Managing multilingual content often means jumping between spreadsheets, translation tools, and endless copy-pasting. It’s slow, messy, and prone to mistakes.
That changes with the new Lara Translate Google Sheets translation extension. Now, you can translate and evaluate text right where your data lives — no more exporting, switching apps, or losing context.
In this article, we’ll walk you through how the add-on works, how to install it, and why it’s a smarter choice than traditional Google Sheets formulas.
Why Lara Translate in Google Sheets Matters
If you work with structured text — product catalogs, course content, customer FAQs, or localization data — chances are you’ve tried to hack together translations inside spreadsheets.
With the Google Sheets translation extension, you can:
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Translate directly inside your sheet using a simple formula.
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Provide context from other cells for more accurate results.
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Evaluate translation quality on a scale of 1–3 before publishing.
It’s the first time you can combine translation and evaluation without leaving your spreadsheet.
How to Install Lara Translate in Google Sheets
If you wish to go deep on how to install the extension, here is a complete guide. If you wish to get, it’s really quick:
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Open Google Sheets → go to Extensions > Add-ons > Get add-ons.
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Search for “Lara Translate” in the Marketplace.
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Click Install and grant permissions.
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Once installed, open it under the Extensions menu.
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Log in with your Lara account and click “Start using Lara in Google Sheets”.
Note: You’ll need an active Pro or Team plan on Lara to use the Google Sheets translation extension.
Two Functions That Do the Heavy Lifting
There are many things you can do with this extension. Here is a quick guide explaining its main functions.
1. “LARATRANSLATE” – Translate Smarter
The formula:
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sourceText = the cell you want to translate.
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sourceLanguage = optional (auto-detect if not provided).
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targetLanguage = required.
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context = optional range of cells that helps the engine understand nuance.
Example:
This translates the text in cell A2 into French, using the context provided in cells B2–B4.
The Google Sheets translation extension makes this process seamless without leaving your spreadsheet.
2. “LARAEVAL” – Evaluate Translation Quality
The formula:
It returns a score from 1 to 3:
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1 = major errors
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2 = minor errors or stylistic issues
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3 = perfect translation
Example:
=LARAEVAL(A2, B2)
Adding evaluation directly inside the Google Sheets translation extension ensures you can validate translations before using them.
Pricing at a Glance
Both functions are usage-based, billed per million characters:
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Pro plan:
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LARATRANSLATE→ €20 / 1M characters -
LARAEVAL→ €100 / 1M characters
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Team plan:
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LARATRANSLATE→ €15 / 1M characters -
LARAEVAL→ €75 / 1M characters
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You can track usage, add credits, or upgrade anytime in your Lara dashboard.
This flexible pricing makes the Google Sheets translation extension ideal for both small teams and enterprises.
Real-World Applications
The Google Sheets translation extension unlocks powerful use cases across industries:
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E-commerce: Translate thousands of product descriptions with context from category names.
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Education: Localize course materials in multiple languages directly in your sheet.
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Customer Support: Translate FAQs or knowledge base content with consistency.
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Internal Teams: Collaborate globally with instant, in-sheet translations.
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Localization Teams: Centralize workflows by managing translation projects directly in spreadsheets.
Spotlight: Why Localization Teams Love It
Localization teams often manage string lists for websites, mobile apps, or software products in spreadsheets before pushing them into repositories. With the Google Sheets translation extension, they can:
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Keep all source strings in one sheet.
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Use
=LARATRANSLATEto instantly create first drafts of translations. -
Add contextual notes or screenshots in adjacent columns to improve quality.
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Run
=LARAEVALon selected strings to automatically score translation accuracy before handing them off for human review.
This means fewer errors, faster workflows, and no more juggling between spreadsheets and external tools. Everything stays in one place, making collaboration smoother for teams spread across multiple markets.
How It Compares to Google’s Built-In “GOOGLETRANSLATE”
Google Sheets already has a translation function, but Lara’s Google Sheets translation extension takes it several steps further:
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Supports contextual translation, not just word-for-word.
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Provides quality evaluation with
LARAEVAL. -
Seamlessly integrates with your Lara subscription for professional workflows.
The result: higher quality output that’s actually usable in production.
What’s next?
At the moment, the Google Sheets translation extension focuses on two core functions: LARATRANSLATE and LARAEVAL. However, the advanced customization options that Lara users love — such as glossaries, alternative translations, and deeper contextual information — are not yet available inside Google Sheets.
The good news? These features are already in the works and will be part of the next release. Soon, localization teams and content managers will be able to leverage the full power of Lara directly in their spreadsheets, making the extension even more flexible and production-ready.
Conclusion
With the new Lara Translate Google Sheets translation extension, managing multilingual content just got easier. Whether you’re translating product catalogs, training materials, or customer content, you can now do it faster, smarter, and with quality checks built in.
Try it today and see how it transforms your localization workflow.
This article is about:
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Introducing Lara Translate as a Google Sheets translation extension and how it works.
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Explaining how to install the add-on and use
LARATRANSLATEandLARAEVAL. -
Showing practical use cases for multilingual content, product catalogs, and localization workflows.
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Comparing Lara Translate to built-in Google tools, highlighting unique features like context and evaluation.
FAQ
Do I need a paid plan to use the Google Sheets translation extension?
Yes. The extension requires a Lara Pro or Team plan. Usage is charged per character, based on your subscription tier.
What’s the difference between LARATRANSLATE and LARAEVAL in the Google Sheets translation extension?LARATRANSLATE translates text between languages, optionally using context from other cells. LARAEVAL evaluates translation quality, rating it on a 1–3 scale.
How is this Google Sheets translation extension different from Google Sheets’ built-in GOOGLETRANSLATE formula?
Lara Translate supports contextual translation, higher quality output, and adds evaluation scoring—features not available in Google’s free function.
Can I translate entire columns or batches at once with the Google Sheets translation extension?
Yes. You can apply formulas across multiple cells or ranges, making it easy to scale translations for product catalogs, content sheets, or data sets.
How do I keep track of usage and costs when using the Google Sheets translation extension?
You can monitor characters consumed directly in your Lara account dashboard, top up credits, and adjust plans as needed.
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