Polylang

Polylang is a WordPress plugin for publishing and maintaining multilingual websites. It is best for WordPress owners, agencies and editorial teams that need control over translated URLs, content types and SEO. The free edition establishes the foundation; Pro is the practical choice when translation workflows and professional support matter.

Overview

Polylang keeps multilingual publishing inside WordPress. It can localize pages, posts, media, categories, tags, custom post types, menus and widgets, so it suits content-rich sites rather than only small collections of translated landing pages. The plugin supports 132 languages and uses a hybrid translation approach.

The maker says Polylang relies on WordPress taxonomies and adds no extra database tables. That structure keeps multilingual data in WordPress’s established content model. Its plugins collect no other personal data, while a pll_language cookie remembers a visitor’s language preference.

Key features

Polylang Pro supports manual translation and DeepL machine translation. DeepL requires your own DeepL API key, and its integration is not currently compatible with Elementor and some other builders. There is no one-click translate-everything function, so teams should expect an editorial process with deliberate review rather than push-button site conversion. XLIFF import and export help organizations exchange translation projects with external workflows.

Language URLs can use subdirectories, subdomains or separate domains. Pro also provides language switchers, browser-language detection, translated URL slugs, language-specific meta tags, hreflang and Open Graph tags. Those controls make it a strong fit for sites treating international search visibility and navigation as first-class requirements.

Polylang Pro integrates with the WordPress block editor, Site Editor and REST API. Listed integrations include WooCommerce, Yoast SEO, Advanced Custom Fields Pro, Custom Post Type UI, WooCommerce Subscriptions, The Events Calendar, SEOPress and WP Rocket. A multilingual WooCommerce store additionally requires Polylang or Polylang Pro together with the Polylang for WooCommerce add-on.

Pricing

The Polylang plan costs free. It is the free WordPress plugin with community support on WordPress.org, making it suitable for smaller sites that can manage support publicly and do not need Pro’s translation and SEO additions.

Polylang Pro — 1 site costs €99 a year, ex VAT. It includes one site, one year of updates and premium support, with a 50% renewal discount. The 3 sites plan is €198 a year, the 5 sites plan is €297 a year, and the 25 sites plan is €495 a year; each is billed yearly, ex VAT, and includes one year of updates and professional support plus the 50% renewal discount. Choose by site count rather than paying for unused seats.

Polylang for WooCommerce starts at €99 a year, ex VAT, with license options for several sites, one year of updates and premium support, and a 50% renewal discount. The Polylang Business Pack is listed from €139 a year (the page also displays 198€), ex VAT, with multi-site license options and the same update, support and renewal terms. Paid keys last one year; after expiry, the plugin continues operating, but automatic updates and helpdesk support stop.

Licensed users receive technical support in English and French Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM CET. Support covers installation, plugin use and bug fixes, not third-party conflicts or bespoke code.

Platforms

Polylang is available as a self-hosted WordPress plugin with web and REST API support. Its WordPress, WooCommerce and listed SEO and content-management integrations make it most suitable for sites already committed to that ecosystem.

Who it's for

Choose Polylang for a WordPress publication, business site or agency portfolio that needs flexible language domains, translated slugs and localized SEO metadata. Pro suits teams combining human translation with DeepL assistance, XLIFF exchange or premium support. The free edition fits projