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Papago

An app that translates Korean, Japanese and Chinese by text or photo.

Language & travelEveryday translatorsCamera and photo translatorsConversation and voice translators+2 more
Get PapagoBuild your own translator appFree plan

What Papago does

Papago is a free translator from NAVER, the Korean tech company. It covers 14 languages, including Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Vietnamese and Thai. You can translate text, photos, your voice, handwriting, websites and documents, and text translation works offline.

14 languages, including Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish and Arabic
Photo translation and handwriting input
Voice and one-on-one conversation mode
Offline text translation
Website and document translation that keeps formatting

Papago is the go-to for East Asian languages. If you are traveling in Korea or chatting with Korean or Japanese friends, many people find it handles casual phrasing better than general tools.

It packs a lot in for free. Snap a photo and read the translated text, talk one-on-one with each person speaking their own language, write characters with your finger, or paste a website address and read the whole page translated. You can upload documents and keep their formatting too.

The limit is the list. Fourteen languages is small next to Google Translate, so it is not the pick for Hindi, Tagalog or Bengali. And only text translation is offline, so camera and voice still need data.

Alternatives to Papago

iTranslateA polished translator with offline packs and a camera lens
Everyday translatorsCamera and photo translators
Free, paid from $9.99/wkFree plan
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Google TranslateThe free do-it-all translator for text, camera, voice and offline
Everyday translatorsCamera and photo translators
FreeFree plan
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Apple TranslateThe free translator already on your iPhone, with full offline mode
Everyday translatorsCamera and photo translators
FreeFree plan
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Microsoft TranslatorFree text, voice and photo translation in 100+ languages
Everyday translatorsCamera and photo translators
FreeFree plan
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Mate TranslateA translator for iPhone, Mac and your browser that stays in sync
Everyday translatorsCamera and photo translators
From $5.99/mo7-day free trial
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Who it's for

Travel and chats in Korean, Japanese or Chinese
Anyone who wants a free all-in-one translator for its 14 languages

Skip it if: People who need South Asian or Filipino languages.

Pricing

Free plan
Free

Papago is free. The App Store page shows no in-app purchases.

Prices can vary by country. Checked 16 Oct 2026.

What people like

  • Free with no in-app purchases shown
  • Strong for East Asian languages
  • Lots of input types, including handwriting

Watch out for

  • Only 14 languages
  • Offline covers text only
  • Rated 17+ on the App Store

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Questions people ask

Is Papago free?

Yes. It is free and the App Store page shows no in-app purchases.

What languages does Papago support?

Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Spanish, French, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, Russian, German, Italian and Arabic.

Does Papago work offline?

Text translation works offline. Camera and voice need a connection.