In today’s connected world, a multilingual WordPress website helps you reach diverse audiences. WPML (WordPress Multilingual Plugin) is a popular choice for translating sites, offering features like automatic translation, WooCommerce support, and multilingual SEO. However, its complexity, performance issues, and cost often lead users to seek alternatives. Therefore, this article explores three top WPML alternatives—TranslatePress, Polylang, and Weglot—detailing their features, pros, cons, and comparisons with WPML to help you choose the best option.
Why Seek Alternatives to WPML?
WPML is powerful, but it has drawbacks. For instance, users frequently mention:
- Performance Challenges: WPML’s reliance on databases can slow sites, especially during traffic spikes.
- Complex Setup: Multiple plugins are needed for full functionality, which complicates setup.
- Cost Concerns: Pricing starts at €39/year for one site and reaches €199/year for unlimited sites, which may strain small budgets.
- Support Issues: Some users find WPML’s forum-based support slow compared to other plugins.
As a result, many users look for simpler, faster, or cheaper options. Below, we dive into TranslatePress, Polylang, and Weglot, comparing their strengths, weaknesses, and how they stack up against WPML.
1. TranslatePress
TranslatePress is an easy-to-use translation plugin that offers a visual, front-end interface. Consequently, it’s a strong WPML alternative for users seeking simplicity and broad compatibility.
Features
- Visual Translation Editor: Translate posts, pages, menus, and plugin content directly on the front end.
- Complete Translation: Covers all site elements, including shortcodes, themes, and plugins.
- SEO Support: The SEO Pack add-on enables metadata translation, XML sitemaps, and hreflang tags.
- Automatic Translation: Integrates with Google Translate and DeepL for machine translations.
- Language Switcher: Offers a customizable switcher for easy language navigation.
- Translator Accounts: Allows freelancers or teams to manage translations.
Pros
- User-Friendly: The visual editor simplifies translation, even for beginners.
- Fast Performance: Stores translations efficiently, reducing server load compared to WPML.
- Free Option: The free version supports one extra language, perfect for small sites.
- Broad Compatibility: Works seamlessly with any theme or plugin.
- SEO Capabilities: Add-on provides robust SEO features for better search visibility.
Cons
- Limited Free Version: Only one additional language in the free plan, unlike Polylang’s unlimited languages.
- Premium Cost: Advanced features like SEO require a paid plan, starting at $89/year for one site.
- No Direct Professional Translation: Unlike WPML, TranslatePress lacks built-in professional translation services, though translator accounts are available.
Comparison with WPML
- Translation Interface: TranslatePress’s single front-end editor is easier to use than WPML’s multiple back-end interfaces.
- Performance: TranslatePress runs lighter, avoiding WPML’s slowdowns during high traffic.
- SEO: Both support SEO, but TranslatePress requires an add-on, while WPML includes SEO tools in its core package.
- Automatic Translation: WPML supports three translation services, whereas TranslatePress uses only Google Translate and DeepL. Additionally, WPML’s automatic mode is more hands-off.
- Pricing: TranslatePress’s free version is more accessible, but its premium plan ($89/year) is close to WPML’s mid-tier plan (€99/year for three sites).
Verdict: TranslatePress suits small to medium sites prioritizing ease and speed. It’s a great WPML alternative but may not meet needs for extensive professional translation.
2. Polylang
Polylang is a lightweight, flexible plugin with free and paid versions. Thus, it’s a top choice for users seeking a budget-friendly WPML alternative focused on manual translations.
Features
- Manual Translation: Translate posts, pages, categories, and custom post types easily.
- Unlimited Languages: The free version supports unlimited languages, unlike TranslatePress.
- SEO Tools: Polylang Pro offers hreflang tags, Yoast SEO integration, and multilingual sitemaps.
- WooCommerce Compatibility: The Pro version supports e-commerce translations.
- Language Switcher: Provides a customizable widget or menu-based switcher.
- Automatic Translation Add-Ons: Supports machine translation via plugins like Lingotek.
Pros
- Free Version: Offers unlimited languages, ideal for cost-conscious users.
- Lightweight Design: Minimal database usage ensures faster performance than WPML.
- Simple Interface: The dashboard is straightforward, though less visual than TranslatePress.
- Scalable: Works for both small blogs and large online stores with premium features.
- Strong Community: Active forums and documentation provide solid support.
Cons
- No Built-In Automatic Translation: Requires third-party plugins, adding setup steps.
- Premium Features Needed: SEO and WooCommerce tools are exclusive to Polylang Pro, starting at €99/year.
- Learning Curve: Less intuitive than TranslatePress for beginners.
- Migration Difficulty: Switching from WPML to Polylang can be tricky due to database differences.
