What's on the menu vs Google Lens
Google Lens is free, already on your phone, and good at turning foreign text into your language. On a restaurant menu, that is often not enough.
Where Google Lens falls short on a menu
Many dish names are specific to a country or a culture and just don't translate. Lens gives you the words, sometimes the original name back, and you still don't know what will arrive on the plate.
Lens doesn't know about your allergies, so checking each dish is up to you. And once you have chosen, you still have to say the order out loud in a language you don't speak.
| Feature | What's on the menu | Google Lens |
|---|---|---|
| Translates the menu text | Yes, right on the photo | Yes, right on the photo |
| Shows a photo of every dish | Yes, from our library or generated by AI | Only by searching one dish at a time |
| Checks dishes against your allergies | Yes, set your profile once | No |
| Reads your order to the waiter | Yes, in the local language | No |
| Price | Free to try. 24h Pass $1.49, Holiday Pass (14 days) $6.99, Annual $69.99 | Free |
Google Lens details checked in October 2026. Prices and features may have changed since.
When Google Lens is enough
If you can read most of the menu and only need a word or two, Lens is quick and free. Use it. What's on the menu is for the meals where you can't read anything and want to order without guessing.
Questions
Is Google Lens good enough for translating menus?
For single words, often yes. It translates text, but it won't show you what a dish looks like, check it against your allergies, or read your order to the waiter.
Is What's on the menu free?
Free to try: up to 10 menu scans a day and 3 AI dish photos when you sign up. Paid passes start at $1.49 for 24 hours, with no subscription.
Which languages does What's on the menu support?
More than 50 languages, including non-Latin scripts like Chinese characters and Arabic.
Ready for your next trip?
Download the AppFree on iPhone and Android: up to 10 menu scans a day and 3 AI dish photos when you sign up. No purchase needed.
Also compared: vs ChatGPT, vs swap.menu
