The best menu translator apps, compared
Every phone can translate a menu now. The question is whether you understand it afterwards.
Glütty · 14 October 2026
How we compared them
We looked at four things that matter at a table: does it read the whole menu from a photo, does it tell you what a dish is (not just the words), does it keep prices, and does it flag ingredients you can't or won't eat. Camera translators for signs and documents work for menus too, so we included them.
| App | Reads a menu photo | Explains dishes | Dietary flags | Personal to you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Translate | Yes, camera overlay | No, translation only | No | No |
| Apple Translate / Live Text | Yes, on iPhone | No | No | No |
| Papago | Yes, image translation | No | No | No |
| Glütty | Yes, photos, uploads or a link | Yes, plain-language explanation | Yes | Match scores for members |
Google Translate
Camera mode translates text in place on screen, and works offline once you download a language.
- Best for:
- Quick, free, any language.
- Watch out:
- Literal. Dish names often come out as odd word strings.
- Platforms:
- iPhone, Android
- Price:
- Free
Apple's built-in translation
On iPhone, the Camera and Photos apps can translate text in an image.
- Best for:
- iPhone users who don't want another app.
- Watch out:
- Same limit: words, not dishes.
- Platforms:
- iPhone
- Price:
- Free
Papago
NAVER's translator, especially strong for Korean, Japanese and Chinese.
- Best for:
- East Asian menus.
- Watch out:
- Translation, not explanation.
- Platforms:
- iPhone, Android
- Price:
- Free
Glütty
Scan, upload or paste a link to any menu. Every dish is translated into your language, explained in plain words, and can be shown as a picture. Members also get a match score for each dish based on their own taste profile, plus dietary flags.
- Best for:
- Understanding the dish: what it is, what's in it, what it looks like, and whether it suits you.
- Watch out:
- Free accounts get three menu scans a month. Match scores, taste memory and unlimited scans need the £8.99/month membership.
- Platforms:
- Web app, works in any phone browser
- Price:
- Free tier; membership £8.99/month
Our steer
For a sign, use your phone's built-in translator. For ordering dinner, use something that explains dishes. That's the difference between reading a menu and choosing from it.
