Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Speak & Translate vs Microsoft Translator

Speak & Translate 4.5★ · Free + IAP 55
Winner Microsoft Translator
Microsoft Translator 4.8★ · Free + IAP 75

Microsoft Translator is the better choice for reliable and accurate translation, especially for conversations, despite recent issues, while Speak & Translate struggles with performance and aggressive monetization.

Full reviews: Speak & Translate · Microsoft Translator

Microsoft Translator generally offers more accurate and faster translations, particularly for live conversations, though recent updates have introduced some bugs. Speak & Translate is plagued by long loading times, frequent crashes, and a problematic subscription model that frustrates many users.

Head to head

Features & Functionality edge: Microsoft TranslatorR4R5R8R10
Speak & Translate Speak & Translate offers both speech and text translation, with some users finding it accurate for long conversations and specific dialects like Spanish R5R8. However, many users report issues with voice input not working or being unavailable for certain languages like Persian R10. The app also struggles with accurately detecting languages after updates R4.
Microsoft Translator Microsoft Translator is praised for its real-time conversation translation and ability to handle long discussions, even in medical settings . It supports both speech and text translation . However, recent updates have broken key features like offline language downloads and conversation mode for many users R61. Some users also wish for features like infinite scroll in live translation and definitions .
Ease of Use & Performance tieR1R2R3R7
Speak & Translate Speak & Translate is described as easy to use by some R2, but a significant number of users report very long loading times, often several minutes, and frequent freezing or crashing R1R3R7R12. Commands are often unresponsive and the app is clunky R7R12.
Microsoft Translator Microsoft Translator is generally considered fast and efficient, especially for real-time conversations . However, recent updates have led to widespread issues with the app not working, failing to detect audio, or displaying network errors even with a good connection . Some users also find the UI confusing .
Accuracy edge: Microsoft TranslatorR5R8R14R18
Speak & Translate Speak & Translate is praised for being accurate by some users, especially for specific languages like Spanish and Korean R5R8R14. However, others report issues with accuracy, stating that translations often require rephrasing or are grammatically incorrect, particularly in Spanish R18.
Microsoft Translator Microsoft Translator is generally considered accurate, with users noting its effectiveness in complex situations like medical diagnoses . However, some users report significant errors, such as incorrect gendered nuances in certain languages, bizarre translations for common phrases, or obvious mistakes in live translation R61.
Price & Value edge: Microsoft TranslatorR25R28R33R42
Speak & Translate Speak & Translate is a free app with in-app purchases, but many users feel it's a bait-and-switch, as essential functionality is locked behind a subscription R25R28R33R42. Users report being charged $9.99 per week or $100 per year without clear disclosure, leading to frustration and unexpected subscriptions R25R33R43.
Microsoft Translator Microsoft Translator is free and users appreciate its value, often comparing it favorably to paid alternatives . The app is praised for offering robust features without a cost .
Support & Reliability tieR6R9R12R13
Speak & Translate Speak & Translate suffers from severe reliability issues, with users frequently experiencing blank screens, crashes, and the app not working at all R12R18. The app also aggressively prompts for reviews, which users find annoying and unprofessional R6R9R13R16.
Microsoft Translator Microsoft Translator has faced significant reliability problems due to recent updates, with many users reporting that core features like conversation mode are broken or consistently fail . Users also report issues with audio playback not working through headphones or not playing translated text automatically . Some users mention that the support team does not respond to issues .
Pick Speak & Translate if

You need translation for specific dialects of Spanish or Korean and are willing to tolerate significant performance issues and aggressive monetization tactics R5.

Pick Microsoft Translator if

You need a free, generally accurate translator for live conversations and are willing to contend with potential bugs from recent updates, or if you prioritize a smaller app size .

Evidence note: Both apps have a mix of positive and negative recent reviews. Speak & Translate's negative reviews heavily focus on performance issues and aggressive monetization, while Microsoft Translator's recent negative reviews often point to specific features being broken by updates.

