Travel is one of life’s joys, but it can also be pretty confusing and overwhelming to navigate a place where you’ve never been – especially if you don’t speak the language. Ultra Mobile is here to help address those concerns and offer up our favorite apps for language translation and navigation. Be sure to download these apps as you head off on your next adventure! 

Top 3 Apps for Translation

1. Google Translate

Google is not only a reliable search engine, but it’s also a reliable translation service. With 133 languages available and an offering of 70 voice translations, Google Translate can assist with multiple forms of text and media translations such as the following:

  • Written Words Translation: typing in words/phrases to be translated
  • Website Translation: translate entire websites through a Google browser
  • Document Translation: translates docx, .pdf, .pptx, .xlsx. PDF files
  • Speech Translation: offers speech to text or audible translations
  • Mobile App Translation: download the Google Translate widget for translations on the go
  • Image Translation: upload images for a translation
  • Handwritten Translation: for letters/symbols not offered on a keyboard
  • Bilingual Conversation Translation: allows you to talk and translate at the same time
  • Transcription: translate someone’s speech in real time

Google Translate is quite extensive, but like any service, there are advantages and disadvantages. Let’s go through them so you can decide if Google Translate is best for you.

Google translate advantages: instant translation, free, available on multiple platforms. Disadvantages: quality issues, context understanding, and privacy concerns/data use

Advantages

  • Instant Translation: speedy translations for your on-the-go needs
  • Free: no extra fees or additional costs for all of these services
  • Available on multiple platforms: accessible regardless of your location

Disadvantages

  • Quality issues: does not guarantee a perfect translation every time
  • Context Understanding: cannot pick up context clues in a conversation
  • Privacy concerns/Data use: translated text is processed through Google’s servers

2. Felo Translator

Felo Translator (www.translator.felo.me) uses A.I. technology for quality real-time translations, whether that’s on your phone, desktop, or even on video calls. It offers a variety of translation styles from text to voice. Check out its pros and cons below.

felo translator advantages: real time translation, high accuracy and language support, ease of use. Disadvantages: cost, limited customization and flexibility

Advantages

  • Real-time Translation: offers instantaneous communication, meaning that you can communicate with people who speak a different language with any awkward or confusing delay
  • High Accuracy and Language Support: understands the context of conversations for a better translation. It also has a lot of languages so that anyone regardless of region and dialect can understand and be understood
  • Ease of Use: user-friendly translator with a simple design that can also be used on-the-go

Disadvantages

  • Cost: you have to buy a subscription to use the app — unlimited use of the app will cost $599/year, although the app does go on sale at times
  • Limited Customization and Flexibility: works best by itself and does not work well with other apps on a smartphone 

3. iTranslate

iTranslate (www.itranslate.com) is another helpful tool that helps to bridge those language barriers. It can translate text, voice, images, and even has a keyboard extension so you can translate as you type. Let’s see if its features are right for you.

itranslate: advantages wide ranges of languages, user-friendly features and disadvantages: subscription costs and accuracy issues

Advantages

  • Wide Range of Languages: 100 languages and Dialect Recognition for better accuracy
  • User-friendly Features: has voice-to-voice translation for real-time conversations along with an Offline Mode (when your travels take you to a place with no Wi-Fi) and Text Recognition (great for translating menus)

Disadvantages

  • Subscription Costs: offers a free version but many of its advanced and user friendly features are only available with a paid subscription – for a yearly subscription, you’ll be paying $49.99/year or $5.99/mo
  • Accuracy Issues: does not consider a conversation’s context when it translates and the voice recognition may not be the most accurate in very noisy environments

All of these apps can help you strike up a conversation with a stranger, ask for directions, and understand exactly what you’re ordering when you’re abroad. Find the one that’s right for you and your journey.

Top 3 Apps for Navigation

1. Google Maps

Google Maps offers accessible and reliable features for travelers. It provides directions not only for those traveling by car, but also those using public transportation or other methods of travel. Let’s see if it makes it into your carry-on.

google maps advantages: accurate navigation, offline access, and points of interest. Disadvantages: battery consumption, high data usage, slow updates, and privacy concerns

Advantages

  • Accurate Navigation: street-view and great coverage to help navigate
  • Offline Access: great for trips with limited Wi-Fi
  • Points of Interest: offers info on tourist attractions, restaurants, shops and more – all with reviews and photos

Disadvantages

  • Battery Consumption: uses a lot of battery, so be sure to have a charger nearby
  • High Data Usage: can drain your data 
  • Slow Updates: varies depending on the region
  • Privacy Concerns: uses location tracking

2. Waze

Waze is another navigation app that offers accurate directions and updates your route to help you avoid those pesky traffic jams. And for those who like to groove to sing in the car while listening to directions, it allows you to listen to your music and direction at the same time — perfect for those car karaoke sessions.

Waze advantages: real-time traffic updates and alert, user friendly features and disadvantages: internet dependency, battery consumption, no offline maps

Advantages

  • Real-time Traffic Updates and Alert: uses community-driven info to let drivers know about incoming hazards or accidents.
  • User-friendly features: has turn-by-turn direction, Voice Commands and Hands-free Operation for a smooth ride

Disadvantages

  • Internet Dependency: requires internet connection
  • Battery Consumption: uses a lot of battery life
  • No Offline Maps: not ideal for off-grid/remote travel
  • Dependent on User Reports: lacks accuracy

3. Organic Maps

Organic Maps (www.organicmaps.app) uses community data from users to create its maps. For those who value privacy and user-reviews, this app may be right for you. It’s also great for hikers, cyclists, and tourists who rely heavily on accurate trails. 

Organic Maps advantages: privacy focused, offline capabilities, community driven and disadvantages: no real-time traffic data, user experience, feature set

Advantages

  • Privacy-Focused: offers navigation without tracking user activity or collecting personal data. The app’s code is made public so users can be confident in its security
  • Offline capabilities: able to download entire maps for navigation (great for off-grid hikes). It also won’t drain your battery!
  • Community-driven: provides more accurate updates with user input

Disadvantages

  • No Real-Time Traffic Data: not great for those navigating by car. The offline nature also doesn’t allow for business hours, reviews, etc. to be updated in real time 
  • User Experience: won’t be as fine tuned or intuitive as Google Maps or Apple Maps
  • Feature Set: only covers basic navigation needs and lacks more modern, updated features like voice-guided navigation and augmented reality

Translate & Navigate Like a Pro

Travel is always best when you know where to go and how to talk to people. So we hope these translation and navigation apps enrich your traveling experience. It feels Ultra-awesome to connect with new people and new destinations. Happy travels!