Macsen vs Barod Cymru
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Macsen
A Welsh language voice assistant that performs tasks and provides information. It can play music, access media, control smart devices, and translate speech. It's an open-source project focused on developing Welsh AI technology.
- Welsh language voice commands
- Play Welsh music on Spotify
- Access S4C Clic programs
- Control smart home devices
- Get news and weather updates
- Translate English speech to Welsh text
- Transcribe Welsh speech to text
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Scroll down for English Mae Macsen yn feddalwedd cynorthwyydd personol Cymraeg cod agored tebyg i Alexa neu’r Google Assistant. Ystyr cod agored yw y gall unrhyw un weld, addasu a dosbarthu’r cod fel yr hoffen nhw. Mae’n gweithio fel ap ar ffôn neu dabled yn ogystal â fersiwn ar-lein. Mae’n bosib siarad gyda Macsen mewn Cymraeg naturiol er mwyn gofyn iddo gwblhau tasgau neu ofyn am wybodaeth, Erbyn hyn, mae gan ap Macsen nifer o sgiliau, gan gynnwys y gallu i chwarae cerddoriaeth Cymraeg ar Spotify, rhaglenni ar S4C Clic, rhoi’r golau ymlaen neu i ffwrdd, adrodd y newyddion diweddaraf, darparu rhagolygon y tywydd, defnyddio ChatGPT, cyfieithu lleferydd Saesneg i destun Cymraeg a thrawsgrifio lleferydd Cymraeg i destun. Felly mae modd teipio yn ogystal â defnyddio’r llais i ofyn cwestiynau a rhoi gorchmynion i Macsen. Rydyn ni’n defnyddio’r project hwn i ddangos beth allwn ni greu wrth ddatblygu technoleg lleferydd a deallusrwydd artiffisial Cymraeg. Rydyn ni’n cyhoeddi’r cydrannau a’r adnoddau perthnasol yma yn agored ar y Porth Technolegau Iaith, er mwyn i ddatblygwyr eraill hefyd fedru’u defnyddio. Rydyn ni wrthi yn gwneud ymchwil pellach i’w wella, a’i alluogi mewn sefyllfaoedd eraill. Macsen is an open source Welsh language voice assistant similar to Alexa or the Google Assistant. Open source means that anyone can see, adapt and distribute its code as they wish. It works as an app for phones and tablets. An online version is also available. You can speak in Welsh to Macsen to ask it to do various tasks or provide information. Its growing set of skills include the ability to play Welsh Language music through Spotify, programmes through S4C Clic, turn the light on or off, get the news and weather, use ChatGPT, translate spoken English to Welsh text and transcribe Welsh speech to text. We are using this project to show what we can create when developing Welsh language speech technology and artificial intelligence. We publish relevant components and resources with open licences on the Welsh National Language Technology Portal, so that other developers can also use them. We are also undertaking further research to improve it, and to enable it in other environments.
Barod Cymru
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Barod is the Welsh word for ‘Ready’ Our aim is to support anyone who is ready to change and to make a difference to their own lives or the lives of others. The Barod App is here to give you clear, honest info about drugs and alcohol, and to support you with whatever goals you’ve set—whether that’s cutting back, staying safe, or making a change. It’s all about putting you in control, with support that’s confidential and made for you.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Barod Cymru at fortnightly against Macsen's every 18 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Macsen ships an update every 18 months, Barod Cymru fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Macsen | Barod Cymru |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 50 MB | 246 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Bangor University | Cardiff App Developers Ltd |
In-app purchases
Macsen
No in-app purchases
Barod Cymru
No in-app purchases









