Shinkansen Web Translator vs GekoNotes
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Shinkansen Web Translator
This Safari extension offers instant web page and YouTube subtitle translation, preserving original formatting. It supports multiple translation engines and allows for custom glossaries and offline Chinese conversion.
- Instant web page translation
- YouTube subtitle translation
- Preserves original formatting
- Multiple translation engines
- Custom glossary support
- Offline Chinese conversion
- Cross-tab continuity
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Shinkansen is a fast, smooth, privacy-first Safari translation extension for web pages and YouTube subtitles, built for iPhone and iPad. Three things make it different: • Watch the page start turning into your target language within one second of pressing translate (Instant Translation, Gemini engine) • Text is replaced in place — fonts, sizes, colors, and layout are preserved; links, bold, and italics survive untouched • You bring your own API key; every setting lives on your own device; your reading never touches a third-party server [Built for iPhone & iPad] • Three- or four-finger tap any web page to toggle translation (tap again to restore) — no keyboard needed • Hardware keyboard shortcuts when an external keyboard is attached • Hover translation with a trackpad or mouse: hold a modifier key and rest the cursor on a paragraph to translate just that one • First-launch onboarding walks you through your Gemini API key and a default translation method [Languages] Translate into 8 target languages. The extension UI is available in the same 8 languages — pick independently or follow your system language. [Features] • Three engines: Gemini (best quality, API key), Google Translate (free, no key), any OpenAI-compatible model • Single-language overlay / bilingual side-by-side modes — one-click toggle, with 4 visual treatments for the bilingual layout • Free Chinese variant conversion: built-in dictionaries, no API key, works offline; auto-convert on by default • YouTube subtitle translation: real-time replacement styled like native captions; bilingual option; live stream links supported • YouTube AI smart segmentation: auto-generated captions are re-segmented by AI for natural full sentences • Adjustable YouTube subtitle size, readable even in full screen • Custom translation shortcuts: bind a key to each of the three presets, recorded on the settings page • Auto-translate specific sites: add domains and they translate on load • Cross-tab continuity: opening a link from a translated page auto-translates the new tab with the same preset • Translation cache + live cost report: cached content is free next time; a notification shows token count and cost • Custom glossary with CSV import (two columns: source,translation) with room for hundreds of entries, blocked-word list, and on-page translation editing • Respects the page's do-not-translate markup: marked names and codes stay untouched and are never sent to the API; icon-font glyphs are never turned into text • Send to Instapaper: save the whole translated article to Instapaper in one click [Bring your own API key] Shinkansen doesn't sell translation as a service — you bring your own Google Gemini API key. Gemini's free tier makes everyday use typically free. Prefer no key? Google Translate works with no setup, and Chinese variant conversion runs offline. Setup steps are in the GitHub repo and the in-app onboarding. [Privacy] Shinkansen has no server, no telemetry, no analytics. Every setting lives only on your device: • Your API key is stored locally in Safari — never synced, never uploaded • Translation content goes directly from your browser to the endpoint of the engine you chose • Shinkansen never relays, caches, or logs translation content • The local cache lives on your device only; clearing browser data wipes it [First-install note] After installing, enable the extension in Safari and grant website access: Settings → Apps → Safari → Extensions → Shinkansen → turn on, set website access to Allow (The exact path varies slightly by iOS version.) [System requirements] • iOS 15 or later / iPadOS 15 or later • Universal — iPhone and iPad [Open source] Open source under Elastic License 2.0 on GitHub — view, learn from, modify, and use it yourself; you may not repackage it (or a modified version) as a hosted or managed service for third parties.
GekoNotes
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GekoNotes is the ultimate instant-capture scratchpad designed for the Apple ecosystem. Engineered for frictionless, distraction-free note-taking, it replaces bloated, complex note suites with surgical simplicity and speed. Capture fleeting thoughts, verification codes, meeting action items, URLs, or structured task lists in under two seconds. Key Features: • Structured 36-Slot Capacity Organize your thoughts across 3 independent Banks (A, B, and C) with 12 slots each. No nested folders, no file tree sprawl—just fast, predictable organization for Work, Personal, and Active Projects. • Native Rich Text & Smart Lists Format your notes with Bold, Italic, Underline, and Regular styles. Create progressive Bullet, Numbered, and Lettered lists, or toggle Interactive Checklists with inline strikethrough. • Real-Time Live Search Find anything instantly with real-time match highlighting and step-by-step navigation directly inside your notes. • Seamless & Conflict-Safe iCloud Sync Keep your notes synchronized across iOS and macOS automatically via encrypted Apple iCloud. No accounts, no sign-ups, and no cloud loading delays. • iOS-Native Integrations - System Share Extension: Clip text and URLs directly from Safari, Mail, or any app. - Siri & App Intents: Use voice or Shortcuts to save notes instantly ("Save to GekoNotes"). - Tactile Haptics: Distinct, responsive multi-tier haptic feedback. • Highly Customizable - 181 SF Symbol icons across 12 categories to personalize each slot. - 5 curated neon accent colors and 3 appearance themes (Dark, Light, System). - Drag-and-drop note reordering. • Absolute Privacy & Zero Telemetry Your data is strictly yours. Zero proprietary backend servers, zero third-party analytics SDKs, zero tracking, and zero ads. Full offline support with local JSON backup export and import. Experience lightning-fast, native scratchpad productivity with GekoNotes.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: GekoNotes at every 3 days against Shinkansen Web Translator's every 2 weeks. 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.
Shinkansen Web Translator ships an update every 2 weeks, GekoNotes every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Shinkansen Web Translator | GekoNotes |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 22 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Zhimin Su | MICHELE BRUZZA |
In-app purchases
Shinkansen Web Translator
No in-app purchases
GekoNotes
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Shinkansen Web Translator free?
Is GekoNotes free?
Do Shinkansen Web Translator or GekoNotes have ads?
Which is updated more often, Shinkansen Web Translator or GekoNotes?
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