PDFMathTranslate
Translate scientific PDF documents while preserving mathematical formulas, charts, layout, and formatting.
Full-text bilingual PDF translation preserving math formulas, tables, charts, and annotations.
PDFMathTranslate is a document translation tool designed for researchers, academics, and translators working with scientific papers. It translates PDF text line-by-line while keeping mathematical notation, charts, annotations, and original layouts intact. You can run it locally, deploy it via Docker, or connect it directly to translation APIs like DeepL, OpenAI, or Ollama.
What it is
The tool extracts document content and runs it through your choice of translation provider, including Google, DeepL, OpenAI, MiniMax, or local Ollama models. It uses an adaptive typesetting engine with experimental OCR support to reassemble bilingual or translated PDFs with matched layouts. It offers multiple interfaces including CLI, GUI, MCP server integration, and a Zotero plugin.
Who it's for
It suits researchers, technical translators, and students who need accurate translations of scientific papers without losing complex mathematical formatting. It is less suitable for casual readers who prefer basic browser extensions or those who cannot manage API key configurations or local Python/Docker setups.
Key features
Formula and Layout Preservation
Keeps mathematical equations, figures, tables, and document annotations in their original positions.
Flexible Provider Support
Connects to translation backends including Google Translate, DeepL, OpenAI, MiniMax, and local Ollama instances.
Multiple Operating Interfaces
Offers a command-line tool, interactive GUI, Docker image, MCP integration, and Zotero workflow support.
Experimental OCR and Typesetting
Regroups scanned paragraphs and applies adaptive typesetting to match original document layouts.
Up and running in 3 steps
Our honest verdict
What's great
- Preserves math formulas and document structure during translation
- Supports multiple translation engines including local LLMs via Ollama
- Offers flexible integration through GUI, CLI, Docker, MCP, and Zotero
- Generates bilingual side-by-side or translated output documents
Where it falls short
- Requires active third-party API keys or high-end GPU hardware to run local LLMs
- Complex layout handling can occasionally require precise isolated kernel environments
- Self-hosting large documents requires managing compute resources and potential rate limits
Pricing & license
The software is free under the AGPL-3.0 license. The only direct costs come from API usage fees charged by providers like OpenAI or DeepL, or the hardware required to host local LLMs. Free public web demos are available with limited computing resources.
Open remote AI-training roles
874 open remote AI-training roles, updated November 15, 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
Can I run PDFMathTranslate completely offline?
Yes, you can run it offline by pairing the local CLI or GUI with an offline LLM backend like Ollama.
What translation services are supported?
It supports Google Translate, DeepL, OpenAI, MiniMax, Ollama, and other compatible translation services.
