WPML vs Polylang: Choosing a Multilingual Plugin for WordPress

The short answer to WPML vs Polylang: if you run a large team, many plugins and a complex WooCommerce store, WPML's broad feature set will serve you; for a lean site on a tight budget, free Polylang is a good start. But the choice is not only between those two. TranslatePress offers visual translation, Weglot is a cloud service, and our own AYM Multilingual adds AI-assisted translation and imports from both. This article compares the plugins on content model, WooCommerce support, SEO, cost and how easy it is to switch later. In the interest of transparency: AYM Flow develops AYM Multilingual and products for international users such as the Multi Score Screen live scoring software for sports venues, so we have kept the criteria neutral and limited ourselves to general, verifiable facts about competing plugins.

How multilingual plugins work: two basic models

Multilingual plugins for WordPress use one of two main approaches. The first is the separate-content model: each language gets its own post or page and the plugin links them together. WPML and Polylang work this way. The advantage is that every language is a real WordPress post, so the content stays in the database even if the plugin is removed. The downside is that the number of posts multiplies with the number of languages, and page-builder layouts have to be maintained per language.

The second is the string-replacement model: the page stays a single piece of content, the plugin stores translations of the visible text separately and swaps them in when the page is rendered. TranslatePress uses this approach for visual front-end translation, and Weglot keeps translations on its own cloud servers. It keeps the design in one place, but where translations are stored and what happens if you stop using the plugin become important questions.

WPML: comprehensive but heavy

WPML is a commercial plugin with no free version. It uses the separate-content model and offers string translation for theme and plugin texts, translation management for teams of translators, and a separate add-on, WooCommerce Multilingual & Multicurrency, for stores. It has a long track record of compatibility with themes and plugins. That breadth also means busy settings screens, which can be more than a small site needs. Performance depends on the site's structure and the modules you enable, so measure on a staging site before deciding.

Polylang: free to start, paid add-ons to grow

Polylang's core plugin is free on WordPress.org and, like WPML, uses the separate-content model. Languages can be set up as directories, subdomains or separate domains. Paid Polylang Pro adds conveniences such as translated slugs and content duplication, and WooCommerce stores need the separate, paid Polylang for WooCommerce add-on. Its clean interface makes it a common choice for small and mid-sized sites. You can start free and move to the paid add-ons as needs grow; just remember to include the WooCommerce add-on when you work out the total cost.

TranslatePress and Weglot: different approaches

TranslatePress lets you translate by clicking on text while browsing your site's front end, so content and page-builder design stay in one place. It has free and paid versions and can integrate with automatic translation services. Weglot is one of the fastest to set up: translations live in Weglot's cloud service and pricing is usually a subscription based on word count and number of languages. With a cloud model, always check the terms for what happens to your translations when the subscription ends.

6 criteria for making the decision

1. Content model: will you publish different content per language, or is a translation of the same page enough? If content differs, the separate-content model is more flexible.
2. WooCommerce: if you need product, variation, email and currency translation, work out which add-on the plugin needs and what it costs. See our guide to translating WooCommerce products.
3. SEO foundations: each language needs its own URL, reciprocal hreflang tags and translated titles and descriptions. Our hreflang guide covers the basics.
4. Page-builder support: if you use Elementor, Divi, WPBakery or the block editor, test that layouts survive translation in every language.
5. Translation workflow: human translators, AI or both? Glossary and bulk translation support save a lot of time on large sites.
6. Exit strategy: if you ever change plugin, where do the translations stay, and can they be imported elsewhere?

Where AYM Multilingual fits

What to watch when switching plugins

Moving an existing multilingual site to another plugin needs more care than starting fresh. Take a full backup and run the switch on a staging copy, not the live site. Check whether the URL structure changes in any language, and plan a 301 redirect from every old address to its new one. Afterwards, confirm in the page source of a few pages per language that hreflang tags are reciprocal and that menus and the language switcher point to the right language. Finally, resubmit the sitemap in Search Console and watch the indexing reports closely for the first few weeks.

Where AYM Multilingual fits

We built our own plugin around these criteria. The free Lite plan covers manual translation for up to two languages, header and footer mapping, RTL support and browser-language redirects. Essential adds unlimited languages, AI translation with your own OpenAI, Claude or DeepL key, bulk translation and a glossary, plus Elementor, WPBakery, Divi and Gutenberg support; the WPML and Polylang importer is part of this plan. Pro covers WooCommerce products and variations, interface strings and automatic price conversion with live rates. You can see every plan on our pricing page and the features on the AYM Multilingual product page.

Which one for which site?

• A small business site on a tight budget: free Polylang or AYM Multilingual Lite may be enough.
• A large site with many plugins and a translation team: WPML's translation management tools are an advantage.
• A site where keeping the design in one place matters: consider TranslatePress or a similar string-replacement tool.
• Fast setup with no technical team: a cloud service such as Weglot is quick; work out the long-term subscription cost.
• Fast AI translation plus WooCommerce: AYM Multilingual Pro offers translation with your own API key and price conversion at live rates.

Whichever plugin you choose, translate a few real pages on a staging site and check speed and SEO output before deciding. If you want professional help moving an existing site or adding a language, see our multilingual WordPress service.

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