Comparison
A Free, Open-Source Immersive Translate Alternative for Chrome
OpenImmersive Translator is a free, open-source immersive translation extension for bilingual web page translation. If you are looking for an Immersive Translate alternative, this page sets out where the two overlap, where OpenImmersive Translator differs, and where Immersive Translate is still the better pick.
Immersive Translate is a trademark of its respective owner. OpenImmersive Translator is an independent open-source project and is not affiliated with it.
Why look for an Immersive Translate alternative?
OpenImmersive Translator (openimmersive.ai) is an open-source alternative to Immersive Translate for reading web pages in two languages, the original and its translation side by side. The extension is licensed under AGPL-3.0, and its Google, Microsoft and MyMemory engines are free and need no account. With your own DeepL, OpenAI or DeepSeek key, requests go from your browser straight to that provider, not through our server. The optional AI tiers need an account, and their text is processed on our servers.
Immersive Translate is a popular, feature-rich translator. People who try OpenImmersive Translator usually want one of three things it is built around:
- Code you can check. Every line of the extension is public under the AGPL-3.0 licence, so what it does with a page is something you can read rather than take on trust.
- No account for everyday use. The free Google Translate engine works the moment the extension is installed.
- Your own keys, kept local. Bring a DeepL, DeepSeek or OpenAI key, and it stays in your browser.
It deliberately does less. The focus is reading the web in two languages: a page shown side by side with its translation, also called parallel translation or parallel text (or translation only), in any of 199 target languages, plus hover, selection and input-box translation.
Using it as an Immersive Translate alternative in Chrome
- Install it. Add OpenImmersive Translator from the Chrome Web Store. No account is needed for the free engines.
- Translate a page. Open any web page and press Alt+T, or use the extension's toolbar button. Each paragraph gets its translation right below it.
- Pick how you read. Switch between side by side and translation only, or translate just one paragraph with hover, a selection or an input box.
- Other browsers. The same extension is on Microsoft Edge and Firefox, with the same settings.
OpenImmersive Translator vs Immersive Translate: feature comparison
OpenImmersive Translator's column is what the current extension and website do. The Immersive Translate column lists what it publicly offers; check its own site for current details.
| Feature | OpenImmersive Translator | Immersive Translate |
|---|---|---|
| Bilingual web page translation | YesSide by side, or translation only | Yes |
| Hover, selection and input-box translation | Yes | Yes |
| Open source you can read and build yourself | YesAGPL-3.0 on GitHub | No |
| Bring your own API key | YesDeepL, DeepSeek, OpenAI, or your own LibreTranslate server | YesOpenAI, DeepL and more |
| Free translation with no account | YesGoogle Translate, with Microsoft and MyMemory as alternatives | YesOffers a free plan |
| PDF translation that keeps the layout | YesLayout kept; English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Turkish, Russian or Ukrainian output | Yes |
| Live video subtitle translation | NoSubtitle files (.srt, .ass) can be translated from the options page | Yes |
| Browsers and platforms | YesChrome, Firefox, Edge | YesOffers more, including Safari and mobile apps |
Want to see bilingual translation before installing anything? The bilingual web page translator on our website shows any public page next to its translation, free and without an account. For documents, layout-preserving PDF translation turns text-based PDFs into English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Turkish, Russian or Ukrainian.
How does it compare with other open-source translators?
Read Frog and KISS Translator are also open-source browser extensions for bilingual web page translation. According to their public READMEs, both translate video subtitles while a video plays (Read Frog on YouTube, X and Netflix; KISS Translator on YouTube), which OpenImmersive Translator does not do.
What OpenImmersive Translator adds is file translation on its website: PDF with the layout kept, EPUB, PowerPoint, Word, Excel and SRT files. Neither README lists file translation, and the KISS Translator README describes document translation as planned. This reflects their READMEs on 28 October 2026; check their pages for what they offer now.
