LibreTranslate API

⭐ Beginner's Pick Text Analysis / No Auth Required Beginner HTTPS
Free to Use Varies (check documentation)

Overview

LibreTranslate is a free, open-source machine translation API that supports 17 languages. You can translate text between languages without needing an API key, making it perfect for beginners. It is self-hostable and privacy-friendly compared to commercial translation services.

💡

Beginner Tip

You can use the public instance at https://libretranslate.com without registration for small-scale testing. For production use, consider self-hosting to avoid rate limits.

Available Data

translated text
source language
target language
confidence score

Example Response

JSON Response
{
  "translatedText": "Bonjour le monde",
  "detectedSourceLanguage": "en",
  "targetLanguage": "fr"
}

Field Reference

translatedText The translated text in the target language
detectedLanguage Present when source is "auto"; contains the detected language code and confidence score
detectedLanguage.language ISO 639-1 code of the detected source language (e.g., "en", "fr")
detectedLanguage.confidence Confidence score between 0 and 1 for the language detection result

Implementation Example

// ⚠️ Note: This URL may be a documentation page. Check official docs for actual API endpoint.
const url = "https://libretranslate.com/docs";
const response = await fetch(url);
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${response.status}`);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);

What Can You Build?

Note: These code examples are AI-generated and unverified. Always refer to the official API documentation for accurate usage.

Common Errors & Troubleshooting

403 Forbidden The public instance may require an API key if rate limits are hit
Register for a free API key at libretranslate.com or self-host your own instance
Language code not recognized Using incorrect ISO 639-1 language codes
Use the /languages endpoint to list all supported language codes before making translation requests
429 Too Many Requests Exceeding the rate limit on the public instance
Add delays between requests or self-host LibreTranslate using Docker for unlimited usage

Matrix Score Breakdown

🌐 Reachability 30/30
⚡ Speed 15/20
🔒 Security 15/15
🛠 Developer XP 15/20
✓ Reliability 7/15
Response Time 434ms

Fully tested on Apr 5, 2026

Technical Specifications

Auth No Auth
HTTPS REQUIRED
CORS UNKNOWN
Category Text Analysis
Difficulty Beginner
Verified: 2026-04-04

Alternatives to LibreTranslate

Technical alternatives for different use cases.

Includes language detection alongside translation

Better For

Standalone detection accuracy for rare languages

Trade-off

Combined detection and translation in one API

Free translation with multiple language support

Better For

Free translation without self-hosting complexity

Trade-off

Data privacy (LibreTranslate can be self-hosted)

Translation API with language detection

Better For

Commercial translation with reliable uptime

Trade-off

Self-hosting and open-source requirements

Recipes Using LibreTranslate

Build something with this API. Each recipe includes step-by-step instructions and code outlines.

Similar APIs

View All →