Free translation in about 240 languages, with camera, offline and live conversations
Free
The Best AI translation apps in 2026
- 10 apps ranked
- Updated Oct 2026
- Researched from official sources
Translation apps can now read a menu through your camera, interpret a conversation out loud and translate whole documents. Some cover more than 200 languages for free; others focus on fewer languages but sound more natural. We tested the leading ones and ranked them with the same published rubric.
Our top picks
The most natural-sounding AI translator, now covering 100+ languages
Free plan · paid from €7.49/month
Free AI translator tuned for Korean, Japanese, Chinese and other Asian languages
Free
The full ranking
10 apps, best first- 1
Google Translate
Best forTravellers and anyone who needs a free translator for almost any language
Free translation in about 240 languages, with camera, offline and live conversations
Mobile appBrowser extensionFree
Pros & cons
- Covers about 240 languages, far more than any rival
- Completely free, with offline and camera modes
- Won Which?'s native-speaker test of free apps
- Translations can be literal and stiff on longer texts
- Camera translation of menus can be confidently wrong
8.8/10★★★★★Visit ↗ - 2
DeepL
Best forProfessionals and students who want natural-sounding translations, especially between European languages
The most natural-sounding AI translator, now covering 100+ languages
Mobile appFree plan · paid from €7.49/month
Pros & cons
- Most accurate in Which?'s tests with colloquial language
- Highly rated apps on every platform
- Paid plans don't train on your text
- No offline mode
- Free plan has tight character and file limits
- Weaker than Google and Microsoft on idioms in some tests
8.6/10★★★★★Visit ↗ - 3
Naver Papago
Best forTravellers to Korea, Japan, China and Southeast Asia
Free AI translator tuned for Korean, Japanese, Chinese and other Asian languages
Mobile appFree
Pros & cons
- Often more natural than Google for Korean and other Asian languages
- Free, with offline, camera and conversation modes
- Well rated on iPhone and Android
- Only 14 languages
- Weak coverage of European languages
8.3/10★★★★★Visit ↗ - 4
Microsoft Translator
Best forMicrosoft 365 users who want a free translator that matches what they use at work
Free text, speech and image translation in 100+ languages
Mobile appFree
Pros & cons
- Free, with no ads or subscriptions
- Very well rated on iPhone
- Same engine as Microsoft 365 translation
- Multi-device conversation feature has been retired
- Struggled with menu photos in Which?'s tests
- Few reasons to pick it over Google for travel
8.1/10★★★★★Visit ↗ - 5
Reverso
Best forLanguage learners and writers who want to check how a phrase is really used
Translations shown in real example sentences, with built-in learning tools
Mobile appFree plan · paid from $9.99/month
Pros & cons
- Real-life examples make it easy to pick the right translation
- Learning tools built from your own searches
- Highly rated on both app stores
- Better for words and phrases than for conversations or travel
- No offline or camera translation in our checks
7.5/10★★★★★Visit ↗ - 6
Apple Translate
Best foriPhone users who value privacy and want hands-free translation with AirPods
Apple's free, private translator, with Live Translation through AirPods
Mobile appFree
Pros & cons
- Free, private and can run fully offline
- Hands-free Live Translation with AirPods
- Built into Messages and FaceTime
- Least accurate in every language Which? tested
- Only about 19 languages
- Low App Store rating
7.5/10★★★★★Visit ↗ - 7
Lara Translate
Best forProfessionals who want to control the style of a translation
Context-aware AI translator with Faithful, Fluid and Creative styles in 200+ languages
Mobile appFree plan · paid from €8/month
Pros & cons
- Choice of translation style
- Huge language coverage
- Generous free plan with API access on every tier
- Very few app-store ratings or independent reviews yet
- Mobile apps are aimed at Pro subscribers
7.4/10★★★★★Visit ↗ - 8
iTranslate
Best forApple users who want an all-in-one paid translator, including on Apple Watch
Translator for 100+ languages with camera, AR, offline mode and Apple Watch app
Mobile appFree plan · paid from $9.99/week
Pros & cons
- Feature-rich, including AR camera translation
- Apple Watch and keyboard support
- Very highly rated on iPhone
- Most features need a Pro subscription
- Reviewers complain about unexpected renewal charges
- Low Google Play rating
7.1/10★★★★★Visit ↗ - 9
Speak & Translate
Best foriPhone users who mainly want quick spoken translations
iPhone voice translator for 117 languages, with Snap Mode and offline use
Mobile appFree plan · paid from $9.99/week
Pros & cons
- Simple voice-first design
- Wide text language coverage
- Popular, with a long track record
- Weekly subscription pricing is expensive
- Voice recognition struggles with accents and fast speech
- iPhone and iPad only
6.3/10★★★★★Visit ↗ - 10
Timekettle
Best forBusiness travellers who want hands-free, two-way conversations without passing a phone around
Translator earbuds and devices for hands-free conversations, calls and meetings
Mobile appFrom $129
Pros & cons
- Truly hands-free conversations
- Translates calls and online meetings
