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Easydict

by tisfengAppWrite better

Looks up words and translates selected text or screenshots on your Mac

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The problem it solves

You hit an unfamiliar word in a PDF and have to copy it, open a browser tab and paste it into a translator.

For StudentsTranslatorsPeople reading in a second language

Before
You copy text into one translation site at a time and switch back and forth between windows.
After
You select text or capture part of the screen, press a shortcut and see several dictionaries and translators side by side.
Stars
★ 15k
License
GPL-3.0
Cost
Free
Platforms
Mac
Runs
Local

Overview

Easydict is a free, open-source dictionary and translation app for macOS by tisfeng. Select text, press a shortcut or capture part of the screen, and it shows results from several services side by side, such as Apple Dictionary, DeepL, Google, Bing and AI models like OpenAI, Gemini, Claude or a local Ollama. It recognizes the input language automatically, can read results aloud and offers 52 translation languages. It suits students, translators and anyone reading in a second language on a Mac.

It puts dictionary entries, machine translation and AI answers in one window, and many of its services need no API key.

Try these first

Start with the first one: it is a small task you can check easily.

  1. Select one English sentence on a web page, press Option+D and compare the Apple Dictionary and DeepL results.First try

  2. Press Option+S, capture a paragraph inside an image and translate it.

  3. Press Option+A, type a word and press Enter to see its dictionary entry.

  4. In Settings, add Gemini with your own API key and compare its answer with Google Translate.uses your API key

Example prompts written by Agent Flows Hub.

Features

From the creator's documentation.

FeatureWhat it doesRuns
Select to translateSelect text, then hover the icon or press a shortcut to look it upYour Mac
Screenshot OCRCapture an area to translate it, or copy its text straight to the clipboardYour Mac
Many services20 or more dictionaries, translators and AI models, shown side by sideOnline services
Apple DictionaryQueries the dictionaries enabled in the macOS Dictionary app, with no keyYour Mac
Read aloudSeveral text-to-speech services can read the word or resultOnline services
Your own AI keysAdd OpenAI, Gemini, Claude, DeepSeek or a local Ollama modelYour API key

Good to know

You read a web page or PDF in another language and want a quick meaning without switching apps. Select the text or capture it, and Easydict shows dictionary and translation results from several services in one window.

Limits

  • The latest version needs macOS 13 or newer. AI services such as OpenAI, Gemini or Claude need your own key, and some built-in services rely on access the project provides, which can stop when the upstream service changes.
  • Text you look up goes to the online services you enable. For private or offline use, the docs suggest Apple Dictionary, Apple's offline translation, MDict or Ollama.

Notes by (original project name: Easydict), written from the creator's documentation, not from running it ourselves. Easydict README · Easydict services overview

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