.guardrailBody")}
+          <strong>
+            {t("billing.spendLimit.guardrailLabel", "Your guardrail:")}
+          </strong>{" "}
+          {t(
+            "billing.spendLimit.guardrailBody",
+            "a hard ceiling — you're never billed past it. At the cap, metered processing pauses (unlimited PDF editing keeps working) until you raise it or the cycle resets. Nothing is lost.",
+          )}
         </div>
 
         {error && (
-          <Banner tone="danger" title={t("billing.spendLimit.saveError")}>
+          <Banner
+            tone="danger"
+            title={t("billing.spendLimit.saveError", "Couldn't save limit")}
+          >
             {error}
           </Banner>
         )}
@@ -170,10 +185,10 @@ export function SpendLimitCard({
             size="sm"
             onClick={() => onAdjustingChange(false)}
           >
-            {t("billing.spendLimit.cancel")}
+            {t("billing.spendLimit.cancel", "Cancel")}
           </Button>
           <Button variant="gradient" size="sm" loading={saving} onClick={save}>
-            {t("billing.spendLimit.save")}
+            {t("billing.spendLimit.save", "Save limit")}
           </Button>
         </div>
       </Card>
@@ -194,10 +209,13 @@ export function SpendLimitCard({
       <div className="portal-billing__subscription-head">
         <div>
           <span className="portal-billing__eyebrow">
-            {t("billing.spendLimit.eyebrow")}
+            {t("billing.spendLimit.eyebrow", "Spend limit")}
           </span>
           <p className="portal-billing__section-sub">
-            {t("billing.spendLimit.displaySub")}
+            {t(
+              "billing.spendLimit.displaySub",
+              "You're only billed for what you process automatically — never past the ceiling.",
+            )}
           </p>
         </div>
         {isLeader && (
@@ -206,7 +224,7 @@ export function SpendLimitCard({
             size="sm"
             onClick={() => onAdjustingChange(true)}
           >
-            {t("billing.spendLimit.adjustLimit")}
+            {t("billing.spendLimit.adjustLimit", "Adjust limit")}
           </Button>
         )}
       </div>
@@ -221,15 +239,21 @@ export function SpendLimitCard({
           capSuffix={
             capActive
               ? docEstimate != null
-                ? t("billing.spendLimit.capSuffixWithDocs", {
-                    documents: docEstimate.toLocaleString(),
-                  })
-                : t("billing.spendLimit.capSuffix")
-              : t("billing.spendLimit.noCap")
+                ? t(
+                    "billing.spendLimit.capSuffixWithDocs",
+                    "/ month · ≈ {{documents}} documents",
+                    {
+                      documents: docEstimate.toLocaleString(),
+                    },
+                  )
+                : t("billing.spendLimit.capSuffix", "/ month")
+              : t("billing.spendLimit.noCap", "no cap")
           }
           statusLabel={
             capActive
-              ? t("billing.spendLimit.pctUsed", { pct: Math.round(pct) })
+              ? t("billing.spendLimit.pctUsed", "{{pct}}% used", {
+                  pct: Math.round(pct),
+                })
               : null
           }
           showBar={capActive}
@@ -237,21 +261,29 @@ export function SpendLimitCard({
             capActive ? (
               <>
                 <span>
-                  {t("billing.spendLimit.usedThisMonth", {
-                    amount: spentLabel,
-                  })}
+                  {t(
+                    "billing.spendLimit.usedThisMonth",
+                    "{{amount}} used this month",
+                    {
+                      amount: spentLabel,
+                    },
+                  )}
                 </span>
                 <span>
-                  {t("billing.spendLimit.remaining", {
+                  {t("billing.spendLimit.remaining", "{{amount}} remaining", {
                     amount: formatMinor(remainingMinor, wallet.currency),
                   })}
                 </span>
               </>
             ) : (
               <span>
-                {t("billing.spendLimit.thisPeriodUncapped", {
-                  amount: spentLabel,
-                })}
+                {t(
+                  "billing.spendLimit.thisPeriodUncapped",
+                  "{{amount}} this period · uncapped",
+                  {
+                    amount: spentLabel,
+                  },
+                )}
               </span>
             )
           }
@@ -260,18 +292,24 @@ export function SpendLimitCard({
 
