8 Best Free Translation Apps of 2026

This list is for travelers and students who want a free translation app and need to know how many languages it covers, whether it works offline and what sits behind a paywall. We compared documented features and published prices for 8 apps and ranked them by value first, then features, then ease of use. Value weighs what you get for free against the price of any upgrade. Prices are in USD as shown in the US App Store on the check date.

1. 01Top value

   

   Google Translate

   9.4/10

   Google's free translation app for text, camera, voice and conversations on iPhone, Android and the web.

   Price

   Freefree

   Free in the US App Store with no in-app purchases listed

   “Text, Photo & Voice Translator Free” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   9.6

   Features (35%)

   9.5

   Ease of use (25%)

   9.0

   Best fortravelers who need the widest language coverage and offline packs

   Google Translate ranks first because it covers the most ground for nothing. The US App Store listing says it can translate between up to 249 languages and lists offline translation, instant camera translation, photo translation, dictation, bilingual conversations, a continuous Transcribe mode, handwriting and a Phrasebook. Google's help center explains that you can download languages to your device and then translate them without a connection, and that downloaded languages can also work with the camera. The About page adds document translation that keeps formatting and full website translation. The catch is coverage within the 249: the listing says feature support varies by language, and the help page notes that if a language has no Download option it cannot be used offline. For a trip, check your destination language before you leave and download it on Wi-Fi, which Google itself recommends. No paid tier or in-app purchase appears on the US listing. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run translation tests.

   • ✓The App Store listing covers up to 249 languages, the most on this list
   • ✓Offline language downloads are free
   • ✓Also translates whole websites and uploaded documents, per Google's About page

   • ✕Feature support varies by language, so not every language works offline or with the camera
   • ✕Google's help page advises downloading languages on Wi-Fi to avoid data charges
   • ✕Not every language can be downloaded; the help page says some show no Download option

   Languages:

   Up to 249

   Offline:

   Yes, downloadable languages

   Paid plan:

   None listed

   Platforms:

   iPhone, iPad, Android, web

   Bottom line: Google Translate is the best choice for most travelers and students because it pairs up to 249 languages with free offline downloads. Check that your language supports offline use before you travel.

   Visit translate.google.com ↗

2. 02

   

   Microsoft Translator

   8.9/10

   Microsoft's free app for translating text, speech and images in more than 100 languages.

   Price

   Freefree

   Free; the US App Store listing says it translates in over 100 languages for free

   “Translate text, speech, and images in over 100 languages — for free.” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   9.5

   Features (35%)

   8.4

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.8

   Best fortravelers who want a free second opinion with offline packs

   Microsoft Translator is the strongest free alternative to Google. The US App Store and Google Play listings both describe it the same way: translate text, speech and images in over 100 languages, for free. Microsoft's apps page tells travelers to download offline translation packs before a trip so they can translate off the grid, which covers the most common travel problem. The listing is honest about one loss: the multi-device conversation feature, which once let groups join a shared translated chat, has been retired. That leaves one-to-one speech translation in the app. Supported languages for each feature are published at aka.ms/applanguages, and it is worth checking there before relying on speech or image translation for a smaller language. There are no in-app purchases on the US listing, so nothing is held back behind a subscription. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run translation tests.

   • ✓The vendor states it is free for text, speech and image translation
   • ✓Offline packs can be downloaded before travel, per Microsoft's apps page
   • ✓No in-app purchases appear on the US App Store listing

   • ✕The multi-device conversation feature has been retired, per the listing
   • ✕Language coverage is 100+, well short of Google's up to 249
   • ✕Feature lists are brief, so per-language support must be checked on aka.ms/applanguages

   Languages:

   100+

   Offline:

   Yes, downloadable packs

   Paid plan:

   None listed

   Conversation mode:

   Multi-device feature retired

   Bottom line: Microsoft Translator is the best free backup app for travelers because it adds offline packs and speech translation in 100+ languages with no paid tier. Groups that relied on its shared conversations should note that feature is retired.

   Visit microsoft.com ↗

3. 03

   

   Apple Translate

   8.8/10

   Apple's built-in translation app for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch with an on-device mode.

   Price

   Freefree

   Free from Apple in the US App Store

   “Translate Utilities Free” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   9.4

   Features (35%)

   7.8

   Ease of use (25%)

   9.2

   Best foriPhone owners who want private, offline translation in major languages

   Apple Translate is the easiest pick for anyone already carrying an iPhone. The US App Store listing describes text, voice and camera translation, a Conversation tab with automatic language detection, a face to face view, and Auto Translate, which listens for when each person starts and stops talking so nobody has to tap the microphone. Its on-device mode gives a fully offline experience for downloaded languages, which Apple's iPhone guide also describes. The newest feature is Live Translation with AirPods, which the listing says needs iOS 26 with AirPods 4 (ANC) or AirPods Pro 2 and later, in English, French, German, Portuguese (Brazil) and Spanish. The limit is breadth: the listing names 21 language options, counting two each for English and Chinese, with Hindi new in iOS 27. Travelers heading somewhere outside that set will need a second app. There is no Android version. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run translation tests.

