Google Translate: offline, camera, and conversation mode — all free
Google Translate keeps offline mode, camera translation, and live conversation mode free, with no subscription. We check what that beats among paid competitors.
Google Translate doesn't lead with one signature feature — it leads with not charging for any of them. What iTranslate locks behind a Pro subscription ships free here.
What it gives you
The widest language coverage in this roundup — up to 249 languages, per the developer, though the exact feature set varies by language.
Real-time camera translation. Point the camera at a sign or menu and the translation overlays the image with no extra steps.
Conversation mode. The app listens to two people speaking different languages and translates both directions automatically.
Offline packs for far more languages than Apple's built-in Translate app, which only covers around twenty language pairs.
What it costs
Size — nearly 300MB, the largest app in this roundup, largely from offline dictionaries across dozens of languages.
Some sync features depend on a Google account.
Who it's for
Anyone who wants the full feature set — offline, camera, conversation mode — without a subscription or free-tier limits. For accuracy-focused translation with a smaller footprint, DeepL is worth a look instead.
The rest of the picks are in our best translator apps roundup.
Common questions
- Is Google Translate available on Android?
- Yes, on both iPhone and Android. We checked both stores on September 21, 2026.
- Does Google Translate work offline?
- Yes, offline mode is listed by the developer as its own feature and covers far more language pairs than competitors like Apple's built-in Translate app — the exact list depends on the language and is shown inside the app.
- Is Google Translate free?
- Yes, completely free — camera translation, conversation mode, and offline language packs don't require a subscription, unlike [iTranslate](/en/apps/itranslate), where the same features sit behind a Pro subscription.