With the release of iOS 14, Apple has introduced a new Apple Translate app that is competing directly with the Google Translate app (Android/iOS). The app features a clean UI with excellent features including a translate mode, the ability to save phrases, offline translation, and more. In this article, we are going to put these two apps head-to-head to see which app you should use for your translation needs. Read along as we bring you Apple Translate vs Google Translate to find out which translation app is better.
Apple Translate vs Google Translate: The One to Choose
We are going to compare Apple Translate and Google Translate on various fronts. We have created sections for each feature comparison. Here are all the points that we are going to cover in this article:
- User Interface
- Language Support
- Accuracy
- Offline Support
- Other Features
We have added anchor links in the list above. You can click on the items to quickly move to the sections that interest you the most. Also, while reading this comparison, keep in mind that Apple Translate is currently part of the first iOS 14 Developer Beta, so features might be added before the final release. Also, if you want to see what other features iOS 14 brings, click on the link to read the article.
With all that said, let’s get to our comparison, shall we?
1. User Interface
As far as User Interface is concerned, I like Apple’s approach better. Not only the UI is cleaner, but it’s also easy to use. You get two buttons at the top where you can select languages, a middle section that shows the translation, and a bottom field where you can either type or speak the lines you want to translate.
While Google Translate is also easy to use, I found Apple’s design language more pleasant to use. One thing that I like more about Google Translate is the copy button that lets you easily copy translated text. In Apple Translate, you have to hold and select the text as you do anywhere in the iOS UI. It’s not hard, but it’s also not as easy as Google’s offering.
Overall, I feel that anyone can get accustomed to using both these apps in minutes. So I won’t give this point to either service. It’s just a matter of personal preference. I prefer Apple’s execution, but you might lean more towards Google’s design language. The good thing is that both apps are easy to use.
2. Language Support
This is the section where Google Translate wins hands-down. Since Apple has just launched this new translation app, currently, it only supports 11 languages. These are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
On the other hand, Google Translate supports most major languages in the world. Currently, you can translate between 103 languages, a feat that Apple will need at least a few years to even come close to beating. That said, there are nuances that you should keep in mind.
Out of 103 supported languages, only 43 languages support bilingual conversations on the fly. While it is still more than Apple’s 11 languages, you should keep this in mind. The 103 language support is for text conversion and not real-time conversation translation.
Apple Translate has launched with 11 languages with support for both text and bilingual conversations on the fly. And Apple will add more languages in the future. That being said, we are doing the comparison now, and not in the future, so Google wins this round.
3. Accuracy
This was a hard feature for me to test. It’s because Apple Translate doesn’t support any Indian languages right now. So, I didn’t know how accurate the translations it gave were. Also, since the accuracy of translation can change depending on the language you are using, it becomes hard to determine the overall accuracy of any translation app.
So, I called my friend who is well-versed in French and German, and asked him to help with the tests. According to him, both Google Translate and Apple Translate were on-par with the results. While both the apps made mistakes, they were good enough to allow you to have a simple conversation with a person in other languages.
I think Apple has done a commendable job with its first iteration. And Google has always been the one to beat when it comes to on the fly translation. So, I am not going to award winners here. I don’t have a big data set to justify that kind of stance. All I can say is that they both work fairly well, and you will be able to express simple to moderately complex ideas using them.
4. Offline Support
Both Google and Apple support offline translation. This is a very handy feature as it allows you to continue the conversation without requiring any network connection. Apple supports offline translation for all its supported languages.
You will need to download the language pack by tapping on the download button before you can access this feature, so keep that in mind.
Google Translate supports offline translation for 59 languages out of its 103 supported languages. Like Apple Translate, you will need to download the language packs by tapping on the download button. Yet again, Google wins this round.
Since Apple Translate is a newbie, it’s quite bare-bones in its feature set. You can either type or speak text to translate. Google Translate on the other hand has been around for years and offers way more input options.
Apart from text and speech, you can also translate the text inside images by capturing or importing photos (works with 50 languages). It also supports handwriting recognition, thus allowing you to draw text characters instead of typing (works with 95 out of 103 supported languages).
Both Google and Apple Translate allow you to favorite phrases, making it easier to access the most used phrases. But, Google also syncs the phrasebook between app and desktop, which gives it a leg up, as Apple Translate doesn’t seem to have a desktop app right now. I also love the copy button that lets me easily copy the translated phrase.
Also, Google Translate is cross-platform. That means you can use it on your Android and iOS smartphone. You can’t do this with Apple Translate as it’s only available on iOS. If you are going by the breadth of features, Google Translate is certainly on top.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the most accurate translation app?
This is a hard question to answer as accuracy varies depending on the languages that you are using. That being said, Google Translate offers the best translations for the most number of languages, so it might be the one.
Q. Is there a better app than Google Translate?
Currently, there’s no better app than Google Translate. But Apple Translate is very good, and as more and more languages are supported in the future, it will give a serious completion to Google.
Q. What is the best real-time translator?
Both Google Translate and Apple Translate support real-time translation. However, Google Translate works with 43 languages when using real-time translation, while Apple’s offering only supports 11 right now. Keeping that in mind, Google Translate is the winner and the best real-time translator app right now.
Q. Is iTranslate translator free?
iTranslate is a third-party translation app which is free to download and use with restrictions. You will need to buy the pro version ($4.99/month) to unlock all its features.
Q. What is the best voice translator App?
Both Apple Translate and Google Translate, along with third-party translation apps like iTranslate, support voice translation. They all work great, and there is no way to crown an app as the best voice translator app as there are too many variables. Google Translate is the one that comes the closest, so you should check it out.
Apple Translate vs Google Translate: Which One to Choose
It’s clear that while Apple Translate is an excellent translation app, Google is still the king here. It not only supports more languages but also offers more input options. It also works cross-platform which is a huge benefit.
That being said, if you only use Apple devices and your needs are met with 11 supported languages, I don’t see why you need to switch to Google Translate. The biggest flaw of Google Translate is the privacy concerns that come attached with any Google Product.
So, if you don’t want to offer your data to Google, and are happy with Apple’s limited offering, stick with Apple Translate. For the rest of the world, Google Translate will still make a better travel companion.
