Altos

For iPhone and Mac

Read Chinese stories in Vietnamese, translated on your own device

Altos is an on-device reading and translation tool. You choose the chapters, and your device translates them into Vietnamese — no account needed, and story text is not sent to any third-party AI service.

Coming soon to the App Store

Features

On-device translation

The AI translator runs on your iPhone or Mac. Chapter text is not sent to any third party for translation.

Aims for the Hán Việt register

Aims for the names, ranks and terms readers of xianxia expect. Machine translation may be wrong or inexact.

You decide

Chapters are fetched and translated only when you open them, choose to download them or turn on translate-ahead (paid plans on iPhone).

Customisable reader

Light and dark themes, system text sizes, bookmarks and remembered position.

Your names

With Pro on iPhone, edit how proper names are translated for each story.

No account

Library, progress and bookmarks stay on your device; where sync exists it uses your own iCloud.

Your reading data stays on your device

We run no server for user data and cannot access your iCloud data. The free iPhone tier shows Google AdMob ads; what ads may collect is described in the app’s Privacy Policy.

Two separate apps

Altos for iPhone

For iPhone with iOS 27 or later. On-device translation needs an iPhone with at least 8 GB of RAM; the translator is about 2.6 GB, Wi‑Fi only, with your consent.

Altos for Mac

A separate app, coming to the Mac App Store, for Mac with Apple silicon. No ads; the translator downloads only when you choose.

Plans

On iPhone

Free

  • Google AdMob ads
  • Up to 10 chapters per download

Altos Plus

  • No ads
  • Up to 50 chapters per download
  • Translates 1 chapter ahead while not hot or charging

Altos Pro

  • Everything in Plus
  • Up to 200 chapters per download
  • Up to 3 chapters ahead
  • Edit proper names per story

On Mac

Free

  • No ads
  • Translates up to 20 chapters a day
  • Standard translator

Altos Mac Plus

  • No daily translation limit (the 300-chapter daily download limit still applies)
  • A larger translator on Macs with at least 16 GB of RAM

Prices and trials are shown in the app and charged by Apple. iPhone and Mac plans are separate. On iPhones with less than 8 GB of RAM the app cannot translate on device, and a paid plan only removes ads. Every plan downloads at most 300 chapters a day.

FAQ

Does Altos provide stories?

No. Altos is a reading and translation tool. We publish only an Index describing stories; the app fetches chapters directly from third-party source websites on its list. We do not host, provide or distribute chapter text. Copyright belongs to the authors and rights holders.

Is story text sent to a server for translation?

No. Translation runs on your own iPhone or Mac; story text is not sent to any third-party AI service.

Is the translation accurate?

It is generated automatically and may be wrong or incomplete. It is not a licensed translation and is for your private reading.

Do I need an account?

No. Paid plans are managed through your Apple Account.

Who is it for?

Adults 18+, as stories may contain violence or mature themes.