WhatsApp can translate now.
Do you still need Liao?

What WhatsApp's translation does

• On your phone, long-press a message in another language and tap Translate. It works in one-to-one chats, groups and channels.
• On Android you can turn on automatic translation for a whole chat, so new messages arrive translated.
• Translation happens on your phone, and WhatsApp says it can't see the content.
• It's free and needs nothing extra installed.

What it doesn't do

• WhatsApp's announcement covers translating messages you receive. To reply in another language, you still have to translate your text somewhere else and paste it back.
• There's no desktop or web version yet. The announcement covers Android and iPhone only, and as of October 21, 2026 we found no news of translation coming to WhatsApp Desktop or WhatsApp Web.
• Languages are limited. Android launched with six: English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian and Arabic. A March 2026 Android beta added 13 more language packs. iPhone supports 19 or more. Check your own phone to see which ones you get.
• It's rolling out gradually, so some phones don't have it yet.

When WhatsApp's own translation is enough

• You mostly chat on your phone and only now and then get a message you can't read.
• The other person's language is one your phone can translate.
• You want your text to stay on your phone. WhatsApp translates on the device; Liao sends the text that needs translating through our server to a translation service.

When Liao saves you time

• You chat for hours on a computer. Liao runs WhatsApp Web inside the app, and each incoming message shows a translation underneath, in your language. No long-pressing one message at a time.
• You write a lot of replies. Type in your own language and press Enter to translate into theirs, then press Enter again to send. Before sending, you can read the translation turned back into your language to check the meaning held up.
• You use more than WhatsApp. The same window handles LINE, Telegram, Zalo and more with the same translation settings, and several accounts stay signed in side by side without mixing up.
• Liao is paid: new accounts get some free credit, then you buy more by the character. WhatsApp's own translation is free.

Do other chat apps translate?

• LINE: we found no built-in automatic translation in LINE chats. People usually add a translation bot and forward messages to it. On a computer, Liao translates LINE messages as they arrive.
• Zalo: the phone app has had built-in translation since 2025 (long-press a message, then Translate). Automatic translation of incoming messages is only for zCloud subscribers.
• Telegram: any message can be translated; translating a whole chat automatically needs Telegram Premium.

FAQ

Install, payment and privacy questions are answered in ourFAQ. For support, message @liaohelp_bot on Telegram.