WPML (WordPress Multilingual Plugin) is a powerful tool designed to facilitate multilingual content management within WordPress. With its extensive features and compatibility with popular plugins, WPML aims to streamline the process of creating and managing multilingual websites.
This WPML review delves into WPML’s capabilities, advantages, and considerations to help you determine if it’s the ideal solution for your multilingual site needs.
What is WPML and How Does the Multilingual Plugin Work?
WPML, short for WordPress Multilingual Plugin, is a powerful tool for creating multilingual websites. This plugin facilitates the translation process by allowing users to easily translate their content into multiple languages directly within the WordPress environment. With WPML, website owners can reach a wider audience by providing content in different languages effortlessly.
One of the key features of WPML is its user-friendly interface that simplifies the translation process for both beginners and experienced users, which is especially helpful when using third-party translation services. The plugin streamlines the translation workflow, making it easier to manage multilingual websites and control the language settings efficiently.
By using WPML, website owners can benefit from a seamless translation process that enhances the user experience and accessibility of their site in different languages, making sure everyone can read and understand the content.
WPML Installation
Installing WPML on your WordPress site is a straightforward process. Follow these steps to get started:
Step-by-Step Installation Guide
Purchase a WPML License
- Go to the WPML website and choose the plan that suits your needs.
- Complete the purchase and create an account.
Download WPML Plugins
- Log in to your WPML account.
- Navigate to the Downloads section.
- Download the core WPML plugin (WPML Multilingual CMS) and any additional plugins you need (e.g., String Translation, Translation Management, Media Translation).
Install the WPML Core Plugin
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to Plugins > Add New.
- Click on the Upload Plugin button at the top.
- Click Choose File and select the WPML core plugin file you downloaded.
- Click Install Now and then Activate the plugin once installation is complete.
Install Additional WPML Plugins
- Repeat the process for any additional WPML plugins you downloaded (String Translation, Translation Management, etc.).
- Go to Plugins > Add New, click Upload Plugin, select the plugin file, and install and activate each one.
Run the WPML Setup Wizard
- After activating the WPML core plugin, you will be prompted to run the WPML setup wizard.
- Click on the Configure WPML button to start the wizard.
- Select your site’s default language.
- Choose the languages you want to add to your site.
- Set the language switcher options, which allow visitors to switch between languages.
Register WPML
- Go to WPML > Support in your WordPress dashboard.
- Enter your site key, which you can find in your WPML account under Sites.
- Click Register to complete the process.
Configure WPML Settings
- Navigate to WPML > Languages to customize language settings.
- Go to WPML > String Translation to translate strings from your theme and plugins.
- Visit WPML > Translation Management to manage and assign translation jobs.
Translate Your Content
- For posts and pages, you will see a language box in the editor. Click the + icon next to the language you want to translate to.
- For other content types, navigate to WPML > Translation Management and follow the prompts to translate.
Tips for Beginners
- Backup Your Site: Before installing WPML, it’s a good practice to back up your site to prevent any data loss.
- Consult Documentation: WPML has comprehensive documentation available here.
- Start Small: Begin with a few pages to get accustomed to the translation process before translating your entire site.
WPML Pricing
WPML offers various pricing plans tailored to different user needs. Below is an overview of the pricing structure and what each plan includes.
Pricing Plans Overview
| Plan | Cost | Number of Sites | Features Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multilingual Blog | €39/year | 1 site | – Translate posts, pages, and custom types<br> – Browser language detection<br> – Translate categories, tags, and custom taxonomies<br> – Translate WordPress menus<br> – Multilingual SEO support (titles, meta) |
| Multilingual CMS | €99/year | 3 sites | – All features of Multilingual Blog<br> – Translate texts in theme and plugins admin<br> – Manage attachments in different languages<br> – Translate WooCommerce store<br> – String Translation<br> – Translation Management<br> – Multilingual E-Commerce support |
| Multilingual Agency | €199/year | Unlimited sites | – All features of Multilingual CMS<br> – Register unlimited sites<br> – Priority support |
Plan Details
Multilingual Blog:
- Cost: €39/year
- Number of Sites: 1 site
- Features: This plan is ideal for bloggers and small businesses that need to translate basic site content. It includes essential translation capabilities for posts, pages, and categories. It also supports multilingual SEO, which helps improve the visibility of translated content.
