# Mobile Translation Tools, 2026 **URL:** https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/mobile-translation-tools-2026/35762 **Category:** General **Created:** 2026-02-25T20:33:29Z **Posts:** 14 ## Post 1 by @privacy.slouchy — 2026-02-25T20:33:29Z Revisiting this topic to review current options The current, singular [PG recommendation](https://www.privacyguides.org/en/language-tools/#libretranslate) is [LibreTranslate](https://github.com/LibreTranslate/LibreTranslate). I’ve used it for some time & it works quite well. However, [web interface](https://libretranslate.com/) users will find the tool unusable today, being prompted with a popup: > Due to bot abuse, translation requests are temporarily limited to users with a valid API key. Sorry for the inconvenience! The [API key](https://portal.libretranslate.com/) costs $30/month and does not appear to support anonymous payment. For many, this is disqualifying LibreTranslate does support self-hosting, for those with the means to setup a home server & a VPN to access from mobile, remotely. But given the current costs for RAM & such, self-hosting will likely be cost-prohibitive for many in 2026 Regrettably, it seems that LibreTranslate is not a reliable, anonymous, accessible option for mobile users in 2026 Other options have been discussed on PrivacyGuides before, but none seem to have gained broad community support: - [DeepL](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/deepl-translate-translation-app-for-android): free version is not private - [TranslateYou](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/translate-you-translator-app-for-android): frontend for various translation services, bound by their respective privacy policies - [Livinga Translate](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/lingva-translate): Google Translate frontend - [RTranslator](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/rtranslator-translation-app-for-android): offline, reports of bugs & lingering issues - [SimplyTranslate](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/simplytranslate): another Google Translate frontend So I ask you, PG community: which of these tools do you use for translations on your mobile device? Has a new option emerged? Does LibreTranslate remain king, and users simply need to accept a compromise on anonymity/cost/accessibility? --- ## Post 2 by @carbonated — 2026-02-25T20:59:36Z I am also disappointed by the existing options tbh. Just to add to the list, there is also [GitHub - DavidVentura/offline-translator: Use Firefox Translation Models for on-device translation on Android](https://github.com/davidventura/firefox-translator) Offline Translator based on Mozilla’s models and a small correction, it is written RTranslator. --- ## Post 3 by @ph00lt0 — 2026-02-25T21:02:05Z You probably are not liking this but these days I actually do all translations with Proton Lumo which I have in my proton subscription. LLMs have better results than most translators. DeepL is however still a great more specific mind of AI translator. --- ## Post 4 by @privacy.slouchy — 2026-02-25T21:07:35Z Thanks, Ive updated my post to fix RTranslator I can find no evidence that your Offline Translator has been discussed on PG before - that’s a new tool! Hopefully other users lurk here & can weigh in with their experience below --- ## Post 5 by @privacy.slouchy — 2026-02-25T21:20:47Z That may be an interesting meta discussion on PG in the near future - should translation tools be merged with the AI chats? Theyre converging tool categories Lumo Plus is 1/3 the cost of LibreTranslate’s API subscription, lmao --- ## Post 6 by @anon4124882 — 2026-02-25T21:26:44Z I’ve been using Kagi Translate and it works really well. Give that a try too. It’s the newest app/service from Kagi. --- ## Post 7 by @privacy.slouchy — 2026-02-25T21:36:49Z Thanks - adding link to [Kagi Translate](https://translate.kagi.com/), another translation tool for which I can find no past PG discussions --- ## Post 8 by @kissu — 2026-02-25T21:43:24Z > [@privacy.slouchy](#): > > LibreTranslate does support self-hosting, for those with the means to setup a home server & a VPN to access from mobile, remotely. But given the current costs for RAM & such, self-hosting will likely be cost-prohibitive for many in 2026 Wait, how heavy is it to self-host? :thinking: Is it that bad? Otherwise yes, having it piped into your phone through a self-hosted VPN might be quite a lot of work but that sounds like the only option that is non-LLM unfortunately. :sweat_smile: --- ## Post 9 by @privacy.slouchy — 2026-02-25T21:51:05Z It doesnt look terribly resource-intensive, you may be able to run a viable instance on an old laptop. That’ll probably be another project added to my list haha Regardless, privacy should be available for all, not only those of us with the technical ability to run a server farm. This post is for the normal humans who dont know what a dockerfile is --- ## Post 10 by @any1 — 2026-02-25T22:57:00Z If you use IronFox, you can go to `about:translations` and use local translations there. --- ## Post 11 by @byte — 2026-02-26T01:05:43Z I like this awesome apps: > **[Install Crow Translate on Linux | Flathub](https://flathub.org/en/apps/org.kde.CrowTranslate)** > > Application that allows you to translate and speak text using Mozhi > **[Install LocalTranslate on Linux | Flathub](https://flathub.org/en/apps/dev.ters.LocalTranslate)** > > Translate text offline Last one uses Mozilla translation models --- ## Post 12 by @FranklyFlawless — 2026-02-26T04:33:31Z > [@privacy.slouchy](#): > > LibreTranslate does support self-hosting, for those with the means to setup a home server & a VPN to access from mobile, remotely. But given the current costs for RAM & such, self-hosting will likely be cost-prohibitive for many in 2026 Sure, but a datacentre VPS is still cost-efficient. > [@privacy.slouchy](#): > > which of these tools do you use for translations on your mobile device? None of them. > [@privacy.slouchy](#): > > Has a new option emerged? Mozhi, but it is not new (to me): > **[Mozhi](https://mozhi.aryak.me/)** > > Mozhi is an alternative-frontend for many translation engines. > **[mozhi](https://codeberg.org/aryak/mozhi)** > > Mozhi is an alternative-frontend for many translation engines. @byte referenced Crow Translate, which uses Mozhi. > [@privacy.slouchy](#): > > Does LibreTranslate remain king, and users simply need to accept a compromise on anonymity/cost/accessibility? No. --- ## Post 14 by @Encounter5729 — 2026-02-26T12:30:18Z It works quite well also.