Best Self Hosted Alternatives to Google Cloud Translation

LibreTranslate is an open-source machine translation service that provides a REST API (and a simple web UI) for translating text without sending data to third-party providers. It can run fully offline using local models and is commonly deployed as an internal translation endpoint for apps, websites, and automation.

Key Features

• REST API for text translation with language detection support
• Web UI for manual translation/testing
• Runs locally/offline using open translation models (no external provider required)
• API key support and rate limiting options for controlled access
• CORS support for browser-based clients
• Docker-based deployment and configuration via environment variables

Use Cases

• Private translation endpoint for internal tools, helpdesks, and knowledge bases
• Add translation to web/mobile apps without sending content to third parties
• Automations (e.g., workflows/scripts) that need programmatic translation

Limitations and Considerations

• Translation quality and supported language pairs depend on the bundled/installed models
• Running models can be CPU/RAM intensive; performance varies by hardware and load

LibreTranslate is a practical choice when you need a simple translation API you can control, especially in privacy-sensitive environments. It provides a straightforward HTTP interface, a lightweight UI, and deployment options that fit both small servers and containerized infrastructure.

Weblate is a web-based translation management system (TMS) designed for software localization. It integrates tightly with Git/VCS repositories so translations are reviewed and delivered through the same workflow as code changes.

Key Features

• Native Git integration (pull/push, branches) to keep translations versioned with source code
• Web UI for translating with suggestions, checks, and context to improve quality
• Support for many localization formats (e.g., Gettext PO, JSON, YAML, XLIFF, Android strings, iOS strings)
• Built-in quality checks (placeholders, punctuation, consistency) and configurable review workflows
• Collaboration features: roles/permissions, reviews, comments, and activity history
• Machine translation and translation memory integration to speed up work
• APIs and webhooks for automation and CI/CD integration
• Project organization for multiple components/languages, with permissions per project/component

Use Cases

• Localize a SaaS or desktop/mobile app while keeping translations synchronized with Git repositories
• Run a community translation portal for an open-source project with review and quality gates
• Automate localization updates in CI pipelines (pull source strings, push translated files)

Weblate fits teams that want a Git-backed, collaborative localization workflow with strong format support and quality checks. It is commonly used for both internal product localization and community-driven translation projects.