10 Best WordPress Translation Plugins in 2025

2. WPML (WordPress Multilingual)

WPML has been the established WordPress translation solution since 2007, offering comprehensive plugin compatibility and granular control over translations. It stores translations in your WordPress database, giving you full data ownership. However, this database approach can impact site performance as translation tables grow, particularly on large-scale sites.

Key Features

• Advanced translation editor: Professional-grade editor with spell checks, glossary integration, and translation memory—ideal for teams with dedicated translators
• Extensive compatibility: Deep integrations with thousands of WordPress plugins and themes—tested compatibility database gives confidence for complex sites
• Multiple translation methods: Choose manual translation, automatic via WPML AI/Google/DeepL, or professional translation services
• Credit-based system: Pay per word with 2,000 free words monthly—can be cost-effective for low-volume sites

Considerations

Setup requires 30-60 minutes and technical knowledge. Annual licensing means yearly renewal costs (no monthly option). Database storage can slow larger sites. Full WooCommerce support requires higher-tier plans. Costs can add up: CN¥2,436.00/year for Multilingual CMS with 2 million credits (roughly 2M words).

3. Polylang

Polylang offers a lean, WordPress-native approach to translation with a generous free version. It creates separate posts for each language, keeping the WordPress structure familiar but potentially creating a crowded backend as content scales. Best suited for smaller sites or those with infrequent updates where manual translation workflows are acceptable.

Key Features

• Free core plugin: Full translation functionality at no cost—only pay for Pro features like automatic translation and advanced sync
• Flexible URL architecture: Choose subdirectories, subdomains, or separate domains per language
• DeepL integration (Pro): Built-in machine translation for faster initial drafts
• WooCommerce compatibility: Sync product attributes and inventory across languages

Considerations

Automatic translation requires Pro version (CN¥817.00). Creates duplicate posts for each language which can clutter admin. More manual work required compared to automated solutions. Setup and maintenance require ongoing attention.

Fair comparison note: Polylang Free can work well for small sites with manual translation, resulting in true zero cost. The Pro version at CN¥817.00/year is considerably cheaper than most alternatives. The "hidden translation costs" mentioned in our comparison table apply if you outsource translation work, but many users successfully translate content themselves at no additional cost.

4. TranslatePress

TranslatePress distinguishes itself with live front-end editing that lets you see exactly how translations look in real-time. This visual approach makes it easier to catch design issues and is particularly appealing for non-technical users. However, like WPML, it stores translations in your database which can impact performance on larger sites.

Key Features

• Live visual preview: Translate directly on your site's frontend with instant visual feedback
• Automatic translation: Integration with Google Translate and DeepL for initial machine translation
• Dynamic string support: Captures content that other plugins might miss
• Media translation: Localize images and alt text per language

Considerations

Database storage grows with content. Free version limited to 1 language. Machine translation limited to 500,000 characters on free plan. Performance can degrade on high-traffic sites.

5. Weglot

Weglot offers the fastest setup experience with impressive SEO features and high-quality automatic translation. However, its cloud-based subscription model means perpetual costs that increase with your word count and traffic. Critical limitation: You never own your translations—they're hosted on Weglot's servers. Cancel your subscription and you lose everything. For content-heavy sites like news blogs, the costs compound monthly while you're essentially renting the same translations over and over.

Key Features

• 5-minute setup: Fastest initial setup among all translation plugins
• Automatic content detection: Translates everything instantly including dynamic content
• Strong SEO toolkit: Automatic hreflang tags, translated metadata, and clean URLs
• Visual editor: Edit translations in context with live preview

The Ownership Problem

Why cloud storage costs you: Weglot stores translations on their servers, not in your WordPress database. This means:

• Every pageview may trigger an API call or cache lookup to Weglot's servers (slower than database)
• You're paying monthly to access translations you've already paid to create
• Cancel subscription = lose all translations immediately
• Can't export and reuse translations elsewhere
• Vendor lock-in: switching providers means re-translating everything from scratch

Cost Reality for Content Sites

Weglot's pricing scales dramatically with usage. The CN¥124.00/month Starter plan only includes 10,000 words (roughly 25-30 pages). A news blog publishing 20 articles/day needs Business plan at CN¥1,643.00/month for 200,000 words. That's CN¥19,715.00/year to rent access to your translations. After 3 years: CN¥59,146.00 spent, zero ownership. Compare to Weglite + ChatGPT: CN¥4,582.00 for 3 years with full ownership of all translations in your database.

6. ConveyThis

ConveyThis is essentially a Weglot alternative with similar cloud-based architecture and pricing model. It offers marginally better free-tier limits (2,500 vs 2,000 words) but faces the same fundamental issue: perpetual subscription costs and no translation ownership.