Frequently asked

Is Speak & Translate truly free?
Speak & Translate is advertised as free but many users report that essential features are locked behind a subscription, costing around $9.99 per week or $100 per year, leading to a feeling of bait-and-switch R25R28R33R43.
Does Microsoft Translator work offline?
Microsoft Translator previously had offline functionality, but recent updates have removed the ability to download languages for offline use, making it heavily reliant on an internet connection R61R68R75R91.
Why does Speak & Translate ask for reviews so often?
Speak & Translate frequently prompts users to rate the app, sometimes every time it's opened or even blocking functionality until a review is submitted, which many users find annoying and unprofessional R6R9R13R16.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R4] Speak & Translate 1/5 · US It was a great application: They sent out an update a couple of weeks ago and now it doesn’t know what language you are speaking. It went from good to useless.
  2. [R5] Speak & Translate 5/5 · US Fast and good for long conversations: I was skeptical at first, but having tried it with my Spanish-speaking loved one it makes life very easy in translating very complicated conversations in in a very efficient way
  3. [R8] Speak & Translate 5/5 · US Complete and correct: Found this app to be useful both in speech and text.
  4. [R10] Speak & Translate 1/5 · US Voice input languages are not available: Persian and many more languages are not available in voice mode not benifited
  5. [R1] Speak & Translate 2/5 · US Good app once it loads: The app still takes a long time to load
  6. [R2] Speak & Translate 5/5 · US Really nice to use: GREAT APP
  7. [R3] Speak & Translate 3/5 · US Long App Load Time: The app takes a very long time to load, which makes it difficult if you are trying to start or answer in a conversation
  8. [R7] Speak & Translate 1/5 · US Awful: It sucks… commands are not immediately responsive, and it’s clunky
  9. [R14] Speak & Translate 5/5 · US Great help: Translate very accurately
  10. [R18] Speak & Translate 3/5 · US Crashes all the time: I have to uninstall the app almost every day to get it to work. Also wish it had the option to default to Type mode as speech to Spanish isn’t very reliable in the translation. I type and check it to ensure the intention is at least close before sharing the translation to the recipient. Guess I’m saying this app just isn’t there yet but it’s awesome that communicating with ot
  11. [R25] Speak & Translate 1/5 · US Bait and Switch: Did not realize this was automatically going to create a subscription and charged me $9.99 plus tax per week for almost two months. Unfortunately I did not realize as it was subtracting from my Apple balance which I do not monitor that closely. Reached out to Apple to refund who has provided little/no help so far. Read the other reviews! I expect more from this company and App
  12. [R28] Speak & Translate 1/5 · US you cant do anything without paying: you literally cant do anything in this app if you dont pay for a subscription. NOT EVEN TEXT. google translate is better than this because at least you can translate something without needing to pay a monthly subscription. dont get this app
  13. [R33] Speak & Translate 3/5 · US Not free: It would be nice if the company promp that the app is not free, I read a lot of reviews because I would be downloading this for my job and I’m the only American. Although, the reviews show me it is definitely worth the $100 a year. Still might buy it but just know people are deleting right after downloading because they were unaware
  14. [R42] Speak & Translate 3/5 · GB Well: I was great but I can find other translating apps that can have the same offer for free instead of having a subscription
  15. [R6] Speak & Translate 3/5 · US Review Request with each use?: Why does the app ask for a review every time you open the app?
  16. [R9] Speak & Translate 3/5 · US It is ok: I am asked to rate too often The app does better on writing than speaking You are forced to do reviews - it is very annoying. It beats nothing. I guess I have to say something nice it or I can’t get off this screen. It is better than other translator apps I have tried.
  17. [R12] Speak & Translate 3/5 · US Paid for it because it was great at first but now if I need it quickly it takes 4 minutes of buffer: When I first got it, it was great and fast. But now everytime I open the app, it goes straight to a white screen that takes like 2 minutes to load to the actual app. No updates I needed tried to close the app and reopen. Still happens. And then once the app opens, it lags when I change from voice t
  18. [R13] Speak & Translate 1/5 · US No mas: Quit asking for a review!!
  19. [R43] Speak & Translate 1/5 · US This is not free at all.: Apps with a seven day free trial should say “free trial” not “get”. After seven days this app cost $10 a week and of course you’re required to put your credit card in to start the free trial, but this is only after you’ve spent some time setting up the app
  20. [R61] Microsoft Translator 1/5 · US App does not work well anymore: Microsoft removed the ability to download languages for offline use. Microsoft did not adapt the app to be visually accessible, especially with an interface that does not allow resizing of fonts in the device’s Zoomed View. And it misses some gendered nuances, especially in Russian and Middle East languages.
  21. [R68] Microsoft Translator 4/5 · US Offline translation: Does this not support offline translation? · translated
  22. [R75] Microsoft Translator 3/5 · US No offline package: There's no offline package, it relies too much on the internet. · translated
  23. [R91] Microsoft Translator 1/5 · US Offline mode???: Offline mode development was mentioned in 2016… wtf
  24. [R16] Speak & Translate 1/5 · US Stop this persistence: Stop with the pop up

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store