Best translation apps for traveling and working remotely | September 2025

I work remotely and travel pretty often for my job, so I’ve gotten pretty good at juggling my Mac and iPhone in different situations. Of course, I use AI a lot for quick translations when I need to understand something on the fly, but sometimes, I like to sit in a cozy cafe or on a train with my MacBook and really dive into language learning or translations.

I’ve tried out a bunch of apps over time, and I’ll share my favorites. Whether I’m swapping between my iPhone for fast translations or working on my Mac to improve my language skills, these apps make it all feel seamless.

Here’s my personal take on the best translation apps for traveling and working remotely. Enjoy!

Essential translation apps for work and travel

Before I get into the details, let's take a quick look at the best translation apps that I recommend:

App	Best for	Platform	Pros	Cons	Price
Mate Translate	Quick translation, language learning, offline	macOS	Supports 100+ languages, full history, menu bar access, speech, Safari extension	Paid outside Setapp, some features need internet	Available on Setapp along with 250+ other apps
Google Translate	Real-time, camera, offline translation	Web, iOS	Supports 100+ languages, free, camera translation	Limited offline modes, interface less integrated with Mac	Free
iTranslate	Word and phrase translation, conversation mode	macOS, iOS	100+ languages, voice recognition, on iOS/macOS	May give faulty translations.	From $7.99/mo
SayHi	Voice conversations in 90+ languages	iOS	Easy-to-use, supports speech and text, good for live conversations	Needs internet, not offline	Free
Microsoft Translator	Conference, business, multi-language translation	iOS	Supports multiple languages simultaneously, offline	Slightly fewer languages than Google	Free
Waygo	Asian languages — Chinese, Korean, Japanese	iOS	Works offline, camera-based, 10 free translations daily	Limited to three languages, only 10 free translations per day	From $6.99 per language (or $11.99 for all three).

1. Mate Translate for Mac: My personal favorite

I started using Mate Translate on my Mac simply because it’s available on Setapp, which gives me easy access to a huge library of apps with one subscription. Since I’ve been learning Polish lately, I decided to give this app a try, and I’m glad I did. 

It’s incredibly convenient because I can access it directly from the menu bar, and it keeps a full history of my translations, which is super helpful for learning new words and phrases. One feature I really appreciate is the translation with speech, so I can hear how words are pronounced. 

There’s also a Safari browser extension, so I can translate web pages or snippets right in my browser without switching apps. Honestly, I use Mate Translate the most when I’m reading articles, browsing new websites, or practicing language skills during my breaks — it’s seamless and makes language learning much more natural.

"I can’t shut up about Mate Translate. I just highlight a word anywhere — even on Netflix — and it gives me the meaning, pronunciation, and context. Then I save it straight into my vocab app like the language nerd I am", shares Polina Fomenkova, Expert Content Creator at Setapp.

Pros: Supports over 100 languages, full translation history, menu bar access, speech feature, Safari extension.

Cons: Paid app outside Setapp, some features require internet connection.

You may also like: “5 best language learning apps for learners of different levels.”

2. The original translator app: Google Translate

Ask around and you’ll find that the most well-known translation app around is Google Translate — and for good reason. 

Google Translate (created by Google) can do a lot and has been rapidly improving ever since its first release back in 2006. The app currently supports over 100 languages, around 60 of which can be translated offline. To do so, just download the language in your Google Translate mobile app settings.

With the mobile app, you can also translate signs and menus from the real world just by using your camera. Even better, Google Translate is completely free to use and constantly improves the quality of its translations with the help of the community and machine learning algorithms. 

Pros: Supports 100+ languages, free, camera translation, supports offline for some languages.

Cons: Limited offline modes.

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3. A suite of translate apps: iTranslate

When you step beyond Google Translate into the world of translation apps, you immediately find iTranslate — a suite of apps covering various translation issues, from word translations to conversations to memory cards to writing assistance. There are apps not only for iOS but also for web and macOS as well. 

iTranslate is very well received, with more than 300,000 positive ratings on various app stores. It supports more than 100 languages and is even available on Apple Watch. Even though iTranslate isn’t free, the cost is reasonable and what you get in return is definitely worth it. 

Pros: Supports 100+ languages, voice recognition, available on iOS and macOS.

Cons: May give faulty translations.

4. Voice-based translation: SayHi

Have you ever dreamed of effortless and fluent conversations in multiple languages? Well, with SayHi, this dream is now a reality. This Amazon-owned app lets you record your voice and then translate it in over 90 languages via voice or text. You can also just type in your translation if the environment around you is too loud. 

Overall, SayHi is a powerful app — the only downside is that it needs a pretty good internet connection to work and is unavailable offline. 

Pros: Voice and text translation, supports 90+ languages, simple interface.

Cons: Requires internet, limited offline support.

5. Business travel translation: Microsoft Translator

Perhaps the most direct competitor to Google Translate, Microsoft Translate does it all — text, camera, and voice translations in over 60 languages. 

Even though Microsoft Translator supports fewer languages, it has other interesting features, such as being able to translate in multiple languages simultaneously, which is super useful at conferences. The app seems to be predominantly targeted at business travelers.

Offline translation and pronunciation help are also available. 

Pros: Translates in multiple languages simultaneously.

Cons: Slightly fewer languages than Google.

6. Help with Asian languages: Waygo

Once you travel for a while, you’ll find out that some languages are much more difficult for English-speakers than others. In particular, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean are ruthless when it comes to making even the smallest mistakes — words can take completely different meanings! 

Waygo comes to the rescue. Even when you have no internet connection, Waygo can precisely translate whatever you point at with your phone camera (e.g. signs or menus). You get 10 translations every day for free, but can upgrade to an unlimited version for just $6.99 per language (or $11.99 for all three). 

Pros: Works offline for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, and offers quick camera-based translations.

Cons: Limited to three languages, only 10 free translations per day, and mainly visual translation.

Final thoughts on best translation apps for traveling

As you can see, there’s nothing that stands between you and world exploration when any language barrier can be negated with some of the best translation apps, such as Mate Translate. For extra points, make sure to keep an eye on your internet consumption abroad with TripMode and change your internet location effortlessly with ClearVPN. 

Best of all, Mate Translate, TripMode, and ClearVPN are available to you at no cost for seven days through the trial of Setapp, a platform with over 250 top-notch Mac, iOS, and web apps for any scenario, whether you’re travelling, working in teams, trying to improve your own productivity, or organizing any other parts of your life. Try every Setapp app today for free and see how your life can change as a result.