Privacy and open source
On the free engines, each translation request goes straight from your browser to the translation provider, with no OpenImmersive Translator server in between. The same is true when you use your own API key. Settings and keys are kept in your browser's local storage.
An optional setting masks emails, phone numbers, card and ID numbers and API keys before text leaves your browser, then restores them in the translation. Detection and restoration both happen locally.
The optional Standard and Premium AI tiers are different: that text is sent to openimmersive.ai, which needs an account and spends its credits. The extension's source is on GitHub, so all of this can be verified.
Pricing
The OpenImmersive Translator extension is free, including the Google, Microsoft and MyMemory engines. With your own API key you pay the provider at its own rates. The AI tiers spend credits from an openimmersive.ai account; new accounts start with 100 welcome credits. Plus costs $8 a month billed yearly ($16 monthly) and Max $24 a month billed yearly ($34 monthly); a one-time pack of 1,000 credits is $10. All are sold on the website through Stripe Checkout.
Immersive Translate offers a free plan and a paid Pro subscription that unlocks more AI models and features. See its website for current prices.
When Immersive Translate is the better choice
OpenImmersive Translator is the narrower tool. Immersive Translate is likely the better fit if you:
- want bilingual subtitles on videos while they play;
- need layout-preserving PDF translation into languages other than English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Turkish, Russian and Ukrainian;
- use Safari or want a mobile app;
- prefer one mature product that covers web pages, documents and video together.
If what you need is a transparent, account-free way to read the web in two languages, OpenImmersive Translator covers that, and you can read exactly how it does it.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free Immersive Translate alternative?
Yes. The OpenImmersive Translator extension is free to install and translates with Google Translate by default, with no account. You only pay if you choose to: with your own API key you pay that provider directly, and the optional AI tiers spend credits from an openimmersive.ai account.
Which Immersive Translate alternative works in Chrome?
OpenImmersive Translator runs in Chrome, and also in Microsoft Edge and Firefox. It suits you if you want code you can read, free engines with no account, or your own DeepL, DeepSeek or OpenAI key. If you need bilingual subtitles on videos while they play, Safari or a mobile app, Immersive Translate covers those and OpenImmersive Translator does not.
Is there an open-source Immersive Translate alternative?
Yes. OpenImmersive Translator is open source under the AGPL-3.0 licence, with its code on GitHub at github.com/OpenImmersive/OpenImmersive-Translator. Read Frog and KISS Translator are other open-source extensions for bilingual web page translation.
Is there an open-source immersive translation extension?
Yes. OpenImmersive Translator shows a translation under each paragraph of the page you are reading, keeping the original in view, and its source is public under AGPL-3.0. It runs in Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
Is OpenImmersive Translator affiliated with Immersive Translate?
No. OpenImmersive Translator is an independent open-source project. Immersive Translate is a trademark of its respective owner, and the two products share no code or company.
Can I use my own DeepL or OpenAI API key?
Yes. In the extension's options you can paste a DeepL, DeepSeek or OpenAI key, or point it at your own LibreTranslate server. Keys are stored only in your browser, and requests go straight from your browser to that provider.
Does OpenImmersive Translator translate YouTube or other video subtitles?
Not while a video plays. The extension can translate subtitle files (.srt and .ass) that you upload on its options page, and the website translates .srt files and transcribes speech from uploaded audio or video, but there is no live subtitle overlay.
Can OpenImmersive Translator translate PDFs and keep the layout?
Yes, for text-based PDFs, into English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Turkish, Russian or Ukrainian (academic paper mode: Simplified Chinese only). Scanned PDFs without a text layer are not supported. Layout-preserving PDF translation runs at openimmersive.ai/pdf.
Which browsers does OpenImmersive Translator support?
Chrome, Firefox and Microsoft Edge, each from its official add-on store. There is no Safari version or mobile app at the moment.
Get started
Install the extension for your browser below, or start on the OpenImmersive Translator home page to translate text, images and documents online. The full list of supported translation languages and who maintains OpenImmersive Translator are a click away.