Head to head · Writing · updated Oct 25, 2026
Google Translate vs Microsoft Translator
Google Translate scores 18 to Microsoft Translator's 11 on public evidence for translation, and they rank #3 and #4 there. Both are free to start. Numbers below are the same public signals the ranking uses, recomputed nightly — nothing here is sponsored.
Google Translate
Free translation for 240+ languages with camera, conversation and website translation.
+ Unmatched language coverage and instant camera translation of signs and menus offline.
− Output is often literal and stilted compared with DeepL or an LLM for nuanced text.
Microsoft Translator
Free translation app and Azure API with multi-device live conversation mode for groups.
+ Conversation mode lets several people join one session on their own phones and read each other's speech in their own language.
− Translation quality and language coverage trail Google Translate.
Side by side
public evidence| Google Translate | Microsoft Translator | |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence score / 100 | 18 | 11 |
| GitHub stars | closed source | closed source |
| Hacker News stories, 30d | 1 | 0 |
| Release-feed mentions, 30d | 0 | 0 |
| Last activity | – | – |
| Pricing | Free; Cloud Translation API is paid | Free app; Azure AI Translator API is paid |
| Platforms | web, ios, android, chrome-extension, api | web, ios, android, windows, api |
| Maker | Microsoft |
Which one?
Pick Google Translate if
- you want the stronger public evidence (18 vs 11)
- you need it on chrome-extension
Best for any language, anywhere, free.
Pick Microsoft Translator if
- you need it on windows
Best for live multi-person conversations.