# Visual Hear vs Microsoft Translator

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Microsoft Translator at none against Visual Hear's 3. Microsoft Translator also leads on review sentiment (44% vs 22%). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Visual Hear sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Microsoft Translator asks for nothing beyond the download.

Visual Hear ships an update every 2 months, Microsoft Translator every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 2, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Visual Hear | Microsoft Translator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.8 (158K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-translator/id1018949559/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **158K** |
| Positive reviews | 22.2% of reviews | **44.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 86 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sergii Koval](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896278504) | [Microsoft Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/298856275) |

## What reviewers say

### Visual Hear

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visual-hear-helper-for-deaf/id899882405)

Instantly see spoken words appear on your screen and translate them into over 40 languages. This tool is designed for clear communication, allowing real-time transcription and translation for individuals and in one-on-one conversations. It also offers text-to-speech functionality and sharing options.

**Highlights:** Real-time voice recognition, Translate to 40 languages, Text-to-speech output, Edit translated text, Share text easily, Accessibility features, Monochrome theme

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Live Captions — Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Transcription — Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Whisper AI Lifetime | $59.99 | one-time |


### Microsoft Translator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-translator/id1018949559)

Break down language barriers with this app that translates text, speech, images, and group conversations in over 100 languages. It's ideal for travelers, students, and professionals needing to communicate across cultures.

**Highlights:** Translate text, speech, and images, Supports over 100 languages, Real-time group conversation translation, Navigate conversations with transcripts and chapters, Intuitive interface

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent translation accuracy
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 💡 Offline translation capability
- 🗣️ Accurate voice translation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent performance with certain language pairs
- 🔍 Lack of detailed translation options (e.g. Pinyin for Chinese)
- 🗑️ Difficult to clear translation history
- 🔌 Requires internet connection for some features
- 💻 Suboptimal experience on tablets and larger screens

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when translating certain types of content
- Issues with camera-based translation feature
- Problems with text-to-speech functionality

**Requested features**

- Add more language options, including less common ones
- Improve translation accuracy for specialized vocabulary and idioms
- Provide more customization options (e.g. translation speed, font size)
- Integrate with more third-party apps and services
- Enhance offline capabilities for all supported languages


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Visual Hear free?

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

### Is Microsoft Translator free?

Microsoft Translator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Visual Hear or Microsoft Translator have ads?

Neither Visual Hear nor Microsoft Translator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Visual Hear or Microsoft Translator?

Visual Hear ships an update every 2 months, and Microsoft Translator every 6 weeks. Most recently, Visual Hear was updated on August 2, 2026 and Microsoft Translator on September 26, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*