Multilingual CMS:
- Cost: €99/year
- Number of Sites: 3 sites
- Features: This plan is suited for businesses and developers who require more advanced translation features. It allows translation of texts in themes and plugins, supports WooCommerce store translations, and includes string translation and translation management tools.
Multilingual Agency:
- Cost: €199/year
- Number of Sites: Unlimited sites
- Features: Designed for agencies and large-scale projects, this plan offers all features of the Multilingual CMS plan along with the ability to register an unlimited number of sites. It also provides priority support, making it an excellent choice for those managing multiple multilingual sites.
Does WPML Worth its Value for Money
WPML’s pricing plans provide good value for the features they offer. The Multilingual Blog plan is affordable and covers basic needs, making it accessible for individual bloggers and small businesses. The Multilingual CMS plan offers a significant upgrade in functionality for a reasonable price increase, suitable for more complex sites. The Multilingual Agency plan, though the most expensive, provides extensive capabilities and support for agencies handling multiple client sites, justifying the higher cost.
WPML Alternatives
When comparing WPML with other translation plugins available for WordPress, it becomes evident that WPML offers a comprehensive solution for multilingual websites. While some plugins may focus solely on automatic translation, WPML provides a range of features for manual translation, string translation, and integration with various translation engines like DeepL and Google Translate.
The pros of using WPML over other translation tools include its robust translation management system, reliable customer support available six days per week, and compatibility with custom post types within WordPress. However, the cost of WPML may be a consideration for those on a tight budget, as it offers different pricing plans based on the needs of the user.
Considering the features and support provided by WPML, the plugin’s pricing is justified for individuals and businesses looking to create professional multilingual WordPress websites with ease and WPML support that is available 6 days per week.
Polylang
Polylang plugin is a popular alternative to WPML, known for its simplicity and flexibility. It allows users to create a multilingual WordPress site by translating posts, pages, media, categories, and tags. Polylang integrates well with most themes and plugins and offers a straightforward user interface.
One significant advantage of Polylang is that it has a free version, which is quite feature-rich. However, for advanced features like translation of custom post types and taxonomies, or integration with WooCommerce, users need to purchase the Polylang Pro version or additional add-ons.
Read more in WPML vs Polylang.
Weglot
Weglot is the go-to plugin that stands out for its ease of use and automatic translation capabilities. It offers a seamless integration process and lets you automatically translate a website in minutes, like having a team of translators. Weglot supports over 100 languages and provides a translation management interface where you can edit translations manually or use professional translators.
One of Weglot’s key features is its cloud-based approach, which means translations are hosted on their servers, leading to less load on your site. However, this also means that it relies on an external service, which can be a consideration for some users. Weglot operates on a subscription model based on the number of translated words and languages.
Read more in WPML vs Weglot.
TranslatePress
TranslatePress is another user-friendly translation plugin that allows you to translate your WordPress site directly from the front-end. It offers a visual translation interface, enabling you to see the changes in real-time as you translate. TranslatePress supports both manual and automatic translations, with integration with Google Translate and DeepL.
It is compatible with WooCommerce and most themes and plugins, making it versatile for different types of websites. The free version of TranslatePress includes basic features, while the premium version unlocks advanced functionalities such as SEO pack, navigation-based translation, and multiple languages support.
