10 Best Language Apps for Travel in 2022 (HelloTalk, Google Translation, and More)
Picking the right one, however, isn’t quite so easy. Different apps cater to different needs, and if you don’t know what to look for, you could end up trying a dozen before finding the right one. In this guide, we’ll go over the factors you should consider when choosing the app for you. We’ve also got a list of our favorites, including our number one, TripLingo.
Quick List - Top Language Apps For Travel
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How to Choose Language Apps For Travel
Ensure Your Target Language Is Supported
Remember, Brazil speaks Portuguese and not Spanish, and even though Mandarin is used throughout China, in different places you might find that you need to use other dialects like Cantonese or Hokkien.
Pick a Type Based on Your Situation, Confidence, and Time to Prepare
Translation Apps Are the Fastest and Most Convenient
Others can also handle spoken input, which will allow you to translate conversations in almost real-time. Translation apps are great not just for your typical travel phrases but also for situations that might come up involving speech that other travel-related language apps aren’t prepared for.
Just note that if you have an app that produces written output but the literacy rate in the country you’re visiting is low, you might still need to read it aloud to the other person. So if it’s an alphabet that you’re not familiar with, be sure that the app also provides you with a transliteration that you can read.
Phrasebook Apps Give You the Need-to-Knows and Make You Look Like You’re Trying
Phrase apps are great if you’ll only need a fairly limited vocabulary and want to try your hand at speaking the local language. In many places, locals are thrilled to hear tourists trying, even if it’s just “thank you” or “where is the restroom?”
For the best phrase app possible, look for one that splits phrases into categories or has a search function so that you can quickly and easily find what you’re looking for. It’s also really helpful if the app has audio so that you know how the phrases are pronounced.
Learning Apps Take Some Time but Help You Talk With Locals
Naturally, this can take several weeks or months of preparation, but it can be worth it if you’ll be visiting for more than a couple weeks or traveling solo. Just be sure that the app that you choose is practical and focuses on speaking.
Look for Apps That Use Photo Readers or AR for Writing
Luckily, there are several apps that allow you to either take a picture of the writing or just hold your phone up to it, and it’ll tell you what it means. One of the places that you’ll likely need this the most is restaurants, but it’s important to note that food translations often don’t make sense and may not tell you exactly what’s in the dish.
So if you have allergies or restrictions, it’s always best to ask directly (via a translation app or predetermined phrase).
If You Don’t Have Data, Offline Availability Is Critical
If you want to be able to communicate (relatively) effectively even without internet, it’s important that the app you’re using has offline availability that allows you to download everything you need ahead of time.
10 Best Language Apps For Travel Ranking
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | TripLingo, LLC TripLingo | | All-in-One Travel and Language Assistant | |
2 | Lesson Nine GmbH Babbel | | Conversation-First Learning App for Your Trip to Europe | |
3 | Google LLC Google Translate | | Accurate and Multi-Input Translator from Google | |
4 | Microsoft Corporation Microsoft Translator | | A Conversation-Focused Translation App | |
5 | SayHi SayHi Translate | | Simple Speech-Focused Translation | |
6 | Busuu Limited Busuu | | For Effective, Long-Term Language Learning | |
7 | iTranslate iTranslate Translator | | Quick, On-the-Go Voice and Text Translations and a Sleek Design | |
8 | Apalon Apps Speak & Translate | | Instant Speech and Text Translator | |
9 | HelloTalk Learn Languages App HelloTalk | | Language Exchange With Powerful Learning Tools | |
10 | Translate Abroad Waygo | | Accurately Translates Chinese Text With Photos |
All-in-One Travel and Language Assistant
On top of that, it has information on 100+ countries that includes things like culture notes, currency conversion, and emergency numbers. There’s even a built-in wifi caller that allows you to call any phone regardless of your own phone plan’s limitations.
Users on Android experience frequent crashing issues, while iPhone users find the app buggy, However, the functions and extra information provided within the app are praised by reviewers.
