When it comes to creating a multilingual website on WordPress, there are several WPML alternatives available that offer unique features and functionalities. These alternatives provide options for automatic translation, compatibility with various multilingual plugins, and integration with SEO practices.
1. Weglot – Ideal for Woocommerce
Weglot is a powerful and among the best WordPress translation plugin that allows you to translate your site into different languages quickly. It offers machine translation initially, which can then be refined manually for accuracy. Weglot supports over 100 languages and provides a user-friendly translation management interface. Weglot is like having a team of translators on your side.
Read more in this Weglot Review.
Key Features:
- Easy setup with automatic language detection
- Machine translation with manual editing options
- Compatible with any WordPress theme and plugin
- Real-time translation preview
- SEO-friendly with translated URLs
2. Polylang – Another alternative with free version
Polylang is another popular multilingual WordPress plugin that lets you create a bilingual or multilingual site. It is highly flexible, allowing you to translate your site’s content, categories, tags, widgets, and more. Polylang integrates seamlessly with WordPress, providing a smooth user experience.
Key Features:
- Translation management for posts, pages, media, categories, and tags
- SEO-friendly with customizable URLs for different languages
- Compatible with most themes and plugins
- Supports RTL (right-to-left) languages
- No machine translation, relies on manual translation
3. TranslatePress – Automatic Translation Service integrated with DeepL
TranslatePress is a user-friendly WordPress translation plugin that offers a visual approach to translating your site. You can translate directly from the front-end, making it easy to see the changes in real-time. It supports both manual and machine translations.
Key Features:
- Visual translation editor
- Integration with Google Translate for machine translation
- Supports translation of all site elements, including WooCommerce
- SEO-friendly with language-specific URLs
- Translation management for users and permissions
4. ConveyThis – Easy to use Alternative to WPML WordPress Multilingual Plugin
ConveyThis is a versatile WordPress plugin that provides multilingual capabilities with ease. It uses machine translation to quickly translate your site, which you can then refine manually. ConveyThis supports over 90 languages and ensures your translated site is SEO-optimized.
Key Features:
- Automatic machine translation with manual editing
- Translation management interface
- SEO-friendly with translated URLs
- Supports WooCommerce and other major plugins
- Easy integration and setup
5. Linguise – Newest WordPress Translation Plugin
Linguise is a relatively new WordPress translation plugin that leverages machine translation to provide quick and accurate translations. It supports over 80 languages and allows you to manage translations through an intuitive dashboard. Linguise also ensures SEO-friendly translations.
Key Features:
- Automatic machine translation with real-time updates
- Translation management dashboard
- SEO-optimized with translated URLs
- Supports WooCommerce and other popular plugins
- High-quality translations with post-editing options
6. Gtranslate – Automatic Translation Plugin for WordPress
Gtranslate is a popular plugin that uses Google Translate to provide multilingual capabilities to your WordPress website. It offers both free and premium versions, with the premium version allowing you to edit translations and make them SEO-friendly.
Key Features:
- Free version with Google Translate integration
- Premium version with manual translation editing
- SEO-friendly with language-specific URLs (premium)
- Supports over 100 languages
- Easy setup and integration
7. MultilingualPress – Alternative like WPML
MultilingualPress takes a unique approach by creating a network of sites for each language, ensuring optimal performance and scalability. This WordPress translation plugin allows you to manage translations efficiently and provides a robust solution for larger multilingual sites.
