Select any text to explain, simplify or translate it with AI, right next to what you're reading. 10 free tries, no account needed.
Users
54
+12 in 30 days
Rating
5.0 / 5
+5.00 in 30 days
Ratings
3
+3 in 30 days
Store rank
#106K
#88K among extensions
Version
1.3.0
updated 12 Oct 2026
Users
monthly, 5 months
Latest, 19 Oct 2026:54 usersMove the mouse over the chart for any month
Ratings count
monthly, 5 months
Latest, 19 Oct 2026:3 ratingsMove the mouse over the chart for any month
The Chrome Web Store rounds user counts down to the leading digit, so the user line moves in steps. The ratings count is exact and is the better signal of real adoption.
About Hilo - AI Explain, Simplify & Translate Highlighted Text
Read anything. Understand everything.
Select any word, sentence or paragraph on a web page and Hilo explains it right next to the text: its meaning in context, a simpler version, or a translation. No sidebar, no chat window, no copy-pasting into another tab.
How it works
1. Select any text on any webpage
2. Click the spark icon that appears
3. Get a clear, context-aware explanation in seconds
Three modes
- Explain: concise definition or explanation, 3-5 sentences, with a "Go deeper" button when you want more
- Simplify: break it down like you're new to the topic
- Translate: translate the selection into your language
Context-aware
Hilo takes context from around your selection and from the page, not just the highlighted words. It knows you're reading about monetary policy when you highlight "quantitative easing", not just asking for a dictionary definition.
Privacy first
Hilo never stores what you read or highlight. The selected text is used to write the explanation, then discarded; the server keeps a usage counter, not your text. No history, no profiling, no ads.
Free and Pro
No account: 10 free explanations to try it, no email needed.
Free account: 5 explanations/day. Sign in with a one-time code sent by email.
Pro: 100 explanations/day for €2/month or €10/year.
Works on Wikipedia, news sites, research papers, technical docs, and anywhere else you read online.