Moving? Traveling overseas? This can be as exciting as it can be frustrating when you have to deal with a new language. Imagine staring at a Thai menu clueless. Or, flipping your hands in weird ways trying to sign something to a Turkish vendor in a market in Istanbul. Life can’t get any harder, can it?
Well, not with an iPhone in your hands. Often, we stumble upon words, phrases and even signs in unfamiliar languages from books, magazines, TV series, social media, etc. This is where translator apps come in to save the day. They are the tools to quickly turn around any confusion into comprehension. By simply downloading one or two of the best translator apps for iPhone, your language possibilities become endless. You can communicate effectively wherever, whenever.
Apple store has a myriad of translator apps. How do you choose what’s best for you? There’s a couple of considerations to make. You can begin by checking whether an app is free or paid. There are many great free apps though some require a fee to upgrade from the basic version or make in-app purchases to enjoy specific features. The available languages and dialects are also something to look at.
Some apps translate to a language while others do both to and from. Perhaps you prefer speech to text over text to text apps. Or, one that works offline. Features are quite diverse; it all depends on your needs. Luckily, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you by rounding up 12 best translator apps for iPhone devices in 2020 in terms of efficiency and user-friendliness. You’re sure to find one that fits the bill here.
Microsoft Translator
When it comes to app development, the name Microsoft can always be trusted. With a 4.7 rating on the apple store, this free translator app does more than just translate text.
Its highlight is perhaps the unmatched quality of the conversation mode which happens in a split-screen. Speech between multiple parties is transcribed in real-time. This means as you talk with another party, it translates the conversation instantaneously. Other features include;
- Text to text translation in 60 languages
- Speech translation into text in 11 languages
- Male and female voice support which assists with listening to the pronunciation
- Camera translation enables you to translate text in pictures and screenshots
- The app is enabled for offline use and also has an inbuilt phrasebook which comes handy when you need to look up popular phrases in different categories.
- Can be integrated with Apple watch
Google Translator
Having been around for the longest time, this free app has reinvented itself into a translation giant when it comes to speed and accuracy. It also has the largest number of language offerings and boasts of a 4.5 rating. What is unique about Google Translator is its real-time video translation. Users only need to point the camera at a text or sign and it gets translated right before their eyes. How cool is that? Other features include;
- Text to text translation in 103 languages
- Speech to text translation in 32 languages
- One can also handwrite on their touch screen with the finger or stylus and have that translated
- Snapshot translation for texts in photos
- Offline use in 53 languages
ITranslate Translator
Another popular translator app for the iPhone device is the iTranslate Translator with a 4.7 rating. The free version though pretty basic is accurate and comprehensible. One can input text or speech and it will be translated to text in real-time. It supports over 90 languages and comes with a dictionary and phrasebook for enhanced learning. A few extra dollars will upgrade you to the pro version. As a paid subscriber, you get to enjoy exclusive perks such as;
- Voice to voice translation
- Instant camera translation
- Switching between dialects
- Speed up or slow down
- Web page translation
- Offline usage
SayHi
SayHi is a top featured free iOS app that transforms you into a multi-linguist. The 4.7 rated app translates to and also from over 30 languages. Its near-perfect voice recognition allows users to have an easy conversation with foreign speakers. With internet connection (it doesn’t work offline), you can;
- Input both text and speech for translation
- Have a back and forth conversation in different languages
- Listen to male or female voice support for pronunciation
- Slow or speed up playback for better comprehension
- Share your translation on social media
Speak and Translate
This app by Appalon offers some amazing translation options. Switch between text to text, speech to text and speech to speech translations in real-time. Over 110 languages are supported for text translations and 50+ for speech translations. The app also has the ability to detect the source language for its users. The free version is excellent though usage is limited to a number of daily translations. Paid subscribers enjoy much more;
- Unlimited translation
- Access to text translation when offline
- No ads
iHandy Translator Pro
If you know iHandy Translator, it is the free version which has an easy to use text to text translation feature. Nonetheless, if you are serious about a reliable interpretation assistant, you definitely want to get your hands on this Pro version. Enjoy so much more;
- Slick user interface with an amazing display
- 52 supported languages
- Both text and speech translation
- Male and female voice support for enhanced pronunciation
- Phrasebook for enhanced sentence quality and commonly used expressions
- Instant share on your social media handles
- Tracking and storage of translation data history for future reference
MyLanguage Pro
MyLanguage pro is the paid version of MyLanguage, a great translator app for iPhone devices. Unlike its basic version which only offers text translations, MyLanguage pro offers text, transliteration and speech translation. Other bells and whistles include;
- Conversion of text to 90+ languages
- Supports 30+ languages in speech translation
- Availability of different dialects
- Community support from native speakers
- Choosing your own graphics
Reverso
‘Reverso is the ultimate translator and language learning app for anyone looking to master a language fast and in a fun way. It not only translates text and voice but also gives usage examples, synonyms, pronunciation and spelling suggestions. It is a free iOS app with in-app purchases. There’s a multitude of other helpful features including;
- Text and speech translation in 14 languages
- Translates web pages, ebooks, and text from other apps
- Fun games generated from user’s search history to enhance memorization
- Phrasebook with 300+ popular expressions
- Translations shareable on email and social media
Scan and Translate
A vibrant application that translates text captured from anything printed be it a menu, instructions, manual, magazine, label, brochure, recipe, you name it. Simply take a snap, scan, allow the app to recognize the text then select the source and the target language you would like translated. You can utilize a voice button to listen to the audio pronunciation. 90+ languages can be translated from the text, 70+ recognized and 44 for translated to voice. The app is free but only paid subscribers enjoy unlimited use free of ads.
Translate Professional
For a pretty basic translation tool with no design complexities, Translator Professional will get the job done. This translator app for the iPhone is so easy to use. It will translate text to text in 50 different languages. You can make some in-app purchases to unlock voice translation and listen to translated text in 18 different languages. Internet is a requirement for use, though it comes preloaded with a phrasebook for use when offline.
Translator Pro
Another high performance top rated translation tool for iOS worth checking out is Translator Pro. The subscription app supports 40 languages in text translation. Speech input and voice support are also enabled. Translations can be shared easily via integrated social apps. Data connectivity is necessary for all functions except the translation history which is readily available offline.
Siri
Before opting for third party translator apps for iPhone, why not try the Siri app. Not unless you are a language student trying to master a new language, the app has moderate translation capabilities for everyday use. Language variety is very limited but of course, Apple is working towards adding many more. For some light translations from English to German, French, Mandarin, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Japanese, Arabic or Italian, Siri will definitely sort you out. It only translates spoken input, but hey, who has the time to type? It is really handy and accessible, with no need for installation.
No more embarrassing moments. By downloading any one or more complementary advanced tools reviewed above, the power of smashing language barriers is in your hands. What’s your favorite translator app for iPhone?
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