Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to A real life babel fish?

Real-time language translation through an ear-piece

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. A real life babel fish? launched in 2016; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Pilot▲171

   Smart earpiece language translator

   2016 · indiegogo.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Pinch▲535

   Hey HN! I’m Christian, daily lurker and some might remember our original launch post (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42935355). Today we're launching Pinch for Mac, which we believe is a step-change improvement in real-time AI translation. Our vision is to make cross-lingual conversations feel as natural as regular conversations. TL:DR During an online meeting, the app instantly transcribes and translates all audio you hear, and allows you to decide when you translate your voice and when you don't. It's invisible to others (like Granola), and works everywhere without any…

   2025 · startpinch.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Real-time Voice Translation by Byrdhouse▲233

   Translate your live events and meetings into any language

   2024 · langfinity.ai · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Speak & Translate▲82

   Instant Voice & Text Translator with Speech and Dictionary

   2015 · bendingspoons.com · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Speechka▲94

   Real-time voice translation that sounds like you

   30d ago · speechka.io · its alternatives →

6. 6
   ili▲128

   The world's first wearable translator

   2016 · iamili.com · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Anytalk▲316

   Real-time video and audio translation app

   2024 · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Building a “Babel Fish”, realtime translation of voice calls▲45

   2018 · nexmo.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Slated▲114

   Translates your texts to other languages in real time

   2014 · slated.me · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Mymanu CLIK +▲82

    Smart wireless earbuds with real time voice translation.

    2016 · mymanu.com · its alternatives →

11. 11
    WT2 in ear translator▲70

    In-ear translator for face to face bilingual conversations 🗣

    2018 · indiegogo.com · its alternatives →

12. 12
    ElevenLabs Realtime Translation▲85

    Turn live speech into translated audio as people talk

    1d ago · elevenlabs.io · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Microsoft Translator 3.0▲126

    Translated conversations across devices

    2016 · microsoft.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    WearUI▲186

    Collection / Inspiration for wearable device interfaces.

    2014 · wearui.co · its alternatives →

15. 15
    MustBreak▲11

    Breaking barriers in real-time communication

    2024 · mustbreak.ai · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Microsoft Translator▲140

    Translates your text or speech into 50 different languages

    2015 · microsoft.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Conversable▲123

    Conversational intelligence through voice and text

    2017 · conversable.com · its alternatives →

18. 18
    VoiceCap▲100

    The AI notetaker for meetings in your language

    Sep 2026 · voicecap.ai · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Foreign Buddy▲123

    Learn any language with me 🇺🇸 🇪🇸 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇮🇹

    2017 · messenger.com · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Word Lens▲83

    See the world in your language

    2014 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Fliplingo▲87

    Automated professional translation on Twitter.

    2014 · fliplingo.com · its alternatives →

22. 22
    iTalki▲73

    Online Language Learning via Skype

    2014 · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Designing Conversational Interfaces▲86

    An introduction to creating compelling chat applications

    2016 · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Babel▲60

    Frictionless in-context mobile app translations

    2014 · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →