# Write in Runic vs DeepL Translate

The clearest difference is price: DeepL Translate at Free against Write in Runic's $4.99. DeepL Translate also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (13K vs 144). Write in Runic's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

DeepL Translate is free to download; Write in Runic costs $4.99 up front. DeepL Translate sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $10.49 per month. Write in Runic asks for nothing beyond the download.

DeepL Translate holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DeepL Translate has 13K ratings behind it against 144, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of Write in Runic's written reviews are positive against 53% of DeepL Translate's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Write in Runic | DeepL Translate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.4 (144 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/write-in-runic/id1458861335/reviews) | **[4.8 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deepl-translate/id1552407475/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 144 | **13K** |
| Positive reviews | 39.1% of reviews | **53.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#74** |
| Size | 63 MB | 213 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Maarten Trompper](https://appshunter.io/developer/1458861334) | [DeepL SE](https://appshunter.io/developer/338225338) |

## What reviewers say

### Write in Runic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/write-in-runic/id1458861335)

Transliterate text into various ancient scripts based on phonetic sounds. Explore different runic alphabets and learn about their pronunciation. Includes system keyboards for typing with these scripts in other applications.

**Highlights:** Phonetic transliteration, Supports multiple runic families, Includes Ogham script, Supports Old Turkic and Gothic scripts, System keyboard integration, Rune pronunciation guide

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### DeepL Translate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deepl-translate/id1552407475)

**Currently charting:** #74 Top Free · Reference, #118 Top Grossing · Reference (US App Store)

Instantly translate text from your camera, photos, speech, or files. Explore alternative translations, save favorites, and hear translations read aloud. Offers advanced features like glossary and tone selection with a paid plan.

**Highlights:** Real-time camera translation, Photo translation, Speech dictation and text-to-speech, File translation, Alternative translations, Saved favorites and history, Glossary and tone selection (paid)

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $10.49 | per month |
| Monthly | $13.00 | per month |
| Monthly | $23.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $38.00 | per month |
| Annual | $104.99 | per year |
| Annual | $131.99 | per year |
| Annual | $209.99 | per year |
| Annual | $384.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate translations
- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Useful translation history
- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 👍 Helpful for language learning

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy after updates
- 👎 Cluttered interface
- 👎 Inconsistent translations
- 👎 Limited language support
- 👎 Subscription required for some features

**Reported bugs**

- Camera translation not working
- Disappearing buttons and features
- Frequent app crashes
- Connectivity issues
- Autocorrect interfering with foreign language input

**Requested features**

- Add more languages, especially less common ones
- Improve translation quality for certain languages
- Allow offline translation
- Implement a way to report poor translations
- Add text-to-speech with adjustable speed


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Write in Runic free?

Write in Runic costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is DeepL Translate free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Write in Runic or DeepL Translate?

DeepL Translate is rated higher. Write in Runic averages 4.4 out of 5 from 144 ratings, while DeepL Translate averages 4.8 from 13K ratings.

### Do Write in Runic or DeepL Translate have ads?

Neither Write in Runic nor DeepL Translate shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Write in Runic or DeepL Translate?

Write in Runic ships an update weekly, and DeepL Translate weekly. Most recently, Write in Runic was updated on September 13, 2026 and DeepL Translate on September 27, 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.*