- Dedicated offline handheld option
- Expensive hardware on top of possible app subscriptions
- Low app ratings, citing delays, accuracy and earbud faults
- Fewer languages than phone apps
6.0/10★★★★★Visit ↗
Compare at a glance
Scroll sideways on mobile| # | App | Free plan | Paid from | iOS | Android | Web | Translation quality | Ease of use | Features | Value for money | Platforms | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Google Translate | Yes | Free | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8.8 |
| 2 |  DeepL | Yes | €7.49/month | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 9 | 9 | 7.5 | 8 | 10 | 8.6 |
| 3 |  Naver Papago | Yes | Free | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 7.5 | 8.5 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 8.3 |
| 4 |  Microsoft Translator | Yes | Free | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 7.5 | 8.5 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 8.1 |
| 5 |  Reverso | Yes | $9.99/month | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 7.5 | 8 | 5.5 | 8 | 9 | 7.5 |
| 6 |  Apple Translate | Yes | Free | ✓ | — | — | 6 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 7.5 |
| 7 |  Lara Translate | Yes | €8/month | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 6.5 | 8 | 7 | 7.5 | 9 | 7.4 |
| 8 |  iTranslate | Yes | $9.99/week | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 7 | 8 | 7.5 | 5 | 9 | 7.1 |
| 9 |  Speak & Translate | Yes | $9.99/week | ✓ | — | — | 6.5 | 8 | 6.5 | 5 | 4 | 6.3 |
| 10 |  Timekettle | No | $129 | ✓ | ✓ | — | 6 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 4.5 | 7 | 6.0 |
Head to head
12 comparisons
Google Translate vs DeepL
Google Translate vs Naver Papago
Google Translate vs Microsoft TranslatorDeepL vs Naver PapagoDeepL vs Microsoft TranslatorNaver Papago vs Microsoft Translator
Google Translate vs Reverso
Google Translate vs Apple Translate
Google Translate vs Lara Translate
Google Translate vs iTranslate
Google Translate vs Speak & Translate
Google Translate vs TimekettleFor developers
Make AI translation apps? Get yours reviewed here.
People compare AI translation apps on this page before they choose. Paste your website after checkout and we'll research, score and publish your listing.
- Full profile page
- Scored with the same rubric
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How we rank AI translation apps
Every app was checked on 7 October 2026 against its own website, pricing and app-store listings, plus independent 2025–2026 tests and reviews. Each gets five scores out of 10, weighted into an overall score.
Ties are broken by the translation quality score. To be listed, an app has to translate text or speech between languages with AI, and anyone has to be able to download it or sign up. The list is open: developers can submit an app, and we review it with the same rubric.
Features are scored half by our editors and half by this published checklist, ticked only where the app's own pages or app-store listing confirm it:
- Translates 100+ languages
- Works offline
- Translates text in photos or through the camera
- Spoken conversation or speech translation
- Translates whole documents or files
- Translates inside other apps or on websites
- Choose formality or translation style
- Custom glossary for your own terms
- Hands-free translation through earbuds
Rankings are editorial. Companies can't pay to change a score or a position, and any paid placement is labelled Featured.
Reviewed by Tech Arcade editors · Updated Oct 7, 2026
- Translation quality30%
- Ease of use20%
- Features20%
- Value for money20%
- Platforms10%
Quick answers
What is the best translation app?
In our October 2026 tests, Google Translate scored highest overall: it is free, covers the most languages and works offline, through the camera and in conversations. DeepL came a close second and produces the most natural translations, especially for European languages.
Is DeepL more accurate than Google Translate?
Often, yes. In Which?'s tests with native speakers, DeepL was the most accurate with colloquial language, and other reviews rate it best for European language pairs. Google Translate covers far more languages and works offline, which DeepL doesn't.
What is the best free translation app?
Google Translate, Microsoft Translator, Naver Papago and Apple Translate are completely free. Papago is the pick for Korean, Japanese and Chinese, while DeepL and Lara Translate have free plans with monthly character limits.
Which translation app works offline?
Google Translate works offline in 59 languages, and Apple Translate, Papago, iTranslate and Speak & Translate also have offline modes. DeepL needs an internet connection.
Are translation earbuds worth it?
Timekettle's earbuds cost $129 to $449 and its apps have low ratings, so test them before relying on them abroad. If you have an iPhone and AirPods Pro 2 or later, Apple's Live Translation does hands-free translation in a growing set of languages at no extra cost.
Do companies pay to be on this list?
No. Rankings come from the published rubric and can't be bought. Developers can pay for a Featured spot above the ranking; it's always marked Sponsored and never changes scores or positions.
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