A WordPress multilingual plugin helps a website show content in different languages. It lets site owners translate pages, posts, and other parts of their site. This makes it easy for people from different countries to understand the content. These plugins connect with WordPress to manage translations smoothly.
They are useful for businesses, blogs, or anyone wanting to reach more people. Multilingual plugins do more than just translate words. They can change menus, buttons, and even product details for online stores. Some plugins translate automatically using tools like Google Translate, while others let you edit translations yourself.
They also help with language switchers so visitors can pick their preferred language. This makes the website user-friendly for everyone. In this article, I discuss the best WordPress multilingual plugins with comprehensive details.
Best WordPress Multilingual Plugins
Choosing the right multilingual plugin depends on your website’s needs. Some plugins are easy to set up, while others offer more control. This section covers five popular plugins: WPML, Polylang, Weglot, TranslatePress, and MultilingualPress.
1. WPML
WPML is a premium plugin that helps you translate your entire WordPress site. It works with posts, pages, menus, and even content from other plugins like WooCommerce. You can translate manually or use automatic tools like Google or DeepL. It’s designed for both small blogs and large business sites. WPML gives you full control over translations and works well with most themes and plugins.
This plugin is great for complex websites that need detailed translation management. It lets you assign translators or connect to professional translation services. WPML also supports SEO, so your translated pages rank well on search engines.
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Key features of WPML
- Translates posts, pages, menus, and custom post types
- Supports automatic translation with Google, DeepL, or Microsoft
- Connects to professional translation services for accurate results
- Works with WooCommerce for multilingual online stores
- Includes SEO tools like hreflang tags for better search rankings
- Supports over 40 languages with easy language selection
- Allows role-based translation management for teams
- Compatible with most WordPress themes and plugins
- Offers side-by-side editing for manual translations
- Provides translation memory to reuse previous translations
2. Polylang
Polylang is a free and premium plugin that makes your WordPress site multilingual. It lets you create separate content for each language, like posts and pages. With over 700,000 active installations, it’s a popular choice for many users. You can manage translations directly in the WordPress dashboard.
Polylang is ideal for those who want flexibility without high costs. The free version is great for basic needs, while the Pro version adds features like automatic translation with DeepL. It’s SEO-friendly, helping your site rank in different languages.
Key features of Polylang
- Creates separate posts and pages for each language
- Supports over 100 languages with a language switcher
- Integrates with DeepL for automatic translations (Pro version)
- Works with WooCommerce for e-commerce translations (Pro addon)
- Includes SEO tools like hreflang tags and URL translations
- Supports right-to-left languages like Arabic and Hebrew
- Manages translations within the WordPress dashboard
- Compatible with Advanced Custom Fields for custom content
- Allows manual translation of categories, tags, and menus
- Lightweight design to maintain fast site performance
3. Weglot
Weglot is a cloud-based plugin that translates your WordPress site quickly. It automatically detects and translates all content, including pages, menus, and products. You manage translations through an external dashboard, not WordPress. It supports over 100 languages and is easy to set up in minutes.
This plugin shines with its simple setup and automatic translations. You can edit translations manually or hire professionals through the Weglot dashboard. It’s great for SEO, as it creates indexable pages for search engines. However, it can be expensive for large sites with many words.
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Key features of Weglot
- Automatically translates all site content in minutes
- Supports over 100 languages with a customizable switcher
- Offers a visual editor to edit translations on your site
- Connects to professional translators for high-quality results
- Creates SEO-friendly URLs with hreflang tags
- Translates media, like text in images, for visual sites
- Integrates with WooCommerce and page builders
- Uses AI to suggest translation improvements
- Manages translations via an external cloud dashboard
- Provides a 10-day free trial for premium plans
4. TranslatePress
TranslatePress is a plugin that lets you translate your site directly from its front end. You see a live preview of your site while translating content, like text, menus, or forms. It supports both manual and automatic translations using Google or DeepL. With over 400,000 active installations, it’s a favorite for visual editing. It’s easy for beginners and works with most plugins.
This plugin is unique because it translates everything you see on your site, including content from other plugins. It’s great for small sites or those who prefer manual control. TranslatePress is SEO-friendly and keeps translations in your database, which helps with speed. It’s less complex than WPML but may struggle with very large sites.
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Key features of TranslatePress
- Translates content directly from the site’s front end
- Supports Google Translate and DeepL for automatic translations
- Works with WooCommerce, page builders, and forms
- Includes SEO tools for translating metadata and URLs
- Allows image translation for media-heavy sites
- Offers role-based translation for team collaboration
- Stores translations in your database for faster loading
- Provides a live preview of translations during editing
- Supports unlimited languages in premium plans
- Compatible with shortcodes and dynamic content
5. MultilingualPress
MultilingualPress is a premium plugin that uses WordPress Multisite to manage languages. Each language runs on a separate site within your WordPress network. You translate content like posts, pages, and products for each site. It’s designed for large websites that need high performance. The plugin connects all sites with a language switcher for easy navigation.
This plugin is unique because it keeps languages separate, which boosts speed and SEO. It’s great for businesses or enterprises with complex needs. You can manage translations from one dashboard, but setting up Multisite requires some technical skills. It’s not ideal for small sites due to its complexity.
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Key features of MultilingualPress
- Uses WordPress Multisite to manage each language separately
- Supports over 800 languages with a language switcher
- Creates SEO-friendly URLs with automatic hreflang tags
- Translates posts, pages, categories, and WooCommerce products
- Works with Yoast SEO and Advanced Custom Fields
- Manages translations from a single dashboard
- Improves site speed by loading only one language at a time
- Supports custom post types and taxonomies
- Allows different domains or subdomains for each language
- Offers premium support for enterprise users
Conclusion
Using a multilingual plugin can make your WordPress site reach more people. To get the best results, choose a plugin that fits your site’s size and needs. For small sites, try simple plugins like TranslatePress or Weglot for easy setup. For larger sites, WPML or MultilingualPress offers more control.
Always test the plugin to ensure it works with your theme and other plugins. Good practices include keeping translations accurate and up to date. Use automatic translations as a starting point, but review them manually for quality. Add a clear language switcher so visitors can change languages easily.
Optimize your site for SEO by using hreflang tags and translating metadata. With these steps, your multilingual site will be user-friendly and effective.