       {proj && (
         <p className="portal-billing__projection">
-          <strong>{t("billing.spendLimit.projection.label")}</strong>{" "}
-          {t("billing.spendLimit.projection.body", {
-            count: proj.daysToCap,
-            rate: `${symbol}${proj.dailyRateMajor.toLocaleString(undefined, {
-              maximumFractionDigits: 2,
-            })}`,
-            monthEnd: formatMoneyMajor(
-              Math.round(proj.projectedEndMajor),
-              wallet.currency,
-            ),
-            suggested: formatMoneyMajor(proj.suggestedMajor, wallet.currency),
-          })}
+          <strong>
+            {t("billing.spendLimit.projection.label", "Projected to exceed.")}
+          </strong>{" "}
+          {t(
+            "billing.spendLimit.projection.body",
+            "At {{rate}}/day you reach the cap in ~{{count}} days (~{{monthEnd}} month-end). Suggested limit ~{{suggested}}.",
+            {
+              count: proj.daysToCap,
+              rate: `${symbol}${proj.dailyRateMajor.toLocaleString(undefined, {
+                maximumFractionDigits: 2,
+              })}`,
+              monthEnd: formatMoneyMajor(
+                Math.round(proj.projectedEndMajor),
+                wallet.currency,
+              ),
+              suggested: formatMoneyMajor(proj.suggestedMajor, wallet.currency),
+            },
+          )}
         </p>
       )}
     </Card>
diff --git a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/SpendThisMonthCard.tsx b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/SpendThisMonthCard.tsx
index 1989224df9..2a8baf2986 100644
--- a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/SpendThisMonthCard.tsx
+++ b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/SpendThisMonthCard.tsx
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ export function SpendThisMonthCard({ wallet }: { wallet: Wallet }) {
   return (
     <Card padding="loose" className="portal-billing__spend-this-month">
       <span className="portal-billing__eyebrow">
-        {t("billing.spendThisMonth.eyebrow")}
+        {t("billing.spendThisMonth.eyebrow", "Spend this month")}
       </span>
       <div className="portal-billing__bignum-row">
         <span className="portal-billing__bignum">
@@ -28,15 +28,23 @@ export function SpendThisMonthCard({ wallet }: { wallet: Wallet }) {
       </div>
       <p className="portal-billing__section-sub">
         {rateLabel
-          ? t("billing.spendThisMonth.processedWithRate", {
-              count: wallet.billableUsed,
-              formattedCount: wallet.billableUsed.toLocaleString(),
-              rate: rateLabel,
-            })
-          : t("billing.spendThisMonth.processed", {
-              count: wallet.billableUsed,
-              formattedCount: wallet.billableUsed.toLocaleString(),
-            })}
+          ? t(
+              "billing.spendThisMonth.processedWithRate",
+              "{{formattedCount}} PDFs processed, at {{rate}} each.",
+              {
+                count: wallet.billableUsed,
+                formattedCount: wallet.billableUsed.toLocaleString(),
+                rate: rateLabel,
+              },
+            )
+          : t(
+              "billing.spendThisMonth.processed",
+              "{{formattedCount}} PDFs processed.",
+              {
+                count: wallet.billableUsed,
+                formattedCount: wallet.billableUsed.toLocaleString(),
+              },
+            )}
       </p>
 
