Google Translate
An app that translates text, signs and speech in hundreds of languages.
What Google Translate does
Google Translate is the free translator many people already know. You can type, talk, point your camera at a sign or menu, or have a back-and-forth conversation. It says it covers up to 249 languages, and you can download languages to translate without a connection. It runs on iPhone, iPad and Android.
If you only install one translator, this is usually the one. You type or paste text, speak into the mic, or point your camera at a menu and see the words swap into your language right on the screen. You can also translate photos you already took, draw characters by hand, and save phrases you use a lot.
Conversation mode handles a back-and-forth chat between two languages, and Transcribe keeps translating while someone talks, close to real time. For travel, download your languages ahead of time so text and camera translation still work with no signal. Google notes that not every feature works in every language, so check your pair before you rely on it.
The trade-off is polish. For long or delicate writing, some people find a tool like DeepL reads more naturally. But for free, broad, everyday translation on the go, Google Translate is hard to beat.
Alternatives to Google Translate
Who it's for
Skip it if: People translating long, formal documents where tone matters most.
Pricing
Free planGoogle Translate is free. The App Store lists no in-app purchases.
Prices can vary by country. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
What people like
- Completely free with no in-app purchases listed
- Huge language coverage
- Camera, voice, conversation and offline in one app
- Works on both iPhone and Android
Watch out for
- Not every feature works for every language
- Writing can read stiffly next to more polished tools
- Offline needs you to download languages first
Want a translator built around your own trips? Build your own.
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Try this idea: “a simple travel app where I save the phrases I need for each trip and hear them read out loud in the local language”
Questions people ask
Is Google Translate free?
Yes. The app is free and the App Store lists no in-app purchases.
Does Google Translate work offline?
Yes, once you download the languages you need. Text works offline, and camera translation works offline for supported pairs.
Can Google Translate translate pictures?
Yes. Point your camera at text for instant translation, or import a photo you already took.
Can it translate a conversation in real time?
Yes. Conversation mode handles a two-way chat, and Transcribe keeps translating while someone speaks.