# Google Translate vs Language Translator by Mate

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Google Translate at none against Language Translator by Mate's 19. Google Translate also leads on ratings volume (84K vs 1.7K) and chart position (#1 vs #168). Language Translator by Mate's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.3) and review sentiment (51% vs 41%). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Language Translator by Mate sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Google Translate asks for nothing beyond the download.

Language Translator by Mate 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 1.7K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Google Translate's written reviews are positive against 51% of Language Translator by Mate's.

Google Translate ships an update weekly, Language Translator by Mate fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Google Translate | Language Translator by Mate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (84K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-translate/id414706506/reviews) | **[4.6 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/language-translator-by-mate/id1073473333/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **84K** | 1.7K |
| Positive reviews | 41.1% of reviews | **51.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#1** | #168 |
| Size | 295 MB | 157 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) | [Twopeople Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/1178347036) |

## What reviewers say

### Google Translate

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

**Currently charting:** #1 Top Free · Reference, #162 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

**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


### Language Translator by Mate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/language-translator-by-mate/id1073473333)

**Currently charting:** #168 Top Free · Reference (US App Store)

Translate text, speech, and entire web pages across 103 languages, both online and offline. Deeply integrated with iOS, it offers extensions for Safari, Mail, Notes, and iMessage, plus a handy widget. Advanced features include phonetic transcription, noun genders, and a phrasebook for language learners.

**Highlights:** Translate text, speech, and websites, 103 languages supported, Online and offline translation, Safari, Share, and iMessage extensions, Widget for clipboard translation, Noun genders, phonetic transcription, Phrasebook and speech translator

**Features:** Safari Extension, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mate Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Mate Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Mate Pro Weekly | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Mate Weekly | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Mate Educational Annual | $24.99 | per year |
| Mate Annual | $49.99 | per year |
| Mate Annual | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Accurate translations
- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 💡 Convenient features (e.g., share, copy, paste)
- 🌍 Supports many languages
- 📢 Good pronunciation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches (e.g., crashes, freezes, unresponsive features)
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🤖 Robotic-sounding voice
- 🌐 Requires internet connection for full functionality
- 📚 Limited language dialect support

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription issues (e.g., unable to log in, charges despite cancellation)
- Microphone not working for speech translation
- Safari extension not functioning properly
- Incorrect language detection
- Partial/incomplete translations

**Requested features**

- Offline translation mode
- Camera/image translation support
- Customizable voice options
- Improved language dialect support
- Better integration with other apps (e.g., iMessage, iBooks)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Google Translate free?

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

### Is Language Translator by Mate free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Google Translate or Language Translator by Mate?

Language Translator by Mate is rated higher. Google Translate averages 4.3 out of 5 from 84K ratings, while Language Translator by Mate averages 4.6 from 1.7K ratings.

### Do Google Translate or Language Translator by Mate have ads?

Neither Google Translate nor Language Translator by Mate shows ads.

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

Google Translate ships an update weekly, and Language Translator by Mate fortnightly. Most recently, Google Translate was updated on September 25, 2026 and Language Translator by Mate on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Google Translate or Language Translator by Mate?

Google Translate currently peaks at #1 in the App Store charts, and Language Translator by Mate at #168. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*