Argos Translate
Offline neural machine translation library for Python, with a CLI and GUI, built on OpenNMT language packages.
Install language packages and translate text locally, with automatic pivoting between languages.
Argos Translate is an offline machine translation library written in Python that uses OpenNMT. It suits developers and privacy-minded users who want translation on their own machine, and it is the engine behind LibreTranslate.
What it is
You install the argostranslate package from PyPI, download .argosmodel language packages, and translate from Python, the argos-translate command line, or an optional GUI. If you have es to en and en to fr installed, it pivots through English to translate es to fr automatically. A package index lists pre-trained models, and you can train and package your own.
Who it's for
It suits developers building translation into apps and anyone who needs fully offline translation. It is not the right pick if you want a ready hosted service with the highest quality across all languages, or if you want a polished app: the GUI is a separate package.
Key features
Offline translation
Runs OpenNMT models locally once packages are downloaded.
Python, CLI and GUI
Use the library, the argos-translate command, or the separate GUI package.
Automatic pivoting
Translates between pairs without a direct model by routing through an intermediate language.
Downloadable language packages
.argosmodel zip archives from a browsable package index.
Custom model training
Training scripts let you build and package your own language models.
P2P package download
Packages can be fetched via IPFS and BitTorrent.
Up and running in 3 steps
Our honest verdict
What's great
- Dual-licensed under MIT or CC0 per the README, so very permissive reuse
- Pivot translation covers language pairs with no direct model
- Powers the LibreTranslate API, so it has a ready web wrapper
- Wide language list including Arabic, Hindi, Persian, Swahili and Esperanto
Where it falls short
- You download and manage each language package yourself, and quality varies per language pair
- The most recent GitHub release shown is a macOS app build, v1.4.0, so check how current the packages are for your languages
- The GUI is a separate pip install and the project is a library first, so non-programmers will find the command line the main interface
- Pivoting through an intermediate language depends on having both packages installed, such as es to en and en to fr
Pricing & license
Free under the MIT licence; the README states a dual MIT or CC0 licence. The only cost is running it on your own hardware, and no paid or hosted plan is shown on its pages.
Open remote AI-training roles
870 open remote AI-training roles, updated November 14, 2026; most pay $20–$170 an hour. Zekai lists them free; the application goes to the employer’s platform.
Alternatives
These reviewed AI tools do the same job instantly — from our scored directory.
Use it, or have us set it up
FAQ
Is Argos Translate free for commercial use?
The README says it is dual licensed under MIT or CC0, and the LICENSE file is MIT. Language packages are separate downloads, so check their terms.
Does it work without internet?
Yes after you have installed the language packages. Updating the package index and downloading packages needs a connection.
How is it different from LibreTranslate?
Argos Translate is the translation library. LibreTranslate is an API and web app built on top of it.