Key Features

• Multiple AI engines: DeepL, Google, and Microsoft translation support
• Visual editing: Front-end translation editor with live preview
• SEO features: Hreflang tags, XML sitemaps, language redirects

Cost Reality

Similar to Weglot's pricing trap. CN¥124.00/month gets you only 10,000 words. Most sites need CN¥652.00/month (100K words) or more. Annual costs of CN¥7,827.00+ with no end in sight. Cancel and lose everything.

7. GTranslate

GTranslate uses Google Translate's neural machine translation for unlimited basic translations on the free plan. While translation quality is adequate for informal content, it lacks the editing capabilities, SEO features, and professional options of premium solutions.

Key Features

• Unlimited free translations: Basic machine translation with no word limits
• Simple setup: Add language selector and start translating immediately
• 100+ languages: Wide language support for global reach

Considerations

Free version has limited SEO value. Translation quality is basic. Paid plans (CN¥71.00-CN¥568.00/month) needed for SEO features, but still lacks advanced editing and quality control.

8. Linguise

Linguise emphasizes AI-powered translation with front-end editing capabilities and decent SEO features. However, it's another cloud-based subscription service with ongoing costs and no translation ownership.

Key Features

• Advanced AI translation: Latest models for quality output
• Front-end editor: Edit directly on live preview
• Global rules: Apply changes across all languages simultaneously
• Performance focus: CDN caching for fast delivery

Considerations

No free tier. Minimum CN¥107.00/month for 20,000 words. Most sites need CN¥561.00/month (200K words) or higher. Like Weglot, perpetual costs add up quickly.

9. Loco Translate

Loco Translate targets developers who need to translate WordPress themes and plugins at the code level. It provides an in-browser PO file editor for precise control over translation strings, but requires technical knowledge and manual work.

Key Features

• PO/MO file editor: Direct WordPress translation file editing
• AI suggestions: Multiple translation engine integration
• Local storage: Complete data ownership

Considerations

Designed for developers, not user-friendly for non-technical users. Primarily for theme/plugin localization, not full site translation. Requires significant manual work.

10. Lokalise

Lokalise is a comprehensive translation management platform designed for large development teams requiring Git integration, API access, and advanced collaboration. The complexity and premium pricing (CN¥853.00+/month) make it suitable only for enterprise-level applications with dedicated localization teams.

Key Features

• Developer automation: Git syncing, REST API, webhooks
• Translation memory: Reuse translations for consistency
• Enterprise tools: Style guides, glossaries, QA automation

Considerations

Overkill for most WordPress sites. Requires WPML or Polylang integration. Complex setup (45-90 minutes). High monthly costs make it viable only for large organizations.

Frequently Asked Questions

When Weglite Might Not Be Your Best Choice

While we believe Weglite + ChatGPT offers excellent value for many use cases, we recognize it's not the perfect solution for everyone. Here are scenarios where other plugins might serve you better:

Consider WPML if:

• You have complex plugin/theme requirements: WPML has 18+ years of compatibility testing with thousands of plugins and themes. If you rely heavily on specific premium plugins, WPML's extensive compatibility database provides more certainty.
• You need professional translation workflows: WPML's translation management system with built-in translator roles, translation memory, and agency integration is more mature for teams with dedicated translators.
• Manual control is preferred: Some users prefer WPML's granular control over every translation string and don't want any automatic translation.

Consider Polylang if:

• Your budget is truly zero: Polylang Free with manual translation offers full functionality at no cost. If you're willing to translate content yourself and don't need automation, it's genuinely free.
• You prefer WordPress-native structure: Polylang uses standard WordPress posts/pages for translations, which some developers find more intuitive.

Consider Weglot/ConveyThis if:

• You need instant setup with zero technical knowledge: Cloud services offer truly 5-minute setup with no configuration required. For non-technical users, this simplicity may justify the ongoing cost.
• You want everything managed for you: If you prefer not to think about caching, APIs, or technical optimization, cloud services handle everything automatically.

Consider TranslatePress if:

• Visual editing is crucial: TranslatePress's live front-end editor is the best in class for seeing exactly how translations appear while editing.
• You have a small, static site: For sites under 100 pages that rarely update, TranslatePress Premium at CN¥817.00/year offers excellent value.

Weglite's learning curve:

Weglite requires initial setup and understanding of API configuration (ChatGPT or other providers), caching strategies, and budget management. Users comfortable with WordPress but new to API-based tools may need 30-60 minutes to fully configure and understand the system. If you want "install and forget," cloud solutions are simpler. However, the ChatGPT integration makes setup easier than ever with clear documentation and minimal cost risk.