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.
This guide breaks down what each tool actually does, what it costs, and who it's best suited for.
This article was originally published on the WeLocale blog.
The quick version
| WPML | Polylang | WeLocale | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $39-$199/yr | Free / $99/yr Pro | Free plan + paid from $19/mo |
| Setup time | 2-4 hours | 1-2 hours | Under 30 min |
| Translation method | Manual + machine | Manual + machine | AI-powered automatic |
| SEO (hreflang, URLs) | Full | Full | Auto on Pro+ |
| Developer needed? | Sometimes | Rarely | No |
| Best for | Complex sites, agencies | Budget-conscious, manual control | Fast launch, no-code sites |
WPML
WPML 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.
What's good: Mature and battle-tested. Deep WooCommerce integration. Professional translation management. Works with Yoast and RankMath.
What's frustrating: Heavy interface. Pricing stacks up ($99/yr for most sites). Historically slows down admin on large sites.
Best for: Established sites with complex content, WooCommerce stores, agencies.
Polylang
Polylang 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.
What's good: Free version is genuinely useful. Lighter than WPML. Clean interface. Active community.
What's frustrating: Machine translation requires Pro ($99/yr). WooCommerce support is a separate add-on ($50/yr). Manual translation takes time.
Best for: Sites wanting multilingual SEO without paying for WPML. Teams who prefer manual translation.
WeLocale
WeLocale 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.
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.
What's worth knowing: Word count limits apply per plan. SEO hreflang tags are automatic on Pro and Scale plans.
Best for: Small businesses, bloggers, no-code site owners who want to go multilingual fast.
How to choose
Go with WPML if you have a large WooCommerce catalog, need translation management workflows, or you're an agency.
Go with Polylang if you want proper multilingual URL structure for free and are comfortable translating manually.
Go with WeLocale if you want to be live in multiple languages today without managing duplicate page trees.
Read the full comparison with pricing details and SEO breakdown on the WeLocale blog.