Is TanLens open source?

TanLens is a hosted product, not an open-source project. If access to the source code is a requirement, an open-source tool is the better starting point.

Can I use LiveTranslate on macOS?

LiveTranslate is Windows-only as of 2026-11. On macOS, TanLens covers tab and microphone workflows through the browser, but it does not promise system-wide audio capture.

Which handles system audio better?

LiveTranslate is purpose-built for Windows system audio, so that is its home ground. TanLens handles tab audio directly; system audio requires routing the output through a virtual loopback device into microphone mode.

Comparison

TanLens vs LiveTranslate: browser or Windows audio?

Compare TanLens and LiveTranslate: browser-based captions with transcripts and exports versus a free Windows system-audio translator, as of 2026-11.

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TanLens is a browser-based caption service with saved transcripts, glossaries and subtitle exports. LiveTranslate is an open-source, free, Windows-only system-audio translator, as of 2026-11. One is built around a hosted workflow across macOS and Windows; the other is a local Windows utility for whatever your machine is playing.

01Scope and platform

LiveTranslate’s scope is Windows system audio, which is exactly the gap a browser tool can struggle with. TanLens runs in Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox, uses a Chrome or Edge extension for tab audio, and uses microphone mode with a virtual loopback device for native app audio. TanLens adds accounts, saved transcripts, glossaries and exports; LiveTranslate is a free open-source project without a hosted account layer. Different constraints produce different tools.

02What TanLens is designed for

TanLens is for people who need a bilingual record of meetings, streams and files. It translates 20 languages, keeps the original and translation, and exports SRT, VTT, ASS or TXT after editing. Broadcast rooms share captions by link or code, which is useful for classrooms and churches. It works on macOS and Windows through the browser, so the same account and transcript library follow you across both, and there is no native mobile app.

03Where LiveTranslate is the better fit

If you are on Windows, want a translator for all system audio, and prefer free open-source software that runs locally, LiveTranslate is the more direct answer. If you need to inspect or modify the source, an open-source project offers something a hosted service does not. As of 2026-11, check the project’s current release and platform notes before relying on it, especially for anything security-sensitive.

Frequently asked questions

Platform

TanLens on Windows: tab, mic and system audio

Guide

How to translate system audio on Windows or macOS

Platform

TanLens on macOS: live captions in the browser

Comparison

TanLens vs DeepL Voice: captions or meeting translation?

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