LibreTranslate API
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
Example 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
Matrix Score Breakdown
Fully tested on Apr 5, 2026
Technical Specifications
Related Tags
Alternatives to LibreTranslate
Technical alternatives for different use cases.
Includes language detection alongside translation
Standalone detection accuracy for rare languages
Combined detection and translation in one API
Free translation with multiple language support
Free translation without self-hosting complexity
Data privacy (LibreTranslate can be self-hosted)
Translation API with language detection
Commercial translation with reliable uptime
Self-hosting and open-source requirements
Recipes Using LibreTranslate
Build something with this API. Each recipe includes step-by-step instructions and code outlines.
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