Best for Casual Conversations
iTranslate
Why we like it: This app offers extreme versatility. It’ll translate anything you type into more than 100 languages. For 24 of those (at last count), it’ll spout out text-to-voice translations in a multitude of male and female voices. Most travelers will feel comfortable with the free app, but an upgrade to Pro is required for offline translation in 33 languages. The $4.99 monthly subscription also provides in-app website translation, which helps you scour local-language blogs for tapped-in recommendations.
Unlike the other apps, iTranslate offers clear advantages for Apple users. For instance, an iPhone-only “object recognition” feature identifies items and suggests their local name. That pretty bird outside your Provençal window? It’s a roitelet, or wren. Even more useful are voice-to-voice translation and Apple Watch integration, which offers hands-free help when you’re busy throwing back tapas in Spain.
Caveat: Many of this app’s most useful features—including on the Pro version—are offered free by Google Translate and Microsoft Translator. But iTranslate uses a wide mix of translation technologies, which makes for unique and sometimes smarter phrase suggestions.
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.