Alternatives / Google Translate
Looking for an open source Google Translate alternative? We compared 2 open source translation tools by license, offline use, self-hosting, languages, and platforms. LibreTranslate is a self-hosted translation API, and Linguist is a browser extension that can translate offline.
Written by Maxime DERAME
Last updated:
| Alternative | Best for | License |
|---|---|---|
| LibreTranslate | Self-hosted translation API that works offline | AGPL-3.0 |
| Linguist | Translating web pages and subtitles in your browser | BSD-3-Clause |
We looked for open-source tools that overlap with Google Translate's core: translating text and web pages between many languages without sending your content to a large provider. We verified each project's license, recent activity, stars, and platforms in its repository. Google Translate is both a service and an API, so we separate a self-hosted translation server from a browser extension. See our methodology for the full criteria.
LibreTranslate uses open translation models from Argos Translate rather than Google's or Microsoft's proprietary engines. The models are free and private, but quality and the number of supported languages are generally lower than Google Translate for many language pairs. Test the languages you need before replacing Google.
LibreTranslate is a free and open-source machine translation API that you run yourself, works offline, and is accessed through REST endpoints, so you can integrate it into your own apps. It is AGPL-3.0, so modified network deployments must share their source. A hosted service exists at libretranslate.com for people who do not want to run a server.
Linguist is a browser extension for Firefox and Chromium browsers that translates web pages, selected text, and subtitles, including Netflix, with 130 languages, text to speech, and a personal dictionary. It can translate offline on your device with the embedded Bergamot translator, or use a backend you choose, including your own server. It is BSD-3-Clause licensed.
The two can complement each other: Linguist supports custom translators, so you may be able to point it at your own translation server such as LibreTranslate to keep browser translation on your infrastructure. Check the extension documentation for what is supported.
LibreTranslate's last commit was in September 2026 and Linguist's in September 2026, so both are actively maintained. Linguist is a smaller project with about 1,000 stars.
Google Translate is a proprietary service that sends the text you translate to Google, and its API is billed by character volume. Open-source alternatives let you translate on your own server or even offline on your device, keep text private, avoid per-character pricing, and customize the translation backend, at the cost of translation quality that is generally below Google's for many language pairs and of running the service yourself.
LibreTranslate is a free and open-source machine translation API that is entirely self-hosted and works offline. Instead of relying on proprietary engines such as Google or Azure, its translation engine is powered by the open-source Argos Translate. It exposes REST endpoints, is AGPL-3.0, and also has a hosted service for those who prefer not to run it. Translation quality is generally lower than Google's for many language pairs.
Pricing: Free to self-host; the hosted API at libretranslate.com is paid.
Linguist is a BSD-3-Clause browser extension for Firefox and Chromium browsers that translates web pages, selected text, Netflix subtitles, and private messages, with 130 languages, text to speech, and a personal dictionary. It can translate offline on your device with the embedded Bergamot translator, or use any backend you choose, including your own.
Pricing: Free and open source.
| Alternative | Type | License | Self-hosted | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LibreTranslate | Translation API | AGPL-3.0 | Yes, works offline | Apps and private translation |
| Linguist | Browser extension | BSD-3-Clause | On device, offline | Web pages and subtitles |
Want a private translation API for your apps
LibreTranslate is an AGPL-3.0 REST API powered by open Argos models that you host yourself, with offline capability.
Want to translate web pages and subtitles
Linguist translates pages, selected text, and Netflix subtitles in Firefox and Chromium browsers, offline or with a backend you choose.