Best translator apps in 2026
Five translator apps for different trade-offs: full features for free, a lighter option with less, a subscription for extras, accuracy over breadth, or built-in and iOS-only.
The real difference between these five isn't translation quality for common languages — it's what each one gives away for free, and what it doesn't cover at all.
Free doesn't mean the same thing everywhere
Google Translate everything free — offline, camera, conversation mode
Apple Translate everything free, but only ~20 languages, iOS only
Microsoft Translator everything free, minus multi-device conversation
DeepL core translation free, Tone and Glossary paid-plan
iTranslate text and phrasebook free, offline/camera/voice — Pro
Only iTranslate gates mainstream features like offline mode and camera translation behind a subscription — the other four give away their core functionality without asking for payment, each with a different limit instead.
Breadth against depth
Google Translate covers up to 249 languages; DeepL covers roughly 30 but focuses on translation quality and writing assistance for the languages it does support; Apple Translate covers about 20 but runs fully on-device. More languages isn't automatically the better choice if the one you need is already covered.
Built-in and hardware-specific
Apple Translate is the only pick that's preinstalled and free by default, and the only one with Live Translation for AirPods — hands-free translation through supported earbuds, useful while traveling, that none of the other four apps offer at all.
Short answer
Want everything free, no limits — Google Translate.
Want the lightest app for basics — Microsoft Translator.
Fine with text-only and no subscription — iTranslate.
Want translation quality over language count — DeepL.
On iPhone and want it built in — Apple Translate.
Best for: people who want the full feature set with no subscription
Pros
- Up to 249 languages, according to the developer
- Offline mode, camera translation, and conversation mode all free
- Widest offline language coverage in this roundup
Cons
- Nearly 300MB, the largest app here
- Some sync features tied to a Google account
The default pick: everything competitors charge for is included here at no cost.
Best for: people who want a lightweight translator without extras
Pros
- Just 26MB, a fraction of the other picks' size
- Text, speech, and photo translation, all free
- 100+ languages for text translation
Cons
- The multi-device conversation feature has been retired
- No conversation mode or handwriting input, unlike Google Translate
Good for basic translation without the weight — but not for the cross-device conversations it used to support.
Best for: people who only need basic text translation without paying
Pros
- 100+ languages for text and a 250+ phrase phrasebook, free
- Dictionaries, synonyms, and dialect switching included free
- Widgets and flashcards for learning phrases
Cons
- Offline mode is a Pro subscription feature, not free
- Camera translation and voice conversation also require Pro
Fine for text-only use without a subscription — but Google Translate offers the same paid features here for free.
Best for: people who want translation accuracy over language count
Pros
- Camera, photo, and file translation
- DeepL Write suggests clearer phrasing in your own writing
- Alternative translations shown for single words and phrases
Cons
- Around 30 languages, far fewer than Google Translate's 249
- Tone and Glossary are explicitly paid-plan features
Worth it if translation quality on major languages matters more than covering as many languages as possible.
Best for: iPhone owners who want a free, built-in, on-device option
Pros
- Preinstalled, free, and works fully on-device and offline
- Live Translation with AirPods — hands-free, unique to this pick
- Just 7MB, the smallest app in this roundup
Cons
- Around 20 languages, the narrowest coverage here
- iOS only, with no Android version and none planned
The right default on iPhone for its ~20 supported languages, especially with AirPods — but it won't help outside that language list or on Android.