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6 Offline Translators for Mac, Compared by macOS Version

Published · 6 min read

Best offline translator for most Macs: the one already built in. Download languages in System Settings, then Control-click selected text. Add an app only for a hotkey or menu bar window (for example Plae, Offline Translate, Fast AI or Bilinguine), or for a Mac that predates macOS 12 (Lingvanex, back to 10.12).

Disclosure. Bilinguine, one of the six, is made by usbun, the studio that publishes this site. It requires macOS 26 (Tahoe) or newer and is not notarized by Apple, so the first launch needs System Settings, Privacy & Security, Open Anyway. Bilinguine is not first; the order follows who each tool fits.

How these were chosen. A product made the list only if its official page or store listing says it translates without an internet connection on a Mac. Claims about other products come from their official pages, checked on 13 October 2026. Prices are left out on purpose; each source below shows the current one. "Offline" means: after language data is downloaded once, translating needs no connection.

At a glance

Tool Offline on Mac Price model Minimum macOS Platform Best for
Apple's built-in translation Yes, after downloading languages Part of macOS Documented since 12 (Monterey) Mac (built in) Occasional translation, nothing to install
Lingvanex Yes, 45 languages offline Free version plus paid yearly package 10.12 (Sierra) Mac, among other platforms Older Macs, many offline languages
Plae Yes, "No internet required" Paid app, no in-app purchases listed 15.0 Mac only A hotkey and menu bar window on macOS 15
Translator - Offline Translate Yes, "entirely offline" Paid, no subscription 15.0 Mac Paying once instead of subscribing
Bilinguine Yes, after downloading languages Free 26 (Tahoe) Mac Translating selected text anywhere on macOS 26
Fast AI Translation: Offline Yes, free plan limited per request Free with in-app purchases 15.5 Mac only Longer texts if you accept in-app purchases

Three products left out, and why

  • Mate Translate: its pages conflict on whether the Mac app works offline, and its help page could not be opened for checking.
  • DeepL: the Mac app page does not state offline support.
  • ScreenTranslate: an open source app, but only third-party pages were found, so it was not listed.

1. Apple's built-in translation

Best for: anyone who translates now and then and does not want another app. Skip it if you want a keyboard shortcut: Apple's guide mentions none.

Select text, Control-click it and choose Translate. Download languages first: System Settings, General, Language & Region, Translation Languages, Download. Select On-Device Mode to keep processing on the Mac even when it is connected to the internet. Apple's own caveats: offline translations may be less accurate than translations processed using Apple servers, and Siri and Safari always process translations online.

Apple documents offline languages and On-Device Mode already in the Mac User Guide for macOS 12 Monterey, where the path is System Preferences, then Language & Region, then Translation Languages. On macOS 26.6.2 there is no Translate app and the Services list has no Apple translation item; Apple's guide describes the context-menu item as the way in. Apple supports 22 languages for it on macOS 26. Step by step: how to download languages for offline translation on Mac.

Source: Apple Mac User Guide, "Translate text on Mac" (current version and the version for macOS 12).

2. Lingvanex

If your Mac is too old for everything else here, start with Lingvanex. Its macOS page states support for macOS 10.12 (Sierra) and later, including M-series Macs.

  • Languages: 45 offline, against 109 online.
  • Limits: only two document formats, .DOCX and .ODT, translate offline.
  • Terms: a free version covers core text, voice and document translation; an All-in-One package for unlimited translation is sold as a yearly plan. The page also mentions a hotkey for translating selected text from any app.

Source: lingvanex.com macOS translator page.

3. Plae

Plae is a menu bar translator with a hotkey, for macOS 15 or 26. Its App Store listing says it translates on the Mac with Apple's Translation framework and that no internet is required. Its tagline reads "Type text, get a translation".

The default global hotkey is Shift-Command-T and is configurable. The listing says "20+ languages", requires macOS 15.0 or later, is Mac only and is a paid app with no in-app purchases listed. Plae uses Apple's translation, so the languages likely come from System Settings (the listing does not say; check in the app).

Source: Plae on the Mac App Store.

4. Translator - Offline Translate

Buy once, no subscription: that is this app's pitch. The App Store listing says the app "functions entirely offline" and "requires no subscription or ongoing payments". It requires macOS 15.0 or later. The listing also mentions customizable hotkeys.

The developer's description says 38 languages; the store's Languages field lists the app's interface languages, not the translation languages, so confirm your pair is supported before buying.

Source: Translator - Offline Translate on the Mac App Store.

5. Bilinguine

Bilinguine is the pick if you run macOS 26 and want to select text in any app, press a shortcut and get the translation, at no cost. Plae, Offline Translate and Fast AI list hotkeys too; Plae's listing describes typing text rather than selecting it elsewhere.

Select text and press Control-Option-T (configurable), or use right-click, Services, Translate with Bilinguine. Translation runs through Apple Translation and system dictionaries, so you download languages once in System Settings and then need no connection. It keeps paragraphs and indents, shows dictionary entries for single words, and supports 22 languages. It is free, closed source and made by the same studio as this site.

Limits: it requires macOS 26 or newer, so a Mac on macOS 15 or older cannot run it. It is not notarized, so the first launch needs System Settings, Privacy & Security, Open Anyway (Apple's steps: support.apple.com/102445). It uses Apple Translation, so expect similar quality to option 1; the difference is speed of access. Details: translate selected text on Mac with a keyboard shortcut. Download: bilinguine.usbun.com.

6. Fast AI Translation: Offline

The listing says it "works without internet" and that the free plan caps offline translation at 500 characters per request. It is free with in-app purchases, requires macOS 15.5 or later and is Mac only. The listing describes selecting text in any app and pressing Cmd + C twice to translate. It suits those who accept a free plan with limits and optional purchases.

The release notes mention Danish, Norwegian and Swedish, so the full language list needs checking in the app.

Source: Fast AI Translation: Offline on the Mac App Store.

Still choosing?

Start with option 1 and add an app only if something is missing. For the wider walkthrough of all approaches, read how to translate on Mac without internet.

Sources

Questions

For most people it is Apple's built-in translation: it is part of macOS, works offline once you download languages, and needs nothing installed. Choose an app instead if you want a keyboard shortcut or menu bar window, for example Plae, Offline Translate, Fast AI or Bilinguine, or a much older macOS, as with Lingvanex.

Yes. Apple's built-in translation is part of macOS, and Bilinguine is a free app that needs macOS 26 or newer. Lingvanex has a free version and sells an All-in-One package as a yearly plan. The other offline apps in this list are paid or use in-app purchases.

Apple documents offline languages and On-Device Mode in its Mac User Guide for macOS 12 Monterey. Lingvanex states support for macOS 10.12 (Sierra) and later, with offline translation for 45 languages. Plae and Offline Translate need macOS 15, Fast AI needs 15.5 and Bilinguine needs macOS 26.

DeepL's Mac app page does not say whether the app works offline, so this article does not list it. The page states that it needs macOS 14 or higher and that pressing the Command key with C twice translates selected text. Check the page for current details before relying on it.

Not necessarily. Apple states that offline translations may be less accurate than translations processed using Apple servers. For an important text, review the result before relying on it, or compare it with an online tool. Apple's guide gives no accuracy figures for either mode.

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