Since its debut in 2017, Google Lens has become one of Google’s most popular image recognition tools. Integrated into Android and iOS devices, either as a standalone app or part of the native Google app, it allows users to simply point their camera at an object to scan QR codes, barcodes, tags, and text within images. It then pulls up relevant information or search results from the web. One question we often get is: “How is Piclaza Image Translate different from Google Lens?” While both tools excel at translating text within images, they serve quite different purposes. Here’s a breakdown of what sets them apart:
1. Translate Text and Recreate the Image
Piclaza Image Translate doesn’t just translate the text in an image — it lets you regenerate the same image in another language. In contrast, Google Lens only displays the translated text on top of the image or pulls it out separately. It doesn’t allow you to export or reuse a recreated version of the image. That means you can’t download a translated image for use elsewhere.
Bottom line: Google Lens is great for on-the-go translations, but that’s where its capabilities stop.
2. App vs Website: Device Compatibility
Google Lens is a mobile-only solution. Whether as a standalone app or built into Android/iOS Google apps, it’s confined to smartphones and tablets. Piclaza Image Translate, on the other hand, is a fully web-based tool. You can access it from desktops, laptops, tablets, and phones — offering much greater flexibility across devices.
3. Edit Translated Text Directly
With Google Lens, you’re stuck with whatever translation it provides — no editing, no formatting, no adjustments. Piclaza Image Translate gives you full control:
- Edit the translated text
- Change the font and font size
- Move or reposition text
- Even exclude specific areas from being translated
This makes it especially useful for professionals working on product visuals, marketing materials, or manuals that require precision. 
4. Download and Manage Translated Images
Piclaza Image Translate lets you download your translated images, making it easy to store, reuse, or share them. This is ideal for batch tasks like localizing product images, translating ads, or adapting instruction manuals. You also get access to a translation task manager, where all your translated images are organized and accessible. Google Lens doesn’t offer this. You can share translated results via social media or email, but there’s no option to download and save the modified image.
5. Piclaza Image Translate API: Add Image Translation to Your Website
Piclaza goes a step further by offering an API. You can integrate Piclaza Image Translate directly into your website — enabling automatic translation of images, not just text. This is a game-changer for multilingual websites. While text often gets translated, embedded images typically remain in the original language. With Piclaza's API, your site can automatically convert image text into over 40 languages. 
In Summary
If you’re just looking for a quick translation of text within an image, Google Lens is a solid choice. But if you need:
- Editable translations
- Image recreation in multiple languages
- Batch processing
- Downloadable files
- Or integration into your website
Then Piclaza Image Translate is clearly the better option.