Google Lens review: our take
Google Lens is free and built into apps many people already use. Point the camera at a menu, a plant or a math problem and it translates, identifies or finds explainers, at no cost. It lives in the Google app on Android and iOS, in Chrome on desktop and in Google Photos, so if you have the Google app there is nothing extra to install.
Lens is a search tool: it answers with web results about what it sees. For a worked, step-by-step explanation of what you photographed, upload the image to Gemini or ChatGPT. Circle to Search, the on-screen version, runs on select Android phones and may not work in banking or medical apps. For editing the photos themselves, see Google Photos.
By the Prompt Hackers team · facts checked 4 Oct 2026
What Google Lens does
Google Lens searches what your camera or a screenshot shows. It translates menus, signs and handwriting in over 100 languages, identifies plants, animals, artwork and landmarks, copies text to your phone or computer, finds where to buy a product and finds explainers for homework. On select Android phones, Circle to Search brings the same search to anything on screen.
Who Google Lens is for
Best for
- travelers translating menus and signs
- students checking a homework problem from a photo
- shoppers looking up a product they saw
Not for
- iPhone users who want Circle to Search: it runs on select Android phones, such as Pixel 6 and later
- translating video: Circle to Search translation does not work on videos and GIFs
- private apps: Circle to Search may not work in banking, medical and other confidential apps
Google Lens features
- F1Translate text in 100+ languages
- F2Identify plants, animals, artwork and landmarks
- F3Copy text from images
- F4Shopping
- who makes it and where to buy
- F5Homework help
- math, history and sciences
- F6Ask questions about what you see
- F7Circle to Search on select Android phones
Google Lens pricing and plans
| Plan | Monthly | Billed yearly, per month | What it includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | — | in the Google app on Android and iOS, Chrome on desktop, Google Photos and select Android camera apps |
Free plan: yes. Prices as listed by the vendor in USD, before tax; they change, so check the pricing page before you buy.
Google Lens FAQ
- How much does Google Lens cost?
- Google Lens is free to use.
- What are the alternatives to Google Lens?
- Tools that cover the same jobs include Google Photos, Google Gemini, ChatGPT, Speechify.