Top translation apps for filling your passport (and your home screen)

TripLingo is the three-in-one hair and body wash of travel apps. But just like that ambitious three-in-one, this app has its downfalls.

TripLingo knows that you may have more than one travel need, so it tries to fill many roles. Just don’t expect the best from every single function. Reviewers on the App Store report bugs, like not being able to hear the translations. One reviewer said the developer fixed his concerns, and I haven’t experienced problems myself.

There are four tabs lining the bottom of the screen: home, culture, tools, and safety. Inside, there’s all three types of translators and many languages. Plus, it’ll help you convert inches to centimeters.

If you want to memorize a little, TripLingo provides flashcards and quizzes to help you learn. But certain features like an advanced phrasebook requires a subscription,

All the tools make this a good download. It’s great for short trips where you don’t need much detail to enjoy your stay. For longer cultural immersions, I’d pick apps that specialize in each area of travel.

From Afrikaans to Zulu, Go Translate speaks many, many languages. If you feel like backpacking through multiple countries, the app has got you every step of the way.

I love this app for its integrated keyboard that follows me to every app on my phone, meaning it’ll easily translate my Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter. It’s great for the age of influencers, where it’s integral to attract eyes from all over the world.

The app isn’t practical for me because it costs $10 per week, which totals to $520 a year. Of all the subscription services, I’d sooner send my dog a BarkBox. But the weekly charge means you can make it through a short trip and cancel when you get home with minimal expense.

Reviewers on the App Store like the accuracy of the translations and help with pronunciations while many other brag that it helped them ace a class and conquer hard vocabulary.

iTranslate covers all the basics, making it a travel essential on par with a fanny pack. It’s not necessary in every case, but aren’t you glad you have it? The app translates pictures, text, and words pretty seamlessly. 

The phrasebook is also pretty handy, if you feel weird letting your phone talk for you. It breaks down categories by situation like “at the bar” or “while traveling.”

There’s a catch. After a seven-day trial, you’ll owe $50 for a year’s subscription. And chances are, you’ll forget to cancel that subscription, costing you $50 annually until your MasterCard expires. But, it’s the cheapest subscription I found if you break it down by week. You’re paying more for Disney Plus, so add this one to the bill too.

iTranslate fared well against my tests, though it translated “biblio” as “Bible,” which is actually “Biblia.” Granted, it probably just figures you don’t know your masculine from feminine in Spanish.

My computer scientist brother would be thrilled to hear me recommend a Microsoft product. We can argue specs v. design all day long, but there’s no arguing about the value behind The Translator app.

I kept looking for a fault, like every hero has to have a tragic flaw right? This app’s Achilles heel is its lack of sophisticated translation. It performed just under Google Translate (my control group, duh) in The Lord of the Rings test and didn’t translate the word “biblio,” mistaking it for a proper noun.

It picked up on all my basic Spanish, so it’s at least proficient enough to make this roundup. Plus, it has the best scanner. It automatically reads the text and changes it to your preferred language before your eyes. This way, you can quickly read street signs and the names of businesses.

This app will absolutely be my travel companion on my next overseas adventure.

This is the most modern in features of all the apps I tried and can even translate books. Translate Now brings translation outside of the app and into your Apple Watch, Siri, Macbook, and apps — it's essentially ready to take over your phone.

The app looks pretty unassuming from the outside, but boy did I feel played when I opened it to see the words “augmented reality.” Some computer scientist went wild with this one and created all the features they could imagine under the translation umbrella.

This is a great tool if language impacts the content you consume online. With a $70 annual subscription rate, it expects to be a long-term commitment, but heavy users are sure to get their money's worth. So put a ring on it, and just download the app already.

Papago was one of the few apps I saw with a distinct brand. Most options took me back to the days of my iPod Touch, where developers slapped an “i” in front of a generic title and released it into the App Store. But Papapgo’s design is carried through to the user experience, where each function is easy to access and understand. This can be . a crucial feature, as wrestling with your app throughout your trip could mean headaches and frustration.

Papago’s translations were the best of the bunch, though it wasn’t perfect. Papago is an artificial intelligence software but much like Google Maps, it’s scary accurate.

A feature called “Gym” allows you to workout Papago’s software. Users vote on the accuracy of translations, so the app can continually build on its knowledge. 

Only 13 languages are available, which may seem like plenty unless you compare it to other apps’ laundry list of languages. And only three languages have offline capability, so you better have WiFi wherever you’re going.

If SayHi asked for my money and wasn’t selling Thin Mints, I’d slam the door in its face. Thankfully, it’s free, so I’ll add this one to the list.

The app looks like iMessage in mint green and grey and is pretty easy to use. Change the settings to your two preferred languages and their desired readback speeds, and get ready to talk. Press the button for the language speaking (or hold the button to type the message), and the app will convert it to the other.

I’d recommend this translator app to someone like my mom — there aren't a ton of buttons and confusing details to mess with, so she could easily get a hang of it. 

The simplicity, while good for ease of use, is a sign the developers forgot a few things. There’s no offline capability, so please don’t use this one on a mission trip to a third-world country.