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BiRead — Bilingual PDF Reader for Zotero

by WWeiyiWang · github.com/WWeiyiWang/BiRead

Adds bilingual reading to the PDF reader.

BiRead — Bilingual PDF Reader for Zotero has Atlas grade B (use with care) because it launches programs on your computer, and 1 more finding. It works with Zotero 8–10. Last checked 6 Nov 2026.

TranslationReading & PDFs
View source
Downloads a .xpi file (0.9 MB). In Zotero, open Tools → Plugins and install it from the file.
In useAn estimate of how many copies of Zotero have it: Zotero downloads each new version once for every copy that has the plugin, so we count the downloads of its most-downloaded recent release. Rounded. Plugins that update from outside GitHub count low.
83
DownloadsAll-time downloads of its release files from GitHub, counting every update. Installs from elsewhere aren't counted.
407
ReleasesVersions published on GitHub. Everyone who has the plugin downloads each one again, which adds up in Downloads.
10
StarsPeople who starred the repository on GitHub: a rough measure of interest.
8
ContributorsPeople who have committed code to the repository.
1
LicenceThe licence the code is published under, as GitHub reports it.
AGPL-3.0
B
Atlas gradeUse with care
because it launches programs on your computer, and 1 more finding
Applies to v0.1.28-beta.11, released 4 Nov 2026Code checked · not yet tested in a live Zotero
What we found in the codeSets the gradeThe worst finding in these three areas sets the grade.
Code transparencyReadable code; not yet checked against the published sourceThe developer uploaded the release file from the WWeiyiWang account. We haven't yet checked whether this file matches the public source code.UnknownWe couldn't check this yet.
Updates
Doesn't update automatically: the update address isn't an update file
Where your data goesOnly contacts services we could identify45 addresses in 4 groups.LowLow concern: normal for plugins that do this job. Listed so you know.
AI services (4)
api.anthropic.comapi.openai.comdashscope.aliyuncs.comgenerativelanguage.googleapis.com
Translation (38)
BabelDOC (the AI provider it's set up with)aidemo.youdao.comapi-free.deepl.comapi.cognitive.microsofttranslator.comapi.deepl-pro.comapi.deepl.comapi.dictionaryapi.devapi.fanyi.baidu.comunencryptedReached over plain http://, so anyone on the network in between can read what's sent.api.interpreter.caiyunai.comunencryptedReached over plain http://, so anyone on the network in between can read what's sent.api.microsofttranslator.comunencryptedReached over plain http://, so anyone on the network in between can read what's sent.api.mymemory.translated.netapi.openl.clubapis.niutrans.comaudio.dict.cnnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.capi.dict.cnunencryptedReached over plain http://, so anyone on the network in between can read what's sent.cn.bing.comdict.cndict.youdao.comnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.dictionary.cambridge.orgedge.microsoft.comejje.weblio.jpgramota.ruifanyi.iciba.comitrans.xfyun.cnnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.mt.aliyuncs.comniutrans.comntrans.xfyun.cnnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.openapi.youdao.comtmt.tencentcloudapi.comtrans.neu.edu.cntranslate.google.comtranslate.googleapis.comtranslate.volcengine.comtranslate.volcengineapi.comunencryptedReached over plain http://, so anyone on the network in between can read what's sent.transmart.qq.comwww.collinsdictionary.comwww.youdao.comwww2.deepl.com
Scholarly services (1)
dict.cnki.net
On your computer (2)
127.0.0.1localhost
Where we found it
api.anthropic.comprefs.js · line 91
pref("extensions.zotero.BiRead.claude.endPoint", "https://api.anthropic.com/v1/messages");
api.openai.comprefs.js · line 53
pref("extensions.zotero.BiRead.chatGPT.endPoint", "https://api.openai.com/v1/chat/completions");
dashscope.aliyuncs.comchrome/content/scripts/biread.js · line 14112
const apiURL = getPref("qwenmt.endPoint") || "https://dashscope.aliyuncs.com/compatible-mode";
Powerful capabilitiesLaunches programs on your computer, and 5 moreMediumMedium concern: worth reading before you install. One medium finding makes the grade B.
Medium concern (2)
Launches programs on your computerSends your text or keys unencrypted (http://) to api.fanyi.baidu.com, api.interpreter.caiyunai.com and 2 more
Low concern (4)
Uses the clipboardStores API keys or passwordsDownloads and runs Python with an alignment model (194 MB) when you press install, on WindowsWorks with files on your computer
Where we found it
Launches programs on your computerchrome/content/scripts/biread.js · line 22523
"resource://gre/modules/Subprocess.sys.mjs"
Sends your text or keys unencrypted (http://) to api.fanyi.baidu.com…chrome/content/scripts/biread.js · line 7826

Anyone on the network in between can read it

`http://api.fanyi.baidu.com/api/trans/vip/translate?q=${encodeURIComponent(
Downloads and runs Python with an alignment model (194 MB) when you …chrome/content/scripts/biread.js · line 23418

