Translation App

Question

What is a good free, easy to use, translation App for China?

Answer

When traveling in China, having a reliable translation app is extremely useful for communicating, reading signs, menus, and navigating daily situations. Because access to certain Western apps may be restricted without a VPN, it’s important to choose one that works smoothly in mainland China.

There are several translation apps that travelers commonly use, both international and China-based, depending on whether you have access to Google services. Below are some of the best free and easy-to-use options.

Baidu Translate (百度翻译): One of the most popular translation apps in China, it works entirely offline and does not require a VPN. It supports text, voice, and image translation, and is highly accurate for English–Chinese translations. It also includes phrasebooks and offline packages, which make it great for travelers.
Youdao Translate (有道翻译官): Another excellent Chinese app that supports multiple languages, offline translation, and even real-time conversation translation. It is very reliable within China and easy to use, with accurate pronunciation features.
Pleco: Specially designed for Chinese learners, Pleco is ideal for translating individual words and short phrases. It includes a handwriting input feature that lets you draw characters, making it useful for reading menus or signs. The base version is free and works offline.

If you have access to Google services through a VPN or while in Hong Kong, some international apps can also work very well.

Google Translate: Still one of the best for general translation, voice conversation, and instant camera translation of menus or signs. However, it requires a VPN connection in mainland China as Google’s servers are blocked.
Microsoft Translator: Fully functional in mainland China and allows offline translation. It supports text, voice, and photo translation, and can even handle group conversations. It’s an excellent alternative if Google Translate is unavailable.

For travelers, the most practical combination is to install both a Chinese-based app (like Baidu or Youdao) for offline and local use, and an international app (like Microsoft or Google Translate) if you have a VPN or will be spending time outside the mainland.

Before your trip, make sure to download offline language packs within the app so that you can translate without relying on mobile data or Wi-Fi. Also, learning how to use the camera or voice translation features in advance will save time in real-world situations.

In summary, the top recommendations are: