Translation Engines
LocaleKit supports multiple translation engines. Choose based on your needs:
Comparison
| Engine | Type | European | Asian | Context | Speed | API Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 DeepL | Cloud | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | 2.5 req/s | DEEPL_API_KEY |
 OpenAI | Cloud | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | 20 req/s | OPENAI_API_KEY |
 MLX | On-device | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | 0.5 req/s | — |
DeepL
Best for European languages. Fast batch processing (50 keys/batch). Requires a paid API key.
bash
export DEEPL_API_KEY="your-key"
localekit translate --engine deepl OpenAI
Best context awareness — understands UI strings, placeholders, and tone. Fast batch processing (50 keys/batch). Supports all languages GPT supports.
bash
export OPENAI_API_KEY="your-key"
localekit translate --engine openai MLX
Runs entirely on your Mac using Apple Silicon. No API key, no cloud, no cost. Models download automatically on first use and are cached at ~/Library/Caches/huggingface/.
bash
localekit translate --engine mlx
# Or specify a model:
localekit translate --engine mlx --mlx-model mlx-community/Qwen3-8B-4bit