It checks the download against a fingerprint written into the plugin, so only a new version of the plugin can change what runs. The download comes from python.org and PyPI, where Python and those packages are published. On Windows (x64), when you press the one-click button to install the local alignment model, it downloads about 194 MB, as its README says: Python from python.org, three Python packages from PyPI, and a word-alignment model, a data file, from the Hugging Face account cstr. It then runs that Python on the plugin's own script. We reviewed version 0.1.4-beta; this release has the same code.

const download = await Downloads.createDownload({
Before you installShown, not gradedFacts to help you decide. They don't change the grade.
Works withZotero 8, 9, 10 · not 11 betaManual updates only
Zotero 8 ✓ worksZotero 9 ✓ worksZotero 10 ✓ worksZotero 11 beta ✗ doesn't work
What you'll needNothing extra detectedDetected automatically from its code
No further detail for this area yet.
MaintenanceActive · last release 4 Nov 20261 contributor
No further detail for this area yet.
LanguagesDocumentation in EnglishInterface: English, Italian, Serbian and Chinese
No further detail for this area yet.
We report what we found in the code. Open any area for the evidence.How we gradeReport a problem

What it does

Written by AI from the README

Adds bilingual reading to the PDF reader. It splits the text into blocks and translates them with a provider set in Zotero's Translate settings, showing original and translation side by side or immersively. You can create annotations from selected text.

A fork of windingwind/zotero-pdf-translate that adds whole-document bilingual reading. It is marked beta, and scanned PDFs without selectable text are not supported.

What you'll need

Detected automatically

We haven't detected any setup requirements. That isn't the same as none: check the developer's README.

Where your data goes

We found: only contacts services we could identify. 45 addresses in 4 groups.

AI services (4)
api.anthropic.comapi.openai.comdashscope.aliyuncs.comgenerativelanguage.googleapis.com
Translation (38)
BabelDOC (the AI provider it's set up with)aidemo.youdao.comapi-free.deepl.comapi.cognitive.microsofttranslator.comapi.deepl-pro.comapi.deepl.comapi.dictionaryapi.devapi.fanyi.baidu.comunencryptedapi.interpreter.caiyunai.comunencryptedapi.microsofttranslator.comunencryptedapi.mymemory.translated.netapi.openl.clubapis.niutrans.comaudio.dict.cnnamed in its codecapi.dict.cnunencryptedcn.bing.comdict.cndict.youdao.comnamed in its codedictionary.cambridge.orgedge.microsoft.comejje.weblio.jpgramota.ruifanyi.iciba.comitrans.xfyun.cnnamed in its codemt.aliyuncs.comniutrans.comntrans.xfyun.cnnamed in its codeopenapi.youdao.comtmt.tencentcloudapi.comtrans.neu.edu.cntranslate.google.comtranslate.googleapis.comtranslate.volcengine.comtranslate.volcengineapi.comunencryptedtransmart.qq.comwww.collinsdictionary.comwww.youdao.comwww2.deepl.com
Scholarly services (1)
dict.cnki.net
On your computer (2)
127.0.0.1localhost
Evidence · file and line
api.anthropic.comprefs.js · line 91
pref("extensions.zotero.BiRead.claude.endPoint", "https://api.anthropic.com/v1/messages");
api.openai.comprefs.js · line 53
pref("extensions.zotero.BiRead.chatGPT.endPoint", "https://api.openai.com/v1/chat/completions");
dashscope.aliyuncs.comchrome/content/scripts/biread.js · line 14112
const apiURL = getPref("qwenmt.endPoint") || "https://dashscope.aliyuncs.com/compatible-mode";

Other plugins that do this

Matched on what they do

For the same job, work with Zotero 10 and graded B or better. Closest match first.

  • B
    Zotero Bilingual Reader

    A side-by-side English and Chinese reading view for papers, with each English paragraph followed by its translation.

    Matches “translate articles while reading” · 498 downloads · Active · Zotero 8–10
  • B
    TwinText for Zotero

    Shows the original text and a translation side by side in Zotero's PDF reader.

    Matches “bilingual pdf reader” · 323 downloads · Active · Zotero 10
  • A+
    Zotero Bilingual PDF

    Batch-translates English papers into side-by-side English and Chinese PDFs and saves them as child attachments.

    Matches “translate pdf to bilingual” · 93 downloads · Active · Zotero 9–10
Compare all 4 side by side
How we pick these

By how closely what they do matches this plugin, using descriptions and the phrases people search with. Copies and forks of this plugin are listed under Forks and copies instead. No plugin pays to appear here.

Forks and copies

No forks listed.

The developer's response

The developer hasn't responded. Developers can reply here, and their reply sits next to our findings.I'm the developer

Ratings and reviews

What people who use it say. This is separate from the grade, which is what the code does, and never changes it.

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Install BiRead — Bilingual PDF Reader for Zotero
BUse with care
Before you install: It launches programs on your computer, and 1 more finding.Read the finding
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