Conversation-First Learning App for Your Trip to Europe
Unlike other apps, it’s conversation-focused and doesn’t worry much about reading or vocabulary drills. However, it is still very Europe-centered, though they are continually adding new languages.
Although the app is free to download, most lessons are pay-for. Reviewers also weren't fans of how you have to use the app's keyboard rather than your native one. There are also some sound recognition issues. However, reviewers generally like the app, since it's easy to do it in small spurts and the lessons are well structured
Accurate and Multi-Input Translator from Google
You can download 60 languages for offline use and star translations for later, making this a great tool for travel. Do note, however, that Google apps don’t work in China, so if you’re visiting China, you’ll have to use a different app.
Reviewers say the app's translations aren't always reliable and the voice recognition is poor. In general, they like that it is an overall good app and that it has a live camera function, where it translates the text on what your phone camera points at.
A Conversation-Focused Translation App
On top of that, this app also lets you to look up alternate translations, includes a useful phrasebook, and allows you to connect devices with up to 100 different people to have live multi-lingual conversations.
It doesn't work offline, unfortunately, which reviewers do talk about. Reviewers also say that the spoken translations are given way too fast to understand and that the translations are inaccurate for non-Western languages. The design of the app is quite easy to use, and reviewers like that it doesn't have many ads
Simple Speech-Focused Translation
To give it a personal touch, the app even allows you to choose between a male and female voice as well as speed. As a speech-focused app, it also offers many spoken only dialects of various languages.
Reviewers say the app is really slow to load and translate sentences and it doesn't have instructions on how to use it. It also censors certain words and won't translate them. One reviewer really liked that it can translate dialects. Others also like that the app saves what you translate.
For Effective, Long-Term Language Learning
There’s even a specific course that focuses on learning language geared towards travel. Using Busuu should be a long-term thing, and the app makes it easy by offering goal setting and progress tracking to keep you motivated.
Reviewers don't like the subscription process and how it isn't the most transparent. However, they do like how Busuu is engaging and teaches from the fundamentals of a language before easing you into more difficult material.
Quick, On-the-Go Voice and Text Translations and a Sleek Design
With the pro version, you get a photo reader, offline availability, and verb conjugations that lets you see different tenses. However, depending on your needs, the cost may not be worth it for some as there are other apps that have similar functions.
Many reviewers warn that the app does automatically sign you up for a subscription via Google - there are also quite a few paywalls added with each update. Make sure to check the terms and conditions before purchase. Reviewers do like, however, that it is fast and quite accurate.
Instant Speech and Text Translator
However, offline functionality is only available for 10 languages if you have a subscription. If you choose to use the free version, you’ll face a daily translation limit and have to deal with pop-ups prompting you to upgrade.
Like some of the other apps on this list, this one also pushes ads onto the user - even while in the middle of using it to converse with other people. But other users say the app is quick and very useful when talking to people who don't speak your native language.
Language Exchange With Powerful Learning Tools
On top of that, this app also provides free audio and video calling so that you can better practice speaking and listening. Any language that a user speaks is fair game, and with 10 million users, you’re bound to find your target language.
With each update, content for basic users has gone down. Reviewers note that you can only call three times a day now, so the time you can practice language is limited. Reviewers like that they can make friends through the app and the layout is easy to navigate.
Accurately Translates Chinese Text With Photos
However, reviewers note that the app sometimes has trouble focusing the camera and recognizing text, and if the free trial doesn’t fully work on your phone, it probably isn’t going to work with the upgrade either.
And although the app works well with Chinese text, it has trouble with being accurate in Japanese. But, otherwise, it works really well when traveling to mainland China-plus, it's extremely easy to use.
Other Useful Apps for Your Phone
Your phone can store a wealth of information, and there are constantly new apps being made to make life easier and more interesting. Of course, since there are so many, it can be hard to decide, though. If you're looking for new useful apps for your phone, then take a look at some of our other buying guides below!
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