6 Best Translation Apps for Travelers
Traveling to a new country for the first time can be a sense of wonder. But in some cases, that excitement can quickly turn to shock when, upon arrival, a language barrier leaves you disoriented and lost, grabbing the wrong food order, or desperately needing the bathroom.
As a traveler, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is assuming that everyone will speak English wherever you go. Instead of relying on gestures like antics or thinking you’ll be completely fluent on the flight with a Duolingo crash course, prepare by downloading a few great translation apps to your smartphone in advance.
The best translation apps are often free or charge a small fee and can help in emergencies, like helping you order your daily coffee or ask for directions while navigating a large new city.
Here are TPG’s picks for six of the best translation apps you can download today.
Google translator
With 8.89 million reviews on Google Play, over 76,000 reviews on the Apple Store, and an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars on iTunes and 4.2 out of 5 stars on Google Play, Google’s translate app is one of the most popular translation tools out there.
We’re among the many fans of this app, largely because it can translate between 108 languages on Android and 133 languages on iPhone, and because it comes with a host of features that competitors charge extra to access.
Some of those features seem designed specifically for travelers. Sure, you can translate by typing, but with instant camera translation, for example, all you have to do is point your camera at a sign or text to get its meaning translated (in 94 languages on Android). You can also use it offline in a variety of languages, which is a boon when you might not have access to Wi-Fi and don’t want to pay roaming charges.
Another useful tool is the app’s ability to translate conversations in multiple languages simply by speaking into your phone. Google Translate will then transcribe what you say in your native language and translate it into the language you want, with the option to listen to the speech and pronunciation or easily copy and paste the text. There’s also a phrasebook for supported languages. Download it for free on iTunes And Google Play.
Deep L
DeepL lets you translate text, speech, photos, and files into over 30 languages and bills itself as “the world’s most accurate AI translator.” While we can’t verify that claim with 100% certainty, we can recommend it as a very useful tool to have in your arsenal.
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Camera translation works in 11 languages on Apple devices and 25 on Android, and you can also speak directly to it to translate your words using the microphone. AI tools will help check grammar and spelling for increased accuracy when sharing text, and the app also translates documents, which is especially useful for students and business travelers.
DeepL is available for iPhone and Android. However, document translation is only available for iOS. Most of the core features are free to download, although you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan (starting at $8.74 a month or more, depending on the plan) to access perks like unlimited text translation (there’s a character limit on the free plan) and additional document uploads. Download for free on iTunes And Google Play.
I translate
Read, write, and speak in over 100 languages with iTranslate, available for Android and iPhone. The app has over 500,000 reviews on the Apple iTunes store, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars, and over 50 million downloads on Google Play, with an average rating of 3.7 stars.
In addition to the standard text translation, one of our favorite features is the app’s voice capabilities. Just start speaking and iTranslate will recognize your voice and translate what you’re saying into the language you want. You’ll see the translation appear as text and spoken aloud so you can hear the pronunciation.
Other notable aspects include phonetic transcription to support reading non-Latin characters, a camera mode to translate signs or menus, Apple Watch compatibility, and a favorite “phrasebook” section that users can use to bookmark the most used translations of specific idioms so they don’t have to look them up multiple times.
Just note that only some languages work offline, and you’ll need to upgrade to the paid Pro version to use the camera and speak-to-translate features. Pro costs $4.99 a week, $7.99 a month, or $69.99 to $99.99 a year, depending on the features you choose. If you’re not sure, there’s a one-week free trial to try out Pro. Download it for free on iTunes And Google Play.
Microsoft Translator
Available on iOS and Android, Microsoft Translator is a great tool for people who need to connect with others in real-time and need help facilitating those conversations.
All you have to do is download the app and share the code with other participants, who will be able to join the group chat using the app or website. You can then speak or type in your own language and Microsoft Translator will convert your words into the recipient’s language.
You can also download offline packs to translate without Wi-Fi or cell service, and the app will translate text in photos, even when offline. An included phrasebook has verified translations for travel, directions, accommodations, and dining, and there are key phrases and translations available to listen to at three different speeds.
The app is available in 136 languages, although not all features are available in every language. Download for free on iTunes And Google Play.
Papago
This is one of the best options available today for translating Asian languages with text, voice and camera translation features.
The app supports 14 languages, translating between English, Spanish, French, Russian, German, Arabic, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Vietnamese, Thai and Indonesian.
It’s free to download on both iPhone and Android, and in addition to the features mentioned above, it can also translate conversations between two people talking to each other in real time. Furthermore, it will automatically translate web pages and can even translate handwriting. It also works offline and includes a dictionary, all for free. Download on iTunes And Google Play.
Translate Now — AI Translator
Translate Now is only available for iOS, but it’s a great option for iPhone users who want integration on their iPad, Apple Watch, or other Apple devices.
The app can translate content in over 110 languages, either in text with pronunciation, through images, or by using the real-time voice translation feature, where you simply speak into your device and Translate Now will convert your words into the desired language, in both text and voice.
Other key features include a keyboard add-on to chat in your native language and translate into over 60 other languages across multiple messaging apps, an offline phrasebook, Siri shortcuts, and a dark mode option to save battery.
Just know that you’ll have to upgrade to the paid version for unlimited use, no ads, and features like speak-to-translate, which costs $4.99 a week, $9.99 a month, or $69.99 a year. Download it for free at iTunes.
How to choose the best translation app
With so many highly rated translation apps, the iTunes and Google Play stores can be great places to start looking for the right app for your needs.
Luckily, most apps have a basic, free download option that lets you try out the core functionality and then decide whether you want to upgrade to the paid version.
To start, if your device storage allows, we recommend downloading a few of these apps. Next, start playing around with them and think about which user interface you like best and find easiest to use.
Then, try out the main features that best suit your travel preferences. Ask yourself questions like, do you prefer talking or typing? Do you mostly translate menus and ask basic questions, or do you want to connect with others in chat? And can you handle ads, or would you rather upgrade to the ad-free version?
The answers to these questions will help you navigate the features that will best suit your travel needs and help determine whether or not you should invest in the premium version. You may also decide that you only need to pay for the premium version for the duration of your trip; some apps offer the option to pay weekly rather than just monthly or yearly subscriptions.
Just remember that no app is a true substitute for native knowledge. All translation apps have some level of error. But once you consider these real-world scenarios, you may end up with a new favorite translation app — and maybe learn some new terminology.
