iTranslate Review

Category: Travel
Cost/Platforms: Free on Apple and Android devices.

Overall Rating:
Multiplatform:
Lots of function for nothing:
Fun and easy to use:
Solves travel need or challenge:

Decent language translation in a pinch.

Why we like it -- If users find that iTranslate seems similar to Google's online translation, there's good reason: Google powers iTranslate's technology. And as Google users know, word-for-word translation technology is a hit-or-miss proposition.

You can expect good results from simple queries, like "Where is the restroom?" or "When will the train to Siberia depart?" but results of more complex queries could fall short. The app covers 52 languages, but there is no support for regional dialects. (For Chinese translations, you can choose from Simplified or Traditional options.)

For most situations, you can type a query and show the translation to your foreign friend, but iTranslate also sells a text-to-voice feature for popular languages ($2 extra), so you can let the phone do the speaking for you. But skip this purchase and instead buy iTranslate Plus, which includes this feature, and which also stores your past queries, to save you some typing.

Improvements we'd like to see -- More accurate translations and tips on how to tweak a phrase -- for casual or formal interactions, for instance.

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