Translate Apps
The 8 Best Translation Apps for 2022
Talk Tough
Thanks to the supercomputers in our pockets and on our wrists, the language barrier isn’t much of a barrier anymore.
Check out eight of the best translation apps for travel in 2022.
(By the way: if you’re looking to work while you travel the world, check out these remote work opportunities.)
1. iTranslate Voice 3
Ever wished for a professional translator without the hefty price tag? iTranslate Voice 3 enables “magical” voice-to-voice communication across languages. Simply speak into your phone and the app will translate, and speak, that sentence into one of 42 languages.
2. Google Translate
Probably the most popular of any language service, Google Translate’s web platform, iOS app and Android app are constantly innovating. Their typed translation feature supports 103 different languages, 52 of which continue to work offline (which is perfect for your off-the-grid travel plans).
The real zinger is its ever-expanding Word Lens feature, which prompts users to point their phone camera at a nearby sign or piece of text. Word Lens then transforms the original image with an AR text overlay in the user’s preferred language.
3. SayHi
No typing is necessary when you use SayHi — simply speak into your device and the app will translate and then transcribe a message to be seen and heard by your counterpart. SayHi has 90 languages and dialects covered, and even allows you to choose the speed at which your translated voice will be expressed.
4. TextGrabber
Listening to someone speak another language can be daunting enough, but reading menus, street signs, and electronic manuals in other languages is often a downright herculean task. TextGrabber allows you to point your phone’s camera at the inscrutable text in front of you, and instantly translates it to a language of your choosing.
5. Microsoft Translator
Offering both enterprise and consumer versions, Microsoft Translator is probably the most versatile option on the market. Users can type the text they want translated, speak aloud, or take a photo of an image containing the text. The translator is also available as a Smartwatch app, for both iOS and Android, making it easily accessible for on-the-go travelers.
6. Waygo
Never eat Ant Egg Soup by accident again. Focusing on image recognition, Waygo instantly translates signs and menus from Chinese, Japanese, and Korean into English.
7. MyLingo
For native Spanish speakers who want to take in an English-language movie, your theater options are pretty scarce. MyLingo aims to fix that – they’ve partnered with Sony, Paramount, and Disney to bring real-time translation to movie theaters.
8. TripLingo
The app from TripLingo takes a more holistic approach by digging deep into the nuances of local customs, etiquette, and slang. In addition to a voice translator, the app offers up a currency converter, flashcards and quizzes, a “culture crash course,” and four “slang levels” jam-packed with essential expressions and phrases.