   • ✓On-device mode keeps translations private without switching off the internet
   • ✓Hindi support was added in iOS 27, per the listing
   • ✓Live Translation with AirPods works hands-free in English, French, German, Portuguese (Brazil) and Spanish

   • ✕The listing names 21 language options, far fewer than Google or Microsoft
   • ✕Only for Apple devices; there is no Android app
   • ✕Live Translation requires iOS 26 and AirPods 4 (ANC) or AirPods Pro 2 and later

   Languages:

   21 options listed

   Offline:

   Yes, on-device mode

   Paid plan:

   None

   Platforms:

   iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch

   Bottom line: Apple Translate is the best choice for iPhone owners who want private offline translation because its on-device mode works without sending text to a server. Its 21 listed language options are too few for many trips.

   Visit apple.com ↗

4. 04

   

   DeepL Translate

   8.6/10

   DeepL's mobile app for camera, photo, voice, file and text translation in 100+ languages.

   Price

   $10.49per month

   Free to download; in-app subscriptions from $10.49 a month in the US App Store

   “Monthly $10.49” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   8.1

   Features (35%)

   8.9

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.8

   Best forstudents translating essays, emails and documents with a choice of tone

   DeepL suits students and anyone translating full sentences for writing rather than reading signs. The US App Store listing covers real-time camera translation, photo translation, dictation, text to speech, file translation, alternative translations for words and short phrases, transliteration for scripts such as Japanese and Russian, and DeepL Write for clearer text. It states that the app is free to download with core features at no cost, while glossaries and a formal or informal tone need a paid plan. In-app subscriptions in the US App Store start at $10.49 a month and run to $384.99 a year for higher tiers. DeepL's own pricing page showed euro prices from our location, so we did not quote it. For travelers, the gap is offline use: the listing does not mention an offline mode, so DeepL is a poor sole app for trips without data. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run translation tests.

   • ✓The app is free to download with core features at no cost
   • ✓File translation is included in the app
   • ✓DeepL Write is built in for supported languages

   • ✕Glossary and tone control need a paid plan
   • ✕The listing does not describe an offline mode
   • ✕Its pricing page showed only euro prices from our location, so we used US App Store prices

   Languages:

   100+

   Offline:

   Not described in the listing

   Cheapest in-app plan:

   $10.49 per month

   Paid-only features:

   Glossary, tone

   Bottom line: DeepL is the best choice for students translating written work because its free app adds file translation and DeepL Write. Travelers without data should pair it with an app that works offline.

   Visit deepl.com ↗

5. 05

   

   Naver Papago

   8.6/10

   Naver's AI translator focused on Korean, Japanese, Chinese and other Asian and European languages.

   Price

   Freefree

   Free in the US App Store with no in-app purchases listed

   “A smart AI translator Free” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   9.0

   Features (35%)

   8.2

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.6

   Best fortravelers and students working with Korean, Japanese or Chinese

   Papago is the specialist on this list. Naver's US App Store listing says it supports 14 languages: Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Spanish, French, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, Russian, German, Italian and Arabic. Inside that set it offers a lot for free: text, image and voice translation, offline text translation, 1:1 conversation translation where both people speak at once, handwriting input, website translation and document translation that keeps formatting. Students get an Edu mode that turns a photo of study material into notes with vocabulary practice, plus dictionary entries beside results. The trade-off is plain: if your language is not on the list of 14, Papago cannot help. The listing also notes that voice translation in Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, Russian and Italian uses Apple's speech recognition. It needs iOS 17 or later and is also on the web. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run translation tests.

   • ✓Offline text translation is built in
   • ✓Handwriting input helps with Chinese characters and Korean
   • ✓An Edu mode turns photos of study material into notes and vocabulary practice

   • ✕Only 14 languages, per the listing
   • ✕Offline mode covers text translation, not every feature
   • ✕The iOS app requires iOS 17 or later

   Languages:

   14

   Offline:

   Yes, text translation

   Paid plan:

   None listed

   Platforms:

   iPhone, iPad, Android, web

   Bottom line: Papago is the best choice for trips to Korea, Japan or China because it adds offline text and handwriting translation for those languages at no cost. Anyone traveling beyond its 14 languages should use Google Translate.

   Visit papago.naver.com ↗

6. 06

   

   Yandex Translate

   8.5/10

   Yandex's free translator and dictionary with offline downloads and photo translation.

   Price

   Freefree

   Free; the US App Store listing calls it a free translator that works offline

   “Free translator that can work offline and translate text from photos” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   9.0

   Features (35%)

   8.0

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.4

   Best forreaders translating Russian, Turkish or European languages into English offline

   Yandex Translate is a capable free app with clear limits. The US App Store listing calls it a free translator that can work offline and translate text from photos. Online, it translates between any pair of 100 languages. Offline, it translates French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Turkish and other languages into English after you download them for free and switch on offline mode in Settings. Photo translation shows results over the image, but only when online. Voice input is limited to Russian, English and Turkish. Students reading foreign texts get a dictionary with usage examples, transliteration for nine scripts including Japanese, Korean and Chinese Pinyin, website translation, and iPad Split View for reading side by side. There are no in-app purchases on the US listing. Travelers who need offline translation out of English, or voice input in other languages, should look at Google Translate or Microsoft Translator. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run translation tests.

