Zotero Plugins Atlas
Plugins / Translation

Paper Translator

by daniel5u · github.com/daniel5u/zotero-paper-translator

Translates whole PDF papers or chosen pages inside Zotero's reader, keeping layout, formulas and figures.

Paper Translator has Atlas grade C (not recommended) because it downloads and runs a program we haven't reviewed yet. It works with Zotero 7–10. Last checked 6 Nov 2026.

Translation
View source
Downloads a .xpi file (0.06 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.
93
DownloadsAll-time downloads of its release files from GitHub, counting every update. Installs from elsewhere aren't counted.
285
ReleasesVersions published on GitHub. Everyone who has the plugin downloads each one again, which adds up in Downloads.
7
StarsPeople who starred the repository on GitHub: a rough measure of interest.
11
ContributorsPeople who have committed code to the repository.
3
LicenceThe licence the code is published under, as GitHub reports it.
AGPL-3.0
C
Atlas gradeNot recommended
because it downloads and runs a program we haven't reviewed yet
Applies to v0.3.5, released 3 Nov 2026Code checked · not yet tested in a live Zotero
Documentation in Chinese onlyOur summary is in English, but the plugin's own docs and support are in Chinese.
What we found in the codeSets the gradeThe worst finding in these three areas sets the grade.
Code transparencyReadable code, uploaded by the project's automated GitHub buildThe release file was uploaded by the project's automated GitHub build. We haven't yet rebuilt it from the source to compare.LowLow concern: normal for plugins that do this job. Listed so you know.
Updates
Updates come from this project's GitHub repositoryThe update address offers this version
Where your data goesOnly contacts services we could identify3 addresses in 3 groups.LowLow concern: normal for plugins that do this job. Listed so you know.
AI services (1)
api.openai.com
Translation (1)
BabelDOC (the AI provider it's set up with)
Code hosting (1)
github.com
Where we found it
api.openai.comprefs.js · line 1
pref("extensions.paper-translator.baseURL", "https://api.openai.com/v1");
github.comcontent/paper-translator.js · line 602
let url = `https://github.com/astral-sh/uv/releases/download/${UV_VERSION}/${name}`;
Powerful capabilitiesDownloads and runs a program we haven't reviewed yet, and 3 moreHighHigh concern: a serious problem. One high finding makes the grade C.
High concern (1)
Downloads and runs a program we haven't reviewed yet
Medium concern (1)
Launches programs on your computer
Low concern (2)
Stores API keys or passwordsWorks with files on your computer
Where we found it
Downloads and runs a program we haven't reviewed yetcontent/paper-translator.js · line 610

We haven't yet reviewed who publishes the file or whether anything stops it changing, so it counts as a high concern until we do. From astral-sh/uv on GitHub; checked only against a checksum from the same place, which catches a broken download but not a swapped one.

await Zotero.HTTP.download(url, archive, {
Launches programs on your computercontent/paper-translator.js · line 3

Programs it names include tar, uv

var { Subprocess } = ChromeUtils.importESModule("resource://gre/modules/Subprocess.sys.mjs");
Before you installShown, not gradedFacts to help you decide. They don't change the grade.
Works withZotero 7, 8, 9, 10 · not 11 betaUpdates automatically
Zotero 7 ✓ worksZotero 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 3 Nov 20263 contributors
No further detail for this area yet.
LanguagesDocumentation in Chinese onlyInterface: English 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

Translates whole PDF papers or chosen pages inside Zotero's reader, keeping layout, formulas and figures. Includes a batch queue and a translation column. Installs a Python environment on first run.

Translating a paper through a website breaks its layout and loses the formatting. This produces a translated copy in the original layout. The first set-up downloads about 1 GB.

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. 3 addresses in 3 groups.

AI services (1)
api.openai.com
Translation (1)
BabelDOC (the AI provider it's set up with)
Code hosting (1)
github.com
Evidence · file and line
api.openai.comprefs.js · line 1
pref("extensions.paper-translator.baseURL", "https://api.openai.com/v1");
github.comcontent/paper-translator.js · line 602
let url = `https://github.com/astral-sh/uv/releases/download/${UV_VERSION}/${name}`;

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 BabelDOC

    Translates a PDF attachment into Chinese with BabelDOC and saves the result as a child attachment, either Chinese only or original and Chinese side by side.

    Matches “pdf translation keeping layout” · 92 downloads · Active · Zotero 10
  • B
    Full PDF Translate

    Translates whole PDFs into bilingual PDFs that keep layout, formulas and tables, from the right-click menu, using your own LLM API key.

    Matches “translate pdf with own api key” · 70 downloads · Active · Zotero 7–10
  • B
    Immersive Translate 沉浸式翻译

    Translates Zotero PDFs with BabelDOC through the Immersive Translate service.

    Matches “translate pdf keep layout” · 101,638 downloads · Active · Zotero 7–10
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.

No ratings yet.

Write a review
Your rating of Paper Translator v0.3.5

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Install Paper Translator
CNot recommended
We don't recommend itIt downloads and runs a program we haven't reviewed yet.
Better-graded plugins for the same jobA+PDF TranslateA+Zotero 标题翻译A+Dual Title
Read what we found