WPML Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive Translation Management: Allows assigning translation jobs to different translators, ideal for large projects. | Cost: WPML is a premium plugin requiring a subscription, which may be costly for small websites or personal blogs. |
| Wide Range of Supported Content: Supports opening a new translation for posts, pages, custom post types, taxonomies, menus, and text strings within themes and plugins. | Complexity: Extensive features can result in a steep learning curve, especially for new users. |
| Compatibility with Popular Plugins and Themes: Works well with most popular WordPress themes and plugins, including WooCommerce. | Performance Impact: Can affect site performance, particularly on larger sites with extensive content. Requires proper optimization and server resources. |
| Professional Translation Services Integration: Integrates with several professional translation services for high-quality translations. | Manual Translation Effort: Significant translation work may still need to be done manually, which can be time-consuming. |
| SEO Friendly: Helps optimize multilingual sites for search engines by translating SEO elements like meta titles, descriptions, and slugs. | Compatibility Issues: Some themes and plugins may still encounter issues when used with WPML, requiring additional adjustments or support. |
| Frequent Updates and Support: Regular updates and a dedicated support team ensure the plugin remains secure and up-to-date. |
Integration with WordPress and WooCommerce
To follow up this WPML review, here is a mention of it with WooCommerce
Integrating WPML with WordPress sites is a straightforward process that adds multilingual capabilities to your WordPress website seamlessly. The plugin works harmoniously with WordPress themes and plugins, ensuring compatibility and smooth operation for any multilingual WordPress website. Users can set up the WPML language switcher easily to allow visitors to switch between different languages effortlessly.
For e-commerce websites using WooCommerce, integrating WPML offers numerous benefits, especially when paired with third-party translation services. By providing multilingual support for product listings, checkout pages, and customer communication, businesses can cater to a global audience effectively using the WPML WordPress plugin. With WPML, managing translations for product descriptions, pricing, and shipping details becomes more efficient on your multilingual WordPress website.
The integration of the WPML WordPress plugin with WordPress and WooCommerce enhances the functionality of these platforms, enabling users to create multilingual and user-friendly websites and online stores.
Ease of Use and Translation Management
The dashboard interface of WPML is designed to offer a smooth user experience with intuitive controls for managing translations through the translation management page. Users can easily navigate through the settings, translate content using the translator, and adjust language preferences within the plugin. WPML ensures that the translation controls are accessible and straightforward, even for users with limited technical expertise.
Managing translations efficiently with WPML involves utilizing the built-in features for string translation, automatic translation options, and manual translation capabilities. Website owners can customize their translation workflow based on their requirements, ensuring precise and accurate translations across different languages.
With WPML, users have the flexibility to choose between automated translation services or manual translation to maintain quality and consistency in their multilingual content. The plugin simplifies the translation management process, making it easier to oversee and maintain the linguistic aspects of a website effectively.
Using WPML Plugin Worth Your Time and Money?
To be mentioned in this WPML review, it stands out as a leading WordPress translation plugin due to its key features that cater to the diverse needs of website owners seeking multilingual solutions. From string translation to multilingual site management, WPML offers a comprehensive suite of tools for creating and maintaining multilingual WordPress websites efficiently.
This website and the website barrazacarlos.com showcase the reliability of the WPML plugin, with many other users praising its ease of use, extensive documentation, reliable WPML support from the WPML team, which is available 6 days per week. The plugin’s consistent updates and commitment to enhancing user experience contribute to its positive reputation among WordPress users.
When considering WPML alternatives, users must weigh the features, ease of use, and support provided by each plugin to determine the best fit for their WordPress site. While there are other translation plugins available, WPML’s reputation for quality, user-friendly interface, and consistent performance make it a top choice for those seeking a reliable multilingual solution.
Conclusion of WPML Review
In 2024, creating a multilingual site has never been easier with the numerous popular WordPress plugins available. If you want to create a website that allows you to translate your WordPress site seamlessly, As in this WPML review, WPML is one of the top choices. WPML pricing is reasonable considering the advanced translation features it offers, including standard translation controls and support from a professional translation team. WPML plugin works efficiently, making it worth the investment.
The WPML pros include frequent plugin updates and a robust core plugin that supports advanced translation tasks. Using this plugin, you can manage translation on your site effortlessly and translate your entire site, including content, theme, or plugin strings. The latest version of WPML also includes a translation manager to streamline your translation jobs.
For those looking to translate interface strings directly and add translations to your site automatically, WPML and other popular WordPress translation plugins like Polylang, Weglot and Translatepress are the go-to plugins. Whether you are adding new content on your WordPress site or starting the translation of existing content, these plugins simplify the process.
To get started, install the WPML plugin and enjoy the ease of handling translation tasks across a number of sites. WPML’s comprehensive translation features and the ability to install the plugin on multiple sites make it a reliable choice for anyone aiming to manage multilingual content on their WordPress site.