Alternatives to Dialect

An open-source translation app for the GNOME desktop that works with several translation services. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Dialect.

  • Google Translate

    Google's machine translation service for translating text, documents and websites between languages.

    FreeProprietaryWeb

    Google Translate is used directly in a web browser rather than a native GNOME app, and it is free but not open source and sends text to Google.

  • DeepL

    An AI translator and writing assistant for text, documents and speech, with desktop, mobile and browser apps.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSAndroidiOSWebBrowser extension

    DeepL runs on Windows, macOS, mobile, web and browser extensions with document translation, but it is proprietary, has no Linux app listed and many features are paid.

  • LibreTranslate

    An open-source machine translation API and web app that you can run on your own server.

    FreeOpen sourceWebSelf-hosted

    LibreTranslate is an open-source translation API and web app you can self-host offline, removing the reliance on external services at the cost of server setup.

  • Argos Translate

    An open-source offline translation tool written in Python, usable from the command line.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand line

    Argos Translate is MIT-licensed and translates fully offline on Linux from the command line or Python, but it lacks a GNOME interface and needs language packages.

  • Microsoft Translator

    Microsoft's translation apps for text, speech, conversations, signs and documents, with offline language packs.

    FreeProprietaryWindowsAndroidiOSWeb

    Microsoft Translator offers free apps for Windows, Android and iOS with speech and conversation modes, but it has no Linux app and is not open source.

  • TranslateLocally

    A machine translation app that runs translation models on your own device instead of a server.

    FreeProprietaryBrowser extension

    TranslateLocally runs translation models on your own device for privacy and ships as a browser extension, but it needs an SSE4.1 CPU and covers fewer language pairs.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.