Comparison with WPML
- Translation Options: WPML includes automatic translation, while Polylang relies on manual translation or add-ons, making WPML more versatile for automation.
- Performance: Polylang’s lean code outperforms WPML on busy sites.
- SEO: WPML’s SEO tools are more comprehensive by default, whereas Polylang needs the Pro version.
- Ease of Use: Polylang’s single dashboard is simpler than WPML’s multi-plugin setup, but it lacks a visual editor.
- Pricing: Polylang’s free version is a major draw, though its Pro plan (€99/year) is pricier than WPML’s basic plan (€39/year).
Verdict: Polylang is ideal for budget users or those comfortable with manual translations. It’s a strong WPML alternative for performance but requires add-ons for advanced features.
3. Weglot
Weglot is a cloud-based translation plugin that emphasizes automation and ease. By storing translations on a CDN, it reduces server load, making it a compelling WPML alternative.
Features
- Automatic Translation: Instantly translates entire sites using advanced machine translation.
- Translation Dashboard: Manage translations, collaborate with teams, or order professional services.
- SEO Features: Includes hreflang tags, translated metadata, and URL structures.
- Language Switcher: Offers a customizable, mobile-friendly switcher.
- Easy Setup: Requires only an API key, perfect for non-technical users.
- Professional Translation: Connects directly to translators via the dashboard.
Pros
- Simple Setup: Takes minutes to start, with automatic translation handling most tasks.
- High Performance: CDN-based storage ensures fast loading, unlike WPML’s database approach.
- SEO-Friendly: Streamlined SEO features boost visibility across languages.
- Reliable Support: Positive reviews highlight responsive customer service.
- Scalable: Works for small blogs and large enterprise sites.
Cons
- High Cost: Pricing starts at €15/month (~€180/year) for 10,000 words and one language, which can exceed WPML for large sites.
- SaaS Dependency: Relies on Weglot’s servers, which may concern users wanting full control.
- Limited Free Plan: Supports one language and 2,000 words, less flexible than Polylang.
- Manual Editing Needed: Machine translations may require tweaks for accuracy.
Comparison with WPML
- Translation Approach: Weglot’s automatic translation is smoother than WPML’s, which needs manual setup for full automation.
- Performance: Weglot’s CDN outperforms WPML, especially on high-traffic sites.
- SEO: Both offer strong SEO tools, but Weglot’s are easier to configure.
- Ease of Use: Weglot’s setup is simpler than WPML’s complex system.
- Pricing: WPML is cheaper for small sites, while Weglot’s costs grow with content volume.
Verdict: Weglot is best for users prioritizing automation and speed. It’s a premium WPML alternative but may be costly for large sites.
Comparison Table
| Feature | WPML | TranslatePress | Polylang | Weglot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Version | No | Yes (1 language) | Yes (unlimited languages) | Yes (1 language, 2,000 words) |
| Pricing (Premium) | €39–€199/year | $89/year (1 site) | €99/year (1 site) | €180/year (10,000 words) |
| Translation Method | Manual + Automatic | Manual + Automatic | Manual (Automatic via add-ons) | Automatic + Manual |
| Interface | Back-end, multiple | Front-end, unified | Back-end, centralized | SaaS dashboard |
| Performance | Database-heavy | Lightweight | Lightweight | CDN-based, fast |
| SEO Features | Comprehensive | Comprehensive (with add-on) | Comprehensive (Pro) | Comprehensive |
| WooCommerce Support | Yes | Yes | Yes (Pro) | Yes |
| Professional Translation | Yes | Via translator accounts | No | Yes |
| Ease of Use | Moderate | High | Moderate | High |
Choosing the Right Plugin
Selecting a WPML alternative depends on your needs:
- TranslatePress: Best for small to medium sites wanting a simple, visual translation tool. Its free version is great for testing, and it performs well.
- Polylang: Perfect for budget users or those okay with manual translations. The free version’s unlimited languages suit multilingual sites.
- Weglot: Ideal for automation and scalability. Its CDN ensures top performance, but costs can add up for large sites.
Migration and Testing Tips
Switching from WPML can be complex due to its database structure. To ease the process:
- Use a Staging Site: Test plugins on a duplicate site with matching specs.
- Export Translations: Use WPML’s export tools or migration plugins to transfer translations.
- Test Speed: Check performance with tools like GTmetrix before and after switching.
- Verify SEO: Ensure hreflang tags, sitemaps, and metadata work in all languages.
Conclusion
While WPML is a solid choice for multilingual sites, TranslatePress, Polylang, and Weglot offer compelling alternatives. TranslatePress shines for ease, Polylang for affordability, and Weglot for automation. By considering your site’s needs and testing each plugin, you can create a multilingual WordPress site that performs well and reaches global audiences effectively.