Linguin
Instant AI translation on every platform
Instant AI-powered translation for Mac, iPhone, and Chrome. Supports 100+ languages powered by Gemini AI.
Overview
Linguin brings Gemini AI-powered translation to wherever you work — a Mac app, iOS app, Chrome extension, and Safari extension. Select any text and get an instant, context-aware translation in milliseconds, without switching apps.
The service supports over 100 languages and is built for speed: translations typically return in under a second thanks to Gemini 2.5 Flash Lite. Each platform feels native — the Mac app sits in the menu bar, the iOS app integrates with the Share Sheet, and the Chrome extension works as a popup.
Linguin is actively developed with frequent releases across all four platforms simultaneously.
The problem
Switching to a browser tab or a separate translation app breaks the reading flow. Existing solutions either require too many clicks or produce translations that miss context and tone — especially on macOS and iOS where system-level translation is limited.
What we built
- Mac menu bar app for instant translation without switching windows
- Native iPhone app with Share Sheet integration
- Chrome and Safari extensions for in-browser translation
- 100+ languages powered by Gemini 2.5 Flash Lite (~500ms latency)
- Context-aware translations that preserve tone and meaning
Tech stack
Website
Mobile / Desktop
Browser
AI
Backend
Under the hood
Four platforms, one API
All platforms hit the same `/api/translate` Vercel Function backed by Gemini 2.5 Flash Lite. The function runs at edge with a 25s timeout and AbortController retry. This keeps translation logic in one place regardless of client platform.
Chrome Extension MV3 constraints
Manifest V3 service workers don't persist between requests, so the extension can't cache state. All translation requests hit the Vercel API directly — no background service worker relay needed.
