To reach a global audience, you need your site to be multilingual.
How do you make your WordPress site accessible to users in different languages? The answer is to have the Best Plugin Wordpress Multilingual. Therefore, in this tutorial, we will explore what exactly makes a good WordPress multilingual plugin, how to approach using it and take a look at some of the better plugins for WordPress multilingual support. Let’s get started!
1. What Is a WordPress Multilingual Plugin?
A WordPress multilingual plugin allows you to translate your website content into multiple languages. This is a very user-friendly plugin that will translate your website into different languages so it is more accessible to people all over the world. Translation of blog entries, product explanations, whole pages—these plugins sure do make it very convenient to control and provide content to those who speak other languages.
These aren’t just any plugins that “translate” text, but plugins that allow you to manage translations, make the translations SEO-friendly, and allow your site to operate at 100% capacity for multilingual users.
2. Why Do You Need a Multilingual Plugin?
(That is, if you have an international audience or your business is in different regions, a multilingual website is a must). Here are a few reasons why:
- Reach a Larger Audience: You can also get to those who speak different languages with a multilingual site. That opens up new markets and a larger buying population.
- Improve User Experience: Users prefer websites in their native language. Offering content in their language will make them feel more comfortable and engaged.
- Boost SEO: Websites in different languages can rank better in search engines because they appeal to more search “markets.” That, and Google and other search engines seem to like sites that have localized content better.
- Build Trust: When a site is in a user’s native language, it establishes a level of trust and believability that will eventually result in better conversion rates.
3. Factors to Consider When Choosing a Multilingual Plugin
Before diving into the best plugins, it’s important to understand what makes a good multilingual plugin. Here are the key factors to consider:
- Ease of Use: The plugin must have a user-friendly interface that will allow you to easily add translations.
- Compatibility: It has to be compatible with your current theme, plugins, and version of WordPress.
- SEO Optimization: With a good multilingual plugin, you should be able to SEO every language version of your site.
- Automatic vs. Manual Translation: Some plugins provide automatic translation (via Google Translate or otherwise), while others require typing it in yourself. Consider which option fits your workflow better.
- Support and Documentation: If you do have a problem, it needs to have good customer support and solid documentation.
- Pricing: There are many multilingual plugins, and most have free versions, but the paid versions offer more features and better support. Think about how much it will cost and what it will do for you.
4. Top Multilingual Plugins for WordPress
Now that you understand the essentials, let’s explore some of the best WordPress multilingual plugins that can help you create a multilingual website.
1. WPML (WordPress Multilingual Plugin)
WPML is one of the most popular and widely used multilingual plugins for WordPress. It’s a professional plugin, and it’s just loaded with everything to let you create a fully multilingual site.
Key Features:
- Translate posts, pages, custom post types, and more.
- Complete SEO support including translated metadata and hreflang tags.
- Integration with popular page builders like Elementor and WPBakery.
- Automatic translation (with integration for Google Translate or DeepL).
- Multilingual e-commerce support (WooCommerce).
Pros:
- User-friendly interface.
- Robust translation management system.
- Comprehensive support for SEO optimization.
- Excellent customer support.
Cons:
- The free version is very limited.
- The full version requires a paid license.
Best for: Something professional for companies that will be able to expand to other languages.
2. Polylang
Polylang is one of the most widely used multilingual plugins and has both a free and premium version. It’s great for those who just want something plain and simple without having to get into all the nitty-gritty settings.
Key Features:
- Create multilingual posts, pages, categories, and tags.
- Supports over 100 languages.
- Integration with popular SEO plugins like Yoast SEO.
- Manual translation of content.
Pros:
- Free version is feature-rich.
- Lightweight and easy to set up.
- Seamless integration with themes and other plugins.
Cons:
- The upgraded version includes more features such as professional translators and more complex languages.
- Does not offer automatic translation by default.
Best for: Small businesses, bloggers, or anyone who needs a simple, inexpensive multilingual plugin.
