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LibreTranslate

A self-hosted translation API built on Argos Translate

Visit libretranslate.com

Our verdict

Tied #1 of 4 in Self-hosted machine translation · For an API on your server

Pros

  • The README says it does not call Google or Azure
  • pip on Python 3.8 or newer, or Docker
  • Self-hosting is free. The public API is the paid part

Cons

  • The public server sometimes has models the self-hosted install does not
  • Hosted Pro is $29 a month and Business is $58 a month, each call capped at 2,000 characters

Who should skip:Anyone who wants a window and no server process.

Read the full review →

Rankings and alternatives

Self-hosted machine translation scores

Evaluated Nov 8, 2026 Evidence ↓
  • Time to first translation 4

    4/5 means: A Docker image, a pip package, or a named desktop program with a short install

    The install guide is a pip command on Python 3.8 or newer, or Docker. It is a server you start, not a double-click desktop build.

  • Stays on your machine 4

    4/5 means: An offline-capable server you run, or offline apps plus a public demo site

    The README calls it self-hosted and offline capable, and says it does not use Google or Azure. The public API at libretranslate.com is a separate paid service, and that server sometimes runs models the self-hosted install does not have yet.

  • Languages 4

    4/5 means: A long named list, or every model in the project's index, including pairs that pivot through another language

    A default install loads every available language, and pairs with no direct model pivot, usually through English. The pages checked do not state a language count.

  • Calling it from software 5

    5/5 means: An HTTP API is the product

    The product is described as a machine translation API, with published per-call character limits on the paid hosted plans.

  • What keeps running 4

    4/5 means: A container or a language package plus model files

    You run a Python package or a container and the Argos language models. GPU acceleration is optional and needs CUDA 12.4.1 plus nvidia-docker. No database is listed.

Pricing

  • Self-hosted Free The docs say you can run it free on your own server. The public API requires a paid key.
  • Pro API $29.00 /month Up to 80 calls a minute in bursts, closer to 20 a minute if you translate continuously, and 2,000 characters per call.
  • Business API $58.00 /month Up to 200 calls a minute in bursts, closer to 50 a minute if you translate continuously, and 2,000 characters per call.

From the vendor’s pricing page, checked Nov 8, 2026. That page is authoritative.

Evidence and sources

Self-hosted machine translation scores

Time to first translation 2 quotes
Stays on your machine 3 quotes
  • “Free and Open Source Machine Translation API, entirely self-hosted. Unlike other APIs, it doesn't rely on proprietary software such as Google or Azure to perform translations. Instead, its translation engine is powered by the open source Argos Translate library.”
    github.com/LibreTranslate/LibreTranslate · checked
  • “Free and Open Source Machine Translation API. Self-hosted, offline capable and easy to setup.”
    github.com/LibreTranslate/LibreTranslate · checked
  • “By default language models are loaded from the argos-index. Sometimes we deploy models on libretranslate.com that haven’t been added to the argos-index yet, such as those converted from OPUS (thread)”
    docs.libretranslate.com/guides/faq · checked
Languages 2 quotes
Calling it from software 2 quotes
  • “Free and Open Source Machine Translation API, entirely self-hosted. Unlike other APIs, it doesn't rely on proprietary software such as Google or Azure to perform translations. Instead, its translation engine is powered by the open source Argos Translate library.”
    github.com/LibreTranslate/LibreTranslate · checked
  • “You can make up to 80 API calls per minute. These are bursts of up to 80 / minute. If you are translating non-stop, the actual limit is closer to 20 / minute (1200 / hour). Each call has a 2,000 character limit.”
    portal.libretranslate.com · checked
What keeps running 4 quotes

Facts

License 1 quote
Runs on 2 quotes
Needs 2 quotes

Other quotes

Not cited by a score or fact 4 quotes
  • “In short, yes, but only if you buy an API key. You can always run LibreTranslate for free on your own server of course.”
    docs.libretranslate.com/guides/faq · checked
  • “$29 / month”
    portal.libretranslate.com · checked
  • “$58 / month”
    portal.libretranslate.com · checked
  • “You can make up to 200 API calls per minute. These are bursts of up to 200 / minute. If you are translating non-stop, the actual limit is closer to 50 / minute (3000 / hour). Each call has a 2,000 character limit.”
    portal.libretranslate.com · checked

Pricing

portal.libretranslate.com · checked