       <div className="portal-billing__spend-foot">
diff --git a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/StripeCheckoutModal.tsx b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/StripeCheckoutModal.tsx
index ac590adc71..24d5cbb251 100644
--- a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/StripeCheckoutModal.tsx
+++ b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/StripeCheckoutModal.tsx
@@ -89,7 +89,12 @@ export function StripeCheckoutModal({
           return;
         }
         if (!session.clientSecret) {
-          setError(t("billing.checkout.noClientSecret"));
+          setError(
+            t(
+              "billing.checkout.noClientSecret",
+              "Edge function returned no client_secret.",
+            ),
+          );
           return;
         }
         setClientSecret(session.clientSecret);
@@ -115,21 +120,33 @@ export function StripeCheckoutModal({
       open={open}
       onClose={onClose}
       width="lg"
-      title={t("billing.checkout.title")}
-      subtitle={t("billing.checkout.subtitle")}
+      title={t("billing.checkout.title", "Turn on the Processor plan")}
+      subtitle={t(
+        "billing.checkout.subtitle",
+        "Add a card to keep going past your free Editor-plan grant. Stripe handles the rest.",
+      )}
     >
       {!publishableKey && (
         <Banner
           tone="neutral"
-          title={t("billing.checkout.notConfigured.title")}
+          title={t(
+            "billing.checkout.notConfigured.title",
+            "Stripe not configured",
+          )}
         >
-          {t("billing.checkout.notConfigured.bodyBefore")}{" "}
+          {t("billing.checkout.notConfigured.bodyBefore", "Set")}{" "}
           <code>VITE_STRIPE_PUBLISHABLE_KEY</code>{" "}
-          {t("billing.checkout.notConfigured.bodyAfter")}
+          {t(
+            "billing.checkout.notConfigured.bodyAfter",
+            "in the portal env to enable in-app checkout.",
+          )}
         </Banner>
       )}
       {publishableKey && error && (
-        <Banner tone="danger" title={t("billing.checkout.error.title")}>
+        <Banner
+          tone="danger"
+          title={t("billing.checkout.error.title", "Couldn't start checkout")}
+        >
           {error}
         </Banner>
       )}
diff --git a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/SubscribedPlanView.tsx b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/SubscribedPlanView.tsx
index 6d9d6bd6f9..6ccdbe7e8d 100644
--- a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/SubscribedPlanView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/SubscribedPlanView.tsx
@@ -56,22 +56,35 @@ export function SubscribedPlanView({ wallet, onWalletChange }: Props) {
           tone={state === "DEGRADED" ? "danger" : "warning"}
           title={
             state === "DEGRADED"
-              ? t("billing.subscribedPlan.capWarn.reachedTitle")
-              : t("billing.subscribedPlan.capWarn.approachingTitle", {
-                  pct: Math.round(pct),
-                })
+              ? t(
+                  "billing.subscribedPlan.capWarn.reachedTitle",
+                  "Monthly spend limit reached",
+                )
+              : t(
+                  "billing.subscribedPlan.capWarn.approachingTitle",
+                  "You're at {{pct}}% of your monthly spend limit",
+                  {
+                    pct: Math.round(pct),
+                  },
+                )
           }
           action={
             isLeader ? (
               <Button size="sm" onClick={raiseLimit}>
-                {t("billing.subscribedPlan.capWarn.raiseLimit")}
+                {t("billing.subscribedPlan.capWarn.raiseLimit", "Raise limit")}
               </Button>
             ) : undefined
           }
         >
           {state === "DEGRADED"
-            ? t("billing.subscribedPlan.capWarn.reachedBody")
-            : t("billing.subscribedPlan.capWarn.approachingBody")}
+            ? t(
+                "billing.subscribedPlan.capWarn.reachedBody",
+                "Metered processing is paused until you raise the limit or the cycle resets. Unlimited PDF editing keeps working.",
+              )
+            : t(
+                "billing.subscribedPlan.capWarn.approachingBody",
+                "Raise it now so automated processing never pauses.",
+              )}
         </Banner>
       )}
 