3. TranslatePress
TranslatePress is another good plugin to make a WP site multilingual. TranslatePress is unique in that it has a front-end visual editor that lets you translate the content right on the front end of the website.
Key Features:
- Real-time front-end translation.
- Support for both manual and automatic translations.
- SEO support for each language.
- Compatibility with common page builders such as Elementor, WPBakery, etc.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use visual interface for translating content.
- Automatic translation powered by Google Translate or DeepL.
- SEO-friendly with the ability to optimize translated pages.
Cons:
- Some advanced features are only available in the paid version.
Best for Newbies or anyone looking for a simple, visual method to convert a WordPress site.
4. Weglot
Weglot is a cloud-based translation plugin that will allow you to have a multilingual WordPress site up and running in no time. Weglot does it all for you, but you can still go in and make manual adjustments if needed.
Key Features:
- Automatic translation with the option for manual edits.
- Supports over 100 languages.
- SEO-friendly, automatically generating translated URLs.
- Integration with WooCommerce for multilingual e-commerce stores.
Pros:
- Fast and easy setup.
- Great for non-technical users.
- Automatic translation saves time, but manual editing is possible.
Cons:
- Weglot is not free; it charges based on languages and words.
Best for: Users who require immediate multilingual abilities without much of a technical background.
5. MultilingualPress
MultilingualPress is a robust plugin that supports creating a multilingual WordPress site with a single installation. It uses WordPress multisite so that the translations are on separate sites but it connects them all.
Key Features:
- Lets you track each language on individual sites.
- Multi-site setup allows for greater flexibility and performance.
- Supports WooCommerce for multilingual stores.
- Multilingual SEO support.
Pros:
- For really large sites or those that have a multisite network.
- Works with most themes and plugins.
- Offers a clean, scalable solution.
Cons:
- Requires a multisite install, which may be tricky for newcomers.
Best for: Larger businesses or websites with complex translation needs.
5. How to Install a Multilingual Plugin in Your WordPress
It is always easy to install a multilingual plugin on your WordPress site. Here’s a basic step-by-step guide:
- Install and Activate the Plugin:
Go to your WordPress dashboard, click on “Plugins” > “Add New” and search for your chosen multilingual plugin (WPML, Polylang, etc.). Install and activate the plugin. - Configure Language Settings:
After activating the plugin, go to the plugin’s settings and select the languages you want your site to support. Set the default language and add additional languages. - Translate Content:
The good thing about most plugins is that they allow you to translate posts, pages, and more. You can either manually translate everything or use the automatic translation options where possible. - Optimize for SEO:
Ensure that each translated page has SEO-friendly metadata (title, description, URL). Don’t forget to use hreflang tags so that search engines know which version of your page to serve to users in different countries. - Review and Publish:
Once all translations are up, go through your site and test the translated pages. Make sure everything works flawlessly before publishing your site.
6. Common Challenges When Using Multilingual Plugins
Although multilingual plugins are a fantastic tool, there are a few challenges you might encounter:
- Translation Consistency: It’s hard to ensure everything is translated consistently across the site, especially when making frequent updates.
- SEO Complexity: SEO for multilingual websites can be tricky. Ensuring that all language versions are indexed properly by search engines and that URLs are correct is crucial.
- Performance Issues: A multilingual website may put a heavy load on the server and slow down site performance, as each page may have several language versions.
7. Conclusion
The best WordPress multilingual plugin for your site depends on your requirements, budget, and level of expertise. WPML and Polylang are very popular for being flexible and easy to use, but TranslatePress and Weglot are also plugins that provide a fast and simple solution for those who would rather not get into all the technical aspects and just concentrate on content.
Whichever plugin you choose, please keep in mind that your multilingual website needs to be not only translated properly but also SEO-friendly and user-friendly. By reaching a broader audience and offering content in multiple languages, you’ll unlock new growth opportunities and enhance the user experience on your site.