   • ✓Offline language downloads are free, per the listing
   • ✓Transliteration for Arabic, Armenian, Farsi, Georgian, Greek, Hebrew, Korean, Japanese and Chinese Pinyin
   • ✓Works in Split View on iPad for reading alongside a text

   • ✕Offline mode translates into English only
   • ✕Voice input covers only Russian, English and Turkish
   • ✕Photo translation needs a connection

   Languages:

   100 online

   Offline:

   Yes, selected languages into English

   Paid plan:

   None listed

   Voice input:

   Russian, English, Turkish

   Bottom line: Yandex Translate is the best choice for readers translating Russian or Turkish into English because its offline downloads and transliteration are free. Its offline mode only works into English.

   Visit translate.yandex.com ↗

7. 07

   

   Reverso Context

   7.9/10

   A translation dictionary that shows words and phrases inside real example sentences.

   Price

   $4.99per month

   Free version; Premium $4.99 a month with a 7-day free trial or $39.99 a year in the US App Store

   “Premium version 1 month $4.99” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Free trial

   7 days

   Value (40%)

   8.2

   Features (35%)

   7.2

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.2

   Best forlanguage students checking how a phrase is used in context

   Reverso Context is a study tool more than a travel tool. Instead of one answer, it shows a word or phrase inside real sentences drawn from sources such as official documents, movie subtitles and product descriptions, so students can see how it is used. The US App Store listing says it translates in 17 languages, including Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Ukrainian. Searches feed flashcards and quizzes, and vocabulary lists and search history stay available offline. You can also translate selected text in Safari or another app through the Share menu. The listing does not describe camera or live conversation translation, and offline access is limited to what you have saved, so travelers should not rely on it alone. Premium costs $4.99 a month with a 7-day free trial, or $39.99 a year, in the US App Store, the cheapest paid upgrade on this list. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run translation tests.

   • ✓Example sentences show how a word is really used
   • ✓Built-in flashcards and quizzes help students memorize vocabulary
   • ✓Premium is the cheapest upgrade on this list at $4.99 a month

   • ✕Only 17 languages, per the listing
   • ✕Offline access covers saved lists and history, not new translations
   • ✕No camera or conversation translation is described

   Languages:

   17

   Offline:

   Saved lists and history only

   Premium:

   $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year

   Free trial:

   7 days on monthly

   Bottom line: Reverso Context is the best choice for language students because it shows each translation inside real example sentences and builds flashcards from your searches. Travelers need a separate app with camera and offline translation.

   Visit reverso.net ↗

8. 08

   

   iTranslate Translator

   7.5/10

   A translator and dictionary app with voice, camera, AR and offline modes, sold with a Pro subscription.

   Price

   $8.33per month, billed $99.99 yearly

   Free download; iTranslate PRO $99.99 a year in the US App Store, about $8.33 a month; weekly $9.99

   “iTranslate PRO - 1 year $99.99” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   6.8

   Features (35%)

   8.0

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.0

   Best fortravelers who want a phrasebook and voice-to-voice translation in one app

   iTranslate packs a lot into one app, but it leans on its subscription more than the others here. The US App Store listing covers text translation in over 100 languages, a phrasebook with more than 250 predefined phrases, a custom phrasebook, dictionaries with synonyms, verb conjugations, a keyboard extension, Lens camera translation, an AR mode for objects, voice-to-voice conversations, website translation and an offline mode that needs downloaded language packs. The vendor reports 200 million downloads. Its subscription terms describe a free trial that renews into a paid plan unless turned off 24 hours before it ends, and the in-app purchases include iTranslate PRO at $99.99 a year, monthly plans at $12.99 and $14.99, and a weekly plan at $9.99. The listing does not spell out which features stay free after a trial, so check before you rely on it abroad. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run translation tests.

   • ✓The phrasebook covers over 250 ready-made phrases for common situations
   • ✓Verb conjugations and dictionaries with synonyms help students
   • ✓Keyboard extension translates as you type in other apps

   • ✕iTranslate PRO costs $99.99 a year, and a weekly plan costs $9.99
   • ✕The listing describes a free trial that renews to a paid subscription unless cancelled
   • ✕An internet connection is required except in offline mode with downloaded packs

   Languages:

   100+

   Offline:

   Yes, with language packs

   Pro:

   $99.99 per year

   Phrasebook:

   250+ phrases

   Bottom line: iTranslate is the best choice for travelers who want a ready phrasebook because it ships over 250 predefined phrases with voice-to-voice translation. Its $99.99 yearly Pro plan makes it the weakest value on a free list.

   Visit itranslate.com ↗

Questions or corrections: editorial@rankozo.comSee our disclosure. Prices change; confirm on the vendor page before buying.