As a WordPress themes expert, (WordPress Multilingual Plugins) I understand the importance of creating multilingual websites that cater to a global audience. Multilingual plugins enable you to translate your website’s content into multiple languages, making it accessible to users from different linguistic backgrounds.
In this article, I will discuss the top 10 WordPress multilingual plugins for 2023, providing a comprehensive overview of their features, benefits, and installation process.
1. WPML (WordPress Multilingual Plugin)
WPML is one of the most popular and widely used multilingual plugins for WordPress. It allows you to translate your website’s content, including posts, pages, custom post types, taxonomies, and menus, into multiple languages.
Features:
- Compatibility with most themes and plugins
- Language switcher options (e.g., flags, dropdowns, etc.)
- Translation management system
- Support for right-to-left (RTL) languages
- Integration with professional translation services
Benefits:
- Easy to install and configure
- Regular updates and professional support
- SEO-friendly translated content
- Large user community and extensive documentation
Price:
Starts at $29 per year for the basic plan
2. Polylang
Polylang is another popular multilingual plugin that enables you to create a bilingual or multilingual WordPress site with ease. You can translate posts, pages, custom post types, categories, tags, and menus using this plugin.
Features:
- Unlimited languages supported
- Customizable language switcher
- Automatic or manual translation management
- Compatibility with major SEO plugins
- RTL language support
Benefits:
- Simple installation and user-friendly interface
- Free version available with basic features
- Pro version offers additional features and premium support
- Active development and regular updates
Price:
Free, with a Pro version starting at €99 per year
3. TranslatePress
TranslatePress offers a visual translation interface that allows you to translate your website directly from the front-end. It supports both manual and automatic translations using Google Translate or DeepL.
Features:
- Real-time front-end translation editor
- Integration with Google Translate and DeepL API for automatic translations
- Translation of dynamic strings (e.g., output from shortcodes or forms)
- SEO-friendly URL structure for translated content
- WooCommerce compatibility
Benefits:
- User-friendly interface and easy setup
- Free version available with basic features
- Pro version offers additional features, including support for extra languages and automatic user language detection
- Regular updates and dedicated support
Price: Free, with a Pro version starting at €79 per year
4. MultilingualPress
MultilingualPress is a unique multilingual plugin that utilizes WordPress Multisite to create separate sites for each language. This approach ensures excellent performance and full compatibility with all themes and plugins.
Features:
- Uses WordPress Multisite for separate language sites
- Customizable language switcher widget
- Automatic hreflang attribute generation
- Centralized translation management dashboard
- Copy content between language sites
Benefits:
- No lock-in effect: Deactivating the plugin does not affect the translated content
- Excellent performance due to the use of separate sites for each language
- Full compatibility with themes and plugins
- Pro version offers premium support and additional features
Price:
Free, with a Pro version starting at $99 per year
5. Weglot
Weglot is a cloud-based translation solution that automatically translates your website’s content into multiple languages using machine translation, while also allowing you to make manual edits or hire professional translators.
Features:
- Automatic translations using machine translation engines
- Manual translation editing interface
- Integration with professional translation services
- SEO-friendly translated content
- Language switcher customization options
Benefits:
- Easy to set up and configure
- Wide range of supported languages (over 100)
- Compatible with all themes and plugins
- Dedicated support and regular updates
- Price: Starts at €9.90 per month for the basic plan
6. Loco Translate
Loco Translate is a free WordPress plugin that focuses on translating themes and plugins, making it an excellent choice for developers and site administrators who want to localize their products.
Features:
- Built-in translation editor for theme and plugin files
- Automatic extraction of translatable strings from your code
- PO and MO file generation
- Integration with Loco API for professional translations (paid service)
- Collaboration features for teams
Benefits:
- Completely free and open-source
- Developer-friendly and easy to use
- Regular updates and active development
- Extensive documentation and tutorials available
Price: Free
7. GTranslate
GTranslate is a versatile translation plugin that uses Google Translate to automatically translate your website into multiple languages. It offers both free and paid plans with various features and customization options.
Features:
- Automatic translations using Google Translate
- Customizable language switcher
- Translation of meta tags and SEO-friendly URLs
- Support for right-to-left languages
- Integration with Google Analytics
Benefits:
- Easy installation and setup
- Free version available with basic features
- Pro version offers additional features and support
- Compatible with all themes and plugins
Price: Free, with a Pro version starting at $7.99 per month
8. qTranslate X
qTranslate X is a free multilingual plugin that allows you to manage translations of your website’s content directly in the WordPress editor, using separate tabs for each language.
Features:
- Multilingual content management in the WordPress editor
- Customizable language switcher
- Translation of custom fields and taxonomies
- Support for RTL languages
- SEO-friendly translated content
Benefits:
- Completely free and open-source
- User-friendly interface and easy setup
- Active development and community support
- Compatible with most themes and plugins
Price:
Free
9. Lingotek Translation
Lingotek Translation is a comprehensive translation management plugin that integrates with the cloud-based Lingotek translation platform, offering both machine and professional translation services.
Features:
- Integration with Lingotek’s cloud-based translation platform
- Support for machine, community, and professional translations
- Centralized translation management dashboard
- Translation memory and glossary features
- SEO-friendly translated content
Benefits:
- Streamlined translation workflow
- Access to a wide range of translation services
- Free version available with basic features
- Pro version offers additional features and support
Price:
Free, with a Pro version available upon request
10. Transposh
Transposh is a free translation plugin that combines automatic translations from Google Translate, Bing Translator, and Apertium with the ability to manually edit translations directly on your website.
Features:
- Automatic translations using multiple translation engines
- Real-time front-end translation editing
- Customizable language switcher
- Support for RTL languages
- Translation of theme and plugin strings
Benefits:
- Completely free and open-source
- User-friendly interface and easy setup
- Active development and community support
- Compatible with most themes and plugins
Price:
Free
Conclusion:
WordPress Multilingual Plugins, When choosing a WordPress multilingual plugin, consider factors such as ease of use, compatibility, translation quality, and pricing. By selecting the right plugin for your specific needs, you can effectively create a multilingual website that caters to a global audience, enhancing user experience and expanding your reach. Happy translating!