Key Features:
- Creates a separate site for each language
- SEO-friendly with dedicated URLs for each language
- Supports translation management for posts, pages, and custom post types
- Compatible with WooCommerce and other plugins
- Performance-oriented approach
Alternative Tranaslation Plugins vs WPML Pricing
| Feature/Plugin | WPML | Weglot | Polylang | TranslatePress | ConveyThis | Linguise | Gtranslate | MultilingualPress |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Version | No | Yes (Limited to 2000 words/month) | Yes | Yes | Yes (Limited to 5000 words/month) | No | Yes (Non-SEO optimized) | No |
| Starting Price | €39/year (Blog) | €99/year (10,000 words) | €99/year (Polylang Pro) | €79/year (Personal) | $19/month (10,000 words) | $20/month (10,000 words) | €5.99/month (SEO pack) | $199/year |
| Mid-Tier Price | €99/year (CMS) | €190/year (50,000 words) | €139/year (Polylang for WooCommerce) | €139/year (Business) | $39/month (50,000 words) | $30/month (50,000 words) | €29/month (Business) | N/A |
| High-Tier Price | €199/year (Agency) | €490/year (200,000 words) | N/A | €199/year (Developer) | $79/month (200,000 words) | $50/month (200,000 words) | €59/month (Enterprise) | N/A |
| Translation Method | Manual + Machine | Machine + Manual | Manual | Machine + Manual | Machine + Manual | Machine + Manual | Machine | Manual |
| SEO Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (Premium) | Yes |
| Language Limit | Unlimited | Depends on the plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | Depends on the plan | Unlimited | 103+ | Unlimited |
| Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Visit WPML | Visit Weglot | Visit Polylang | Visit Translatepress | Visit Conveythis | Visit Linguise | Visit Gtranslate | Visit MultilingualPress |
What are the key features of WPML alternatives?
One of the essential features of WPML alternatives is automatic translation, which allows users to quickly translate their content into multiple languages without much manual effort. Additionally, these alternatives offer a range of multilingual plugin options, enabling users to customize their translation settings according to their specific needs. Moreover, these alternatives prioritize SEO compatibility, ensuring that translated content remains optimized for search engines.
How do WPML alternatives compare to WPML itself?
When compared to WPML, one notable difference is the cost-effectiveness of alternatives. Many of these options provide free versions or cost-effective plans, making them more accessible to users with budget constraints. Additionally, these alternatives may vary in translation accuracy and plugin integration, so users need to consider their specific requirements before selecting a suitable option.
Which factors should be considered when choosing a WPML alternative?
Several factors should be considered when selecting a WPML alternative, including the availability of reliable translation services, compatibility with WooCommerce for e-commerce websites, and support for a wide range of languages to cater to diverse audiences. These factors play a crucial role in determining the efficiency and effectiveness of a multilingual plugin for WordPress.
What are the best WPML alternatives available on the market?
Some of the top WPML alternatives in the market include TranslatePress, Polylang, and Weglot. TranslatePress offers a user-friendly interface for translating your entire site, while Polylang provides seamless integration with WordPress themes and plugins. Weglot stands out for its multilingual SEO capabilities, enhancing the visibility of multilingual websites on search engines.
How to seamlessly transition from WPML to an alternative plugin?
Transitioning from WPML to an alternative plugin involves a few essential steps, such as migrating your existing plugins, reconfiguring language settings to align with the new plugin’s requirements, and updating SEO settings to maintain search engine visibility. By following these steps carefully, users can smoothly switch from WPML to a preferred alternative without compromising functionality.
Conclusion
When choosing a WordPress translation plugin to create a multilingual CMS, it’s essential to find the best fit for your needs. WPML is a great option for those seeking a comprehensive solution, but there are many other plugins worth considering. Using WPML lets you translate your WordPress site with both manual and machine translation options, and it also supports SEO and multilingual CMS capabilities. However, WPML only comes in paid versions, with no free option.
For those looking for a replacement for WPML, TranslatePress is an excellent alternative. The free version of TranslatePress on WordPress.org provides substantial features, including a visual interface that looks at the rendered site for easy translation. Using TranslatePress to create a multilingual WordPress site allows for both automatic and manual translations, making it a versatile choice for many users.
Polylang, another popular choice, offers both a free version and Polylang Pro for enhanced features. Polylang allows you to create a bilingual or multilingual WordPress site without using automatic translation, relying instead on professional translation services. Polylang is perfect for users who want more control over their translations.
Weglot, ConveyThis, Linguise, Gtranslate, and MultilingualPress are also excellent alternatives to WPML. These plugins use automatic translation to quickly translate your WordPress site, with options for manual adjustments. They support multiple languages, offer SEO-friendly translations, and integrate seamlessly with any theme or plugin. For instance, Weglot offers free credits and an easy setup, making it a top choice for those wanting to automatically translate their entire site.
In conclusion, while WPML is a great WordPress translation plugin that lets you create a multilingual site with extensive features, other plugins like TranslatePress, Polylang, and Weglot also offer robust functionalities. Depending on your specific needs, any of these plugins can help you achieve the best practices for a multilingual WordPress site, ensuring that your content is accessible to a global audience.