With the help of technology, communicating in multiple languages has become easier than ever, allowing you to travel to any corner of the world. Now, with just a click of your phone, you can reassure yourself of mutual understanding no matter what.
But among the countless translation apps available, which one is the best?
Google Translate
Google Translate is perhaps the most ubiquitous translation app and the one you (probably) already use
The Good:
It’s a jack-of-all-trades—it’s fast, efficient, and has a vast collection of languages, ensuring you can communicate in nearly every corner of the world. Likewise, the platform is intuitive and easy to use, even for the most tech-averse users.
Google Translate is also available 24/7 through the browser and apps. Likewise, Google Lens incorporates the Translate services, making translating on the go much easier.
The Bad:
While the translations for widespread languages—such as English, Spanish, or French—can be very accurate, translating things from less popular languages may not yield such reliable results.
Likewise, Google Translate can sometimes yield inaccurate or conflicting results when translating large documents. Simultaneously, cultural context and nuances can be lost.
DeepL Translate
Although less popular than Google Translate, DeepL is celebrated online for its accuracy compared to other machine translators.
The Good:
As previously mentioned, DeepL is considered one of the most accurate machine translations available, if not the top contender for the title.
Many believe that DeepL, while not perfect, is perhaps the best translator app for capturing nuance and context, even in complex sentences. Likewise, it has a simple platform that’s easy to understand.
The Bad:
DeepL has vast language options, but they are still significantly fewer than Google Translate, which can limit its usability depending on your destination. At the same time, translation quality can be compromised depending on the chosen language pairs.
On the other hand, some users report a bug in specific languages when translating multiple paragraphs, where the machine fails to recognise a few sentences in the text.
iTranslate
It is one of the most reliable machine translation platforms available, with nearly a million reviews on the App Store and Google Play.
The Good:
The app has one of the most appraised voice conversation modes—you can speak to it, and within seconds, the translation will appear on the screen and be played out loud. This feature seems to be its main appeal and stands out above the competition.
Likewise, it has over a hundred languages available, and the app has Apple Watch support.
The Bad:
Sadly, iTranslate’s main downside is that most of its best features are locked behind a paywall, which is a step down from the other free options in this list. Likewise, the free version has ads, which can be intrusive when using the platform.
The offline options are also limited to only a few languages. Therefore, you might incur expensive navigation costs.
Microsoft Translator
A fantastic tool compatible with most devices and any Microsoft account, it is one of the favourites of businesses and a practical option for users.
The Good:
Microsoft Translators offers support for over 70 languages, covering most of the most requested translation demands on the market. It also allows for customisation features and includes an extensive list of the most common cultural sayings and vernacular phrases.
However, Microsoft Translator’s most significant advantage is its group interaction feature, which allows users to enter a group conversation with other users in which each can speak in their own language and receive simultaneous translations.
The Bad:
Although efficient and practical, most Microsoft Translator features are tailored for business usage, so they are not entirely beneficial for travellers. Similarly, the app’s lack of vast offline functionality can increase navigation costs and make it difficult to use in areas with poor connectivity.
Which One Is The Best?
Each translation app has its ups and downs and unique features that make it stand out.
To choose the best one for you, consider your travel destinations, your typical needs, and the circumstances of your phone. The good news is that any of these options will ensure you won’t have to memorise ‘Where’s the Bathroom?’ in 10 different languages.