@@ -96,7 +109,10 @@ export function SubscribedPlanView({ wallet, onWalletChange }: Props) {
       {portal.error && (
         <Banner
           tone="danger"
-          title={t("billing.subscribedPlan.portalError.title")}
+          title={t(
+            "billing.subscribedPlan.portalError.title",
+            "Couldn't open Stripe portal",
+          )}
         >
           {portal.error}
         </Banner>
diff --git a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/WalletMeter.tsx b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/WalletMeter.tsx
index 506faffb8b..c8a2ed81de 100644
--- a/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/WalletMeter.tsx
+++ b/frontend/portal/src/components/billing/WalletMeter.tsx
@@ -26,12 +26,16 @@ export function WalletMeter({ wallet, action }: Props) {
       : null;
   const title =
     rate != null
-      ? t("billing.walletMeter.titleWithRate", {
-          count: wallet.freeAllowance,
-          allowance: wallet.freeAllowance.toLocaleString(),
-          rate: formatMinor(rate, wallet.currency),
-        })
-      : t("billing.walletMeter.title", {
+      ? t(
+          "billing.walletMeter.titleWithRate",
+          "Process {{allowance}} PDFs free, then {{rate}}/PDF",
+          {
+            count: wallet.freeAllowance,
+            allowance: wallet.freeAllowance.toLocaleString(),
+            rate: formatMinor(rate, wallet.currency),
+          },
+        )
+      : t("billing.walletMeter.title", "Process {{allowance}} PDFs free", {
           count: wallet.freeAllowance,
           allowance: wallet.freeAllowance.toLocaleString(),
         });
@@ -41,11 +45,14 @@ export function WalletMeter({ wallet, action }: Props) {
       <div className="portal-billing__subscription-head">
         <div>
           <span className="portal-billing__eyebrow">
-            {t("billing.walletMeter.eyebrow")}
+            {t("billing.walletMeter.eyebrow", "Processor trial")}
           </span>
           <h2 className="portal-billing__meter-title">{title}</h2>
           <p className="portal-billing__section-sub">
-            {t("billing.walletMeter.sub")}
+            {t(
+              "billing.walletMeter.sub",
+              "Use the PDF Editor for free. Pay to process PDFs automatically.",
+            )}
           </p>
         </div>
         {action}
@@ -55,14 +62,22 @@ export function WalletMeter({ wallet, action }: Props) {
           state={state}
           pct={pct}
           figure={wallet.billableUsed.toLocaleString()}
-          capSuffix={t("billing.walletMeter.capSuffix", {
-            count: wallet.freeAllowance,
-            allowance: wallet.freeAllowance.toLocaleString(),
-          })}
-          statusLabel={t("billing.walletMeter.statusLabel", {
-            count: wallet.freeRemaining,
-            remaining: wallet.freeRemaining.toLocaleString(),
-          })}
+          capSuffix={t(
+            "billing.walletMeter.capSuffix",
+            "of {{allowance}} free PDFs used",
+            {
+              count: wallet.freeAllowance,
+              allowance: wallet.freeAllowance.toLocaleString(),
+            },
+          )}
+          statusLabel={t(
+            "billing.walletMeter.statusLabel",
+            "{{remaining}} left",
+            {
+              count: wallet.freeRemaining,
+              remaining: wallet.freeRemaining.toLocaleString(),
+            },
+          )}
         />
       </div>
     </Card>
diff --git a/frontend/portal/src/contexts/LinkContext.tsx b/frontend/portal/src/contexts/LinkContext.tsx
index daeb1cd71a..f110937533 100644
--- a/frontend/portal/src/contexts/LinkContext.tsx
+++ b/frontend/portal/src/contexts/LinkContext.tsx
@@ -28,15 +28,26 @@ export type LinkState = "unlinked" | "linked-free" | "linked-subscribed";
 export interface LinkInfo {
   /** i18n key for the badge label; resolve with `t()` at the call site. */
   labelKey: string;
+  /** English fallback for {@link labelKey}, passed as the t() default value. */
+  labelDefault: string;
   /** Whether billable features are unlocked (any linked state). */
   unlocked: boolean;
 }
 
