# Microsoft Translator vs IC

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Microsoft Translator at none against IC's 5. Microsoft Translator also leads on ratings volume (158K vs 385) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). IC's advantage is review sentiment (68% vs 44%). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. IC sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Microsoft Translator asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Microsoft Translator against 4.9 for IC. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Microsoft Translator has 158K ratings behind it against 385, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 44% of Microsoft Translator's written reviews are positive against 68% of IC's.

Microsoft Translator ships an update every 6 weeks, IC every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Microsoft Translator | IC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (158K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-translator/id1018949559/reviews) | **[4.9 (385 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ic-reader/id1474445461/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **158K** | 385 |
| Positive reviews | 43.9% of reviews | **68.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 26 MB | 113 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Microsoft Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/298856275) | [Shintaro Kawamura](https://appshunter.io/developer/1463344574) |

## What reviewers say

### Microsoft Translator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-translator/id1018949559)

Break down language barriers with this app that translates text, speech, images, and group conversations in over 100 languages. It's ideal for travelers, students, and professionals needing to communicate across cultures.

**Highlights:** Translate text, speech, and images, Supports over 100 languages, Real-time group conversation translation, Navigate conversations with transcripts and chapters, Intuitive interface

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent translation accuracy
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 💡 Offline translation capability
- 🗣️ Accurate voice translation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent performance with certain language pairs
- 🔍 Lack of detailed translation options (e.g. Pinyin for Chinese)
- 🗑️ Difficult to clear translation history
- 🔌 Requires internet connection for some features
- 💻 Suboptimal experience on tablets and larger screens

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when translating certain types of content
- Issues with camera-based translation feature
- Problems with text-to-speech functionality

**Requested features**

- Add more language options, including less common ones
- Improve translation accuracy for specialized vocabulary and idioms
- Provide more customization options (e.g. translation speed, font size)
- Integrate with more third-party apps and services
- Enhance offline capabilities for all supported languages


### IC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ic-reader/id1474445461)

This app allows you to read, save, and export the usage history of various Japanese NFC transportation cards. Easily check your card balance and view past transactions, with the option to export data as a CSV file.

**Highlights:** Read IC card balance, View usage history, Export history as CSV, Supports multiple Japanese IC cards, Save card data

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All CSV Export | $0.99 | one-time |
| One free coffee for Developer. | $0.99 | one-time |
| タコスをご馳走する | $3.99 | one-time |
| 広告非表示 | $4.99 | one-time |
| お寿司をご馳走する | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Microsoft Translator free?

Microsoft Translator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is IC free?

IC is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Microsoft Translator or IC?

IC is rated higher. Microsoft Translator averages 4.8 out of 5 from 158K ratings, while IC averages 4.9 from 385 ratings.

### Do Microsoft Translator or IC have ads?

Neither Microsoft Translator nor IC shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Microsoft Translator or IC?

Microsoft Translator ships an update every 6 weeks, and IC every 2 months. Most recently, Microsoft Translator was updated on October 13, 2026 and IC on October 10, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*