Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. Products

Is it bonjour or hola? These apps will help you translate languages wherever you are

Simon Hill
By

You don’t have to jet off to foreign climes to flex your language skills. According to the Census Bureau there are over 300 languages spoken in the US today. We could all use a little help when conversing in an unfamiliar language, and our smartphones are equipped to provide it. You won’t get the nuanced skill of a real interpreter, but good language translation apps will get close enough for you to understand and be understood.

Google Translate (Free)

Google_Translate
Image used with permission by copyright holder

You can use the free Google Translate app to translate speech, text, handwriting, and even text in images. It can translate between over 70 languages now and you can have the results spoken aloud. The Conversation mode is ideal for communicating with someone when you don’t share a common language, but it can struggle with some accents. You can also download offline language packs so you don’t have to be connected to a network for the app to work. It’s probably the best option for Android smartphones and the iPhone version is not far behind, but BlackBerry and Windows Phone users should look elsewhere.

Available on: Android, iOS

iTranslate (Free, $3 for Voice Recognition)

iTranslate
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This is one of the most popular free language translation apps on iOS and it is now available for Android as well. It’s a well-made app that covers over 70 languages and provides a dictionary, text-to-speech, Romanization (which converts unfamiliar characters into English letters), and voice recognition via an in-app purchase. It has been updated for iOS 7 and has a nice, clear lay out that makes it very easy to use. The Android version isn’t quite as polished, but iPhone owners should definitely check it out.

Available on: Android, iOS

SayHi Translate ($2)

SayHi_Translate
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you really want a pocket interpreter so that you can have conversations with Italians, Chinese, or Greeks then this is $2 well spent. You get 41 languages as standard and the app is geared towards conversations where each side talks and the app speaks the translation aloud. It’s very easy to use and the full text of every translation is also provided on screen. You can unlock more languages and specific dialects via in-app purchases. Simple to use and relatively accurate, this is a great choice for iPhone or iPad owners. It’s a shame that it’s not yet available on other platforms.

Available on iOS

Navita Translator (Free)

Nativa-screenshot
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This one is just for the BlackBerry owners out there, and it made our top ten BB10 apps for a reason. It’s a completely free download and it can translate more than 60 languages. You can type or speak your word or phrase and you’ll get a translation in text and spoken aloud. It’s not the prettiest app in the world, but we’ll take functionality over style all day long. This is the obvious choice for anyone rocking a BlackBerry, and it runs on earlier versions of the platform, too.

Available on BlackBerry

Bing Translator (Free)

BingTranslator
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Microsoft’s free language translation offering for Windows Phone matches Google Translate for features, although at 40 languages it doesn’t cover as much ground. You can translate text, speak into your phone, and hear translations spoken aloud. It also offers the option to snap a photo of a sign or a menu and translate the text within it. There’s an offline mode that enables you to download a language pack and use the app even when you’re not connected to a network. It’s the best choice for Windows Phone users, although VoiceTranslator is another free app on the platform that’s worth trying.

Available on Windows Phone

Jibbigo Translator (Free, $5 for offline packs)

Jibbigo_Translator
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Jibbigo app has been around for a while and it features good quality speech recognition and translation. Online translations are free, but you’ll need to purchase a language pack at $5 each for offline use. The app will interpret speech or text for more than 25 languages and it provides text and spoken translations in the language of your choice. Interestingly, this app and the team behind it was recently acquired by Facebook.

Available for Android and iOS

VerbalizeIt ($10 for 5 minutes)

VerbalizeIt
Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s tough for apps to pick up on subtle differences in meaning, and they can’t take context into account, so you will inevitably get the odd mistranslation. If you’re in a situation, such as a business meeting, where you really can’t afford any inaccuracy, then there’s no substitute for a human translator. This app connects you with a real live translator who can ensure your message gets across. It is expensive, starting at $10 for five minutes of a translator’s time, but you’ll get discounted rates for buying larger chunks of time. You will also need to be connected to your network or Wi-Fi. It covers over 60 languages and offers document translation and audio transcription as well.

Available on Android and iOS

Lexifone

Lexifone
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Our final language translation app is a relatively new release and it’s only available on Android right now. The idea is to provide real-time translation services during a phone call. You use the app to call any number worldwide, you can also use your existing contacts, and the app will translate both sides of the call as you speak. There’s no need for an Internet connection. The app itself is free, but calls are charged at per minute rates with discounts for subscriptions designed to cater for heavier users. The basic charges with no subscription fees are 30 cents per minute for calling a landline and 40 cents per minute to call a mobile. You can also use the app for face to face translations at 10 cents per minute. At the moment it only covers around 10 languages, but this is one to watch.

Available on Android

That’s it for our best language translation apps roundup, but we’ll update this list in future. Please post a comment and share your experiences with these apps or your recommendations for other apps worth checking out.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Simon Hill
Simon Hill
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Simon Hill is an experienced technology journalist and editor who loves all things tech. He is currently the Associate Mobile…
The fitness trackers you need for summer, according to Best Buy
A woman does yoga while wearing a Samsung Galaxy Watch 4.

Summer is around the corner, and with the increasing temperatures comes the opportunity to make use of some of the best fitness trackers. Best Buy has you covered when it comes to tracking your miles, calories burnt, and body changes this summer. Whether you’re looking to lose some weight, expand an exercise routine, or simply get more active, this list of fitness tracking essentials curated by our friends at Best Buy should provide everything you need to keep track of things.
Amazfit Band 5 — $34, was $40

The Amazfit Band 5 is one of the most affordable fitness trackers you’ll come across. Even at its super low price it’s capable of 24/7 heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and tracking all sorts of fitness activities. It has an HD color display with over 45 watch face options, and it even has Amazon Alexa built in for voice assistant functionality. The Amazfit Band 5 has one of the most impressive battery lifespans a smart device can offer, as it’s capable of reaching up to 15 days of battery life on a single charge.

Read more
Learn 25 Languages with a lifetime of Rosetta Stone and save $110
Rosetta Stone on smart phone

Have you ever wanted to learn a new language but just didn't quite have the time? We know that issue well, but this next deal is going to interest you. Frequently hailed as one of the best apps for learning Spanish, and many other languages, and one of the best online learning platforms, Rosetta Stone is a multi-platform service that you can use on PC, Mac, iOS, and Android to learn up to 24 different languages. And right now, Amazon is offering an incredible discount on the unlimited lifetime access pass, via an online code, saving you $110 to spend on whatever your heart desires. Normally $299, lifetime access to Rosetta Stone is just $189 as part of this deal. Head on over to Amazon soon though, we don't know how long the deal will be available.

Why You Should Buy the Lifetime Unlimited Rosetta Stone Access
While it may not be a 3D scan of the one true Rosetta Stone, the aptly-named language tool can be accessed from virtually any device with an internet connection, including PC, Mac, mobile, and beyond. Once you're subscribed you get unlimited lifetime access to all of the 24 languages supported through the service.

Read more
The best parental control apps for iPhone and Android
best parental control apps

One big new aspect of parenting in the 21st century is keeping an eye on your child in both physical space and cyberspace. Children now are more online than any other generation before, and while that offers a lot of benefits, there are dangers and problems with that too. Controlling what your child does on the internet isn’t always easy, but there are a variety of tools you can use to make the task less difficult. Parental control apps are the best way to make sure your child is safe while they spend time online, and most also come with ways to track and limit the amount of time your children spend on screens and online.

There are lots of parental control apps available on Android and the iPhone, so how do you know which one to trust? That's why we've put together this list that includes both in-built options and powerful subscription-based services, so you can make the choice that is right for you and for your kids.

Read more