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  "path": "/sserghei/wpml-vs-polylang-vs-welocale-which-wordpress-translation-plugin-is-right-for-you-49ko",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-26T13:20:34.000Z",
  "site": "https://dev.to",
  "tags": [
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    "webdev",
    "i18n",
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  "textContent": "If you've ever searched \"WordPress translation plugin,\" you've hit the same three names over and over: WPML, Polylang, and (increasingly) WeLocale. They all translate your WordPress site. The similarities end there.\n\nThis guide breaks down what each tool actually does, what it costs, and who it's best suited for.\n\n_This article was originally published on the WeLocale blog._\n\n##  The quick version\n\n| WPML | Polylang | WeLocale\n---|---|---|---\nPrice | $39-$199/yr | Free / $99/yr Pro | Free plan + paid from $19/mo\nSetup time | 2-4 hours | 1-2 hours | Under 30 min\nTranslation method | Manual + machine | Manual + machine | AI-powered automatic\nSEO (hreflang, URLs) | Full | Full | Auto on Pro+\nDeveloper needed? | Sometimes | Rarely | No\nBest for | Complex sites, agencies | Budget-conscious, manual control | Fast launch, no-code sites\n\n##  WPML\n\nWPML has been around since 2008. It's the most feature-complete WordPress multilingual plugin. You can translate everything: pages, posts, custom post types, menus, widgets, theme strings, plugin strings.\n\n**What's good:** Mature and battle-tested. Deep WooCommerce integration. Professional translation management. Works with Yoast and RankMath.\n\n**What's frustrating:** Heavy interface. Pricing stacks up ($99/yr for most sites). Historically slows down admin on large sites.\n\n**Best for:** Established sites with complex content, WooCommerce stores, agencies.\n\n##  Polylang\n\nPolylang is the most popular free WordPress multilingual plugin. The free version covers the basics well: separate URLs per language (/fr/, /de/), hreflang tags, translated slugs, and Yoast/RankMath compatibility.\n\n**What's good:** Free version is genuinely useful. Lighter than WPML. Clean interface. Active community.\n\n**What's frustrating:** Machine translation requires Pro ($99/yr). WooCommerce support is a separate add-on ($50/yr). Manual translation takes time.\n\n**Best for:** Sites wanting multilingual SEO without paying for WPML. Teams who prefer manual translation.\n\n##  WeLocale\n\nWeLocale works differently. Instead of creating duplicate pages in WordPress, it translates your site's content in real time via a small JavaScript widget. Install the plugin from WordPress.org, connect your site, and content is automatically translated — no duplicate pages, no manual entry.\n\n**What's good:** Setup under 30 minutes. No duplicate page management. Automatic translations that update when content changes. Handles menus, buttons, dynamic content. Free plugin on WordPress.org, first 3,000 words free.\n\n**What's worth knowing:** Word count limits apply per plan. SEO hreflang tags are automatic on Pro and Scale plans.\n\n**Best for:** Small businesses, bloggers, no-code site owners who want to go multilingual fast.\n\n##  How to choose\n\n**Go with WPML if** you have a large WooCommerce catalog, need translation management workflows, or you're an agency.\n\n**Go with Polylang if** you want proper multilingual URL structure for free and are comfortable translating manually.\n\n**Go with WeLocale if** you want to be live in multiple languages today without managing duplicate page trees.\n\nRead the full comparison with pricing details and SEO breakdown on the WeLocale blog.",
  "title": "WPML vs Polylang vs WeLocale: Which WordPress Translation Plugin Is Right for You?"
}