Tipword
Most Mac translation apps do one of three jobs: translate text you select, translate a whole page, or translate the word under your pointer. The right one depends on what you read and how much of it you need translated.
Tipword
Best for single words, in any app. $12 once. Hold ⌥ Option and point at a word. Its meaning appears beside it and disappears when you let go. It reads words in subtitles, photos and scanned PDFs, where other apps make you select or screenshot first. 20 languages translate on your Mac with Apple, offline. It doesn’t translate whole documents.
DeepL
Best for whole passages. The strongest choice for translating paragraphs, emails and documents, and for writing in another language. You select text and press ⌘C twice. There’s a free plan and paid plans. DeepL alternative for Mac
Apple Translate
Best free option. Already on your Mac. Good for a quick phrase: select text and choose Translate, or paste it into the Translate app. Download a language and it works offline. Tipword vs macOS Translate
Immersive Translate
Best for web pages. Shows a page in two languages, paragraph by paragraph, so you can skim. It works in the browser rather than in other apps. There’s a free plan; Pro is $79.99 a year on the App Store. Tipword vs Immersive Translate
Bob and Easydict
Best for selected text, with many engines. Select text, press a shortcut and compare translations from several services. Both are popular with Chinese-speaking Mac users. Easydict is free and open source; Bob is free, with Bob Pro for $8.99. For text you can’t select, both use a screenshot.
Hover Translate
Also translates the word under your pointer. It works in a similar way to Tipword: hover and press a key. You get 100 free lookups every 30 days, then a Pro pass at ¥20 per 30 days. Tipword is a one-time $12 for up to 3 Macs.
Which one to pick
- You translate full texts: start with DeepL or Apple Translate.
- You read web pages in a language you don’t know: Immersive Translate.
- You read in another language and only need the odd word, in any app: Tipword.
Many people use two: one for full texts and one for words while they read. They don’t clash.
Questions
What is the best free translation app for Mac?
Apple Translate is built into macOS and free. Easydict is free and open source. DeepL has a free plan.
Which Mac translator works without selecting text?
Tipword and Hover Translate translate the word under your pointer, so you don’t select or copy anything. Tipword also reads words in subtitles, photos and scanned PDFs.