# Google Translate vs Translator

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Google Translate at none against Translator's 3. Google Translate also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). Translator's advantage is review sentiment (74% vs 42%) and rating (4.6 vs 4.3). On price, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Translator sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per month. Google Translate asks for nothing beyond the download.

Translator holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Google Translate has 84K ratings behind it against 8.5K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 42% of Google Translate's written reviews are positive against 74% of Translator's.

Google Translate ships an update weekly, Translator every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Google Translate | Translator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (84K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-translate/id414706506/reviews) | **[4.6 (8.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/translator-translate-box/id1031029942/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **84K** | 8.5K |
| Positive reviews | 41.7% of reviews | **74.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#2** | — |
| Size | 244 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) | [Xung Le](https://appshunter.io/developer/414849435) |

## What reviewers say

### Google Translate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-translate/id414706506)

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Free · Reference, #159 Top Free (US App Store)

Instantly translate text, voice, and images between hundreds of languages. Features include offline translation, real-time conversation translation, and the ability to save frequently used phrases.

**Highlights:** Text translation, Offline translation, Instant camera translation, Photo translation, Voice translation, Conversation translation, Phrasebook

**Features:** iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Spoken Cantonese & Jyutping recently added
- 🚀 Fantastic for translating on the go
- 👍 Easy to navigate
- 👍 Useful for learning languages
- 👍 Offline translation available

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate translations for some languages
- 🐛 Buggy camera/image translation
- 🐛 Inconsistent translation of formal/informal language
- 🐛 Slow performance, especially offline
- 🐛 Cluttered interface, poor UX design

**Reported bugs**

- Camera translation not working without internet connection
- Inability to select and translate specific text in images
- Inconsistent translation of words with multiple meanings
- Predictive text feature providing inaccurate suggestions

**Requested features**

- Add more language support, especially for minority languages
- Improve accuracy of translations, especially for Asian languages
- Allow manual selection of text in image translation
- Add option to toggle between formal and informal language
- Improve offline performance and functionality


### Translator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/translator-translate-box/id1031029942)

Instantly translate text, voice, and photos using multiple leading translation engines. Enjoy an ad-free experience and unlimited translation length with a premium subscription.

**Highlights:** Translate photos, Translate voice, Translate text, Multiple translation engines, Ad-free premium option, Unlimited text length

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Version Monthly | $4.49 | per month |
| Premium Version Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Premium Version | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent translator
- 💡 Multiple translation sources
- 🚀 Fast and smooth translations
- 🔒 Robust security features
- 👍 Helpful for learning languages

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezing
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 💸 Too many ads even with paid subscription
- 🔇 Issues with audio/voice translation
- 🤔 Confusing interface and instructions

**Reported bugs**

- Force closes after being open for a few seconds
- Translations not working properly for some languages
- Inconsistent performance across different devices
- Paid subscription not removing all ads

**Requested features**

- Add dark mode option
- Improve Tagalog and other language translations
- Provide offline translation capabilities
- Enhance text-to-speech quality
- Add more language options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Google Translate free?

Google Translate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Translator free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Google Translate or Translator?

Translator is rated higher. Google Translate averages 4.3 out of 5 from 84K ratings, while Translator averages 4.6 from 8.5K ratings.

### Do Google Translate or Translator have ads?

Translator shows ads; Google Translate does not.

### Which is updated more often, Google Translate or Translator?

Google Translate ships an update weekly, and Translator every 6 weeks. Most recently, Google Translate was updated on October 30, 2026 and Translator on October 28, 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.*