# Google Translate vs Translate Keyboard for Chat

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Google Translate at none against Translate Keyboard for Chat's 3. Google Translate also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (84K vs 1.4K). Translate Keyboard for Chat's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Translate Keyboard for Chat sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Google Translate asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for Google Translate against 4.2 for Translate Keyboard for Chat. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Google Translate has 84K ratings behind it against 1.4K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 42% of Google Translate's written reviews are positive against 38% of Translate Keyboard for Chat's.

Google Translate ships an update weekly, Translate Keyboard for Chat every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Google Translate | Translate Keyboard for Chat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (84K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-translate/id414706506/reviews)** | [4.2 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/translate-keyboard-for-chat/id1505195553/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **84K** | 1.4K |
| Positive reviews | **41.7% of reviews** | 37.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#2** | — |
| Size | 241 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Google LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) | [Appqe](https://appshunter.io/developer/1675570121) |

## What reviewers say

### Google Translate

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

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Free · Reference, #199 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 draw characters. Save frequently used phrases for quick access.

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

**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


### Translate Keyboard for Chat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/translate-keyboard-for-chat/id1505195553)

Communicate effortlessly across languages without leaving your current app. This keyboard offers real-time AI translation for text, voice, and even images, supporting over 100 languages. It integrates seamlessly into your favorite messaging and social media platforms.

**Highlights:** Instant keyboard translation, AI-powered accuracy, Live voice translation, Image translation, Translation history, Smart language detection, Works in all apps

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription Plan | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| 3 Days Free Trial Monthly Plan | $12.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription Plan | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Instant translation
- 👍 Useful for communicating with family/friends
- 🌐 Supports many languages

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Requires paid subscription
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with data collection
- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable

**Reported bugs**

- Keyboard not working in certain apps
- Translations not always accurate
- App crashes frequently

**Requested features**

- Offline mode
- Free version with limited features
- Keyboard integration for all apps


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Google Translate free?

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

### Is Translate Keyboard for Chat free?

Translate Keyboard for Chat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Google Translate or Translate Keyboard for Chat?

Google Translate is rated higher. Google Translate averages 4.3 out of 5 from 84K ratings, while Translate Keyboard for Chat averages 4.2 from 1.4K ratings.

### Do Google Translate or Translate Keyboard for Chat have ads?

Neither Google Translate nor Translate Keyboard for Chat shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Google Translate or Translate Keyboard for Chat?

Google Translate ships an update weekly, and Translate Keyboard for Chat every 9 months. Most recently, Google Translate was updated on November 12, 2026 and Translate Keyboard for Chat on November 11, 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.*