Translation

Translation tools for text and websites, from open-source engines to AI translators. For a private Google Translate alternative, we look for open code, offline use and clear rules on whether your text is kept or used to train models.

Our top pick is Apertium, a free, open-source, rule-based translator built by volunteers and academics, strongest on minority and closely related languages such as Catalan, Basque and Occitan. DeepL, a venture-backed AI translator from Cologne, comes with a caveat: texts in its free version are used to train its models, while Pro texts are deleted.

How we choose: each tool is checked against the 6 principles in our manifesto: who owns it and how it makes money, what it collects, how it treats people, honesty, openness and staying power. We last checked them on 13 October 2026.