How to translate a menu from a photo, and the AI apps that do it well
Photo translation is easy. Getting a clean, usable menu out of a crumpled, handwritten, two-column photo is the hard part.
Glütty · 14 October 2026
Two kinds of tools
Camera overlays, like Google Translate's camera mode, paint translated words over your live picture. AI menu scanners read the whole photo and rebuild it as a clean menu: dish by dish, with prices and sections. Overlays are faster for one line. Scanners are better for choosing a meal.
| Camera overlay | AI menu scanner | |
|---|---|---|
| Output | Translated words on top of the photo | A clean list of dishes, sections and prices |
| Multi-page menus | One view at a time | Several photos combined |
| Explains dishes | No | Depends on the app |
| Works offline | Often, with a language pack | Usually needs a connection |
Getting a good scan
Flatten the menu and avoid glare from overhead lights. Fit one page per photo. For vertical Japanese or Chinese text, keep the columns straight. If the menu is online, a link is usually more accurate than a photo.
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:
- Photos, PDFs or a menu link, up to three pages per scan, rebuilt into a menu with translated names, prices in the menu's own currency, explanations and dietary flags.
- 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
When a restaurant has a separate drinks or wine list, Glütty asks for it and adds it to the menu you already have instead of starting again. For a side-by-side of the camera apps, see the best menu translator apps.
Questions people ask
Can I translate a menu from a screenshot?
Yes. Any image works with photo translators, and Glütty accepts uploads as well as camera photos.
Does it work with handwritten menus?
Handwriting is harder for every tool. Clear, well-lit photos help the most.
