LibreTranslate
A private translation app that can run the NLLB translator on your machine.
Installer only · Some setup · Free
Translate a document
Translate text or whole files between languages.
The tools below run on your computer. Most of them are free, and the local work stays on your machine.
Works offline · Free options
Your computer
Describe your computer
Pick the closest line. Office PC and Mini PC are estimates. Linux and a home server stay in the list. We guess the specs, then hide models that would not fit. The guess stays cautious.
4 results
Most tools here are free.
Writing Not on the chat board
Built to translate many languages
Runs in:Fits on:· needs ~2.5 GB · Free to download · License: CC-BY-NC 4.0
Work & Office A step behind Gemma 3 12B, and a clear step ahead of a 3B toy model.
Fine for a paragraph, not a whole archive
Runs in:Fits on:· needs ~5.2 GB · Free to download · License: Apache 2.0
HONEST COMPARISON
Local or cloud: Translate a document?
Reviewed Oct 2026
- Privacy: Local winsThe file stays on your machine
- Cost: Local winsNo character quota
- Quality: Cloud winsDeepL reads more naturally
- Ease: Cloud winsDocument upload keeps more formatting
Local AI
A local translation model such as NLLB covers many languages and keeps the file at home.
- The document stays on your computer
- No per-character bill
- Usable offline
Where it falls short
- Prose is plainer than DeepL on European languages
- Layout and tables are not preserved
Cloud & apps
DeepL and Google Translate are stronger on idioms and office formatting.
- DDeepLAppFreemiumPopular choice
The most natural translations for many European languages, including documents.
Best for: European languagesDocuments
The text is sent to DeepL
- GGoogle TranslateCloud AIFree
Wide language coverage and a camera translation on a phone.
Best for: Quick checksMany languages
Text is sent to Google
Our take
Translate private documents locally. Use DeepL when the wording has to sound natural and the text can leave the building.
Choose local if…
- The document is confidential
- You translate a lot
Choose cloud if…
- The language pair is European
- Formatting matters
How to do it in 3 steps
- Open the model page and pick any app under Runs in, for example LibreTranslate. Each app page links to that maker's own guide.
- Open the NLLB-200 1.3B page and check the traffic light for a few kinds of computer.
- Follow that official guide. This site does not add its own install steps.
Questions
- Does this upload my files?
- The local tools on this page don't upload your files. The cloud options in the comparison do.
- What does it cost?
- Most options are free. A few apps are a one-time purchase, and a few models need a computer with more memory.
- What if it will not fit?
- Use Check my computer, or turn on the lighter memory filters. A red light on the model page means the file is too big.
Not into local AI? Try these instead
Ordinary apps for writing. These are normal links to the maker's site.
Scrivener
A long-form writing desk for drafts, chapters, and research notes.
ScrivenerUlysses
A focused writing app for essays, posts, and books on a Mac.
UlyssesHemingway Editor
An editor that flags long sentences and dense wording.
Hemingway Editor