 export const LINK_INFO: Record<LinkState, LinkInfo> = {
-  unlinked: { labelKey: "accountLink.state.unlinked", unlocked: false },
-  "linked-free": { labelKey: "accountLink.state.free", unlocked: true },
+  unlinked: {
+    labelKey: "accountLink.state.unlinked",
+    labelDefault: "Not linked",
+    unlocked: false,
+  },
+  "linked-free": {
+    labelKey: "accountLink.state.free",
+    labelDefault: "Editor plan",
+    unlocked: true,
+  },
   "linked-subscribed": {
     labelKey: "accountLink.state.subscribed",
+    labelDefault: "Processor plan",
     unlocked: true,
   },
 };
diff --git a/frontend/portal/src/views/Usage.tsx b/frontend/portal/src/views/Usage.tsx
index 172b88c3cf..817e2039e8 100644
--- a/frontend/portal/src/views/Usage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/portal/src/views/Usage.tsx
@@ -89,10 +89,14 @@ export function Usage() {
           setError(e.message);
         } else if (e instanceof HttpError) {
           setError(
-            t("usage.error.walletUnavailable", {
-              status: e.status,
-              statusText: e.statusText,
-            }),
+            t(
+              "usage.error.walletUnavailable",
+              "Wallet unavailable: {{status}} {{statusText}}",
+              {
+                status: e.status,
+                statusText: e.statusText,
+              },
+            ),
           );
         } else {
           setError(e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e));
@@ -140,8 +144,15 @@ export function Usage() {
       <header className="portal-usage__header">
         <div className="portal-usage__header-inner">
           <div>
-            <h1 className="portal-usage__title">{t("usage.title")}</h1>
-            <p className="portal-usage__subtitle">{t("usage.subtitle")}</p>
+            <h1 className="portal-usage__title">
+              {t("usage.title", "Usage & billing")}
+            </h1>
+            <p className="portal-usage__subtitle">
+              {t(
+                "usage.subtitle",
+                "Consumption, invoices, and plan management for every PDF Stirling has billed, in one console.",
+              )}
+            </p>
           </div>
           {wallet?.status === "subscribed" && (
             <Button
@@ -150,7 +161,7 @@ export function Usage() {
               loading={portal.opening}
               onClick={portal.open}
             >
-              {t("usage.managePayment")}
+              {t("usage.managePayment", "Manage Payment")}
             </Button>
           )}
         </div>
@@ -167,33 +178,51 @@ export function Usage() {
         )}
 
         {isLinked && finalizing && (
-          <Banner tone="info" title={t("usage.finalizing.title")}>
-            {t("usage.finalizing.body")}
+          <Banner
+            tone="info"
+            title={t("usage.finalizing.title", "Finalizing your subscription…")}
+          >
+            {t(
+              "usage.finalizing.body",
+              "It can take a few seconds for your subscription to activate. This page updates automatically.",
+            )}
           </Banner>
         )}
 
         {isLinked && needsReauth && (
           <Banner
             tone="warning"
-            title={t("usage.sessionExpired.title")}
+            title={t("usage.sessionExpired.title", "Session expired")}
             action={
               <Button size="sm" onClick={() => openLinkModal("reauth")}>
-                {t("usage.sessionExpired.action")}
+                {t("usage.sessionExpired.action", "Sign in again")}
               </Button>
             }
           >
-            {t("usage.sessionExpired.body")}
+            {t(
+              "usage.sessionExpired.body",
+              "Your Stirling account session has expired. Sign in again to view billing — your instance stays linked.",
+            )}
           </Banner>
         )}
 
         {isLinked && error && (
-          <Banner tone="danger" title={t("usage.error.loadWallet")}>
+          <Banner
+            tone="danger"
+            title={t("usage.error.loadWallet", "Couldn't load wallet")}
+          >
             {error}
           </Banner>
         )}
 
         {isLinked && portal.error && (
-          <Banner tone="danger" title={t("usage.error.openStripePortal")}>
+          <Banner
+            tone="danger"
+            title={t(
+              "usage.error.openStripePortal",
+              "Couldn't open Stripe portal",
+            )}
+          >
             {portal.error}
           </Banner>
         )}