MoonTranslator is a desktop translation application designed to provide quick access to translation without keeping a large window open.
It combines a conventional main window with a floating popup that can be summoned while working in another application. Translation can use built-in Google Translate and Microsoft Bing support without API keys, while DeepL, Lara Translate and custom translation endpoints can be configured separately. The application uses a Tauri backend for window handling, global shortcuts, clipboard integration and local storage, with a React-based interface.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Provides a floating translation popup that can be opened with a configurable global shortcut.
- Can trigger the popup after a configurable double-copy key sequence.
- Translates through built-in Google Translate and Microsoft Bing support without requiring API keys.
- Supports DeepL, Lara Translate and user-defined translation service URLs.
- Automatically detects the source language and can translate while text is being entered or pasted.
- Lets users reverse the source and target languages with a single action.
- Allows translated output to be edited before it is copied or used to replace selected text.
- Can type translated text back into the originating application where the desktop environment permits it.
- Offers light and dark appearance modes, interface scaling and window zoom controls.
- Lives in the system tray and can be configured to start automatically.
- Supports X11 and Wayland, with some Wayland-specific limitations imposed by its security model.
- Provides AppImage and Debian packages, together with a Flatpak build configuration.
- Includes an in-application updater for supported package formats.
- Stores configured translation credentials for providers that require API keys.
Website: github.com/MoonMonet/Translator
Support:
Developer: MoonMonet
License: GNU General Public License v3.0

MoonTranslator is written in Rust. Learn Rust with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Translators | |
|---|---|
| LibreTranslate | Machine translation API which is entirely self-hosted |
| Argos Translate | State of the art neural machine translation software. |
| Speech Note | Combines Speech to Text, Text to Speech and Machine Translation |
| Translate Shell | CLI powered by Google Translate, Bing Translator, Yandex, and Apertium |
| Crow Translate | Cross-platform, lightweight, translator |
| translateLocally | Translation on your local machine with a GUI |
| Dialect | Translation app for GNOME |
| MoonTranslator | Minimalist desktop translation app with hotkeys and multiple services |
| Klaro | Simple and fast translation app |
| Glate | Google Translator and Text To Speech Service on Linux Desktop |
| LocalTranslate | Machine translation locally using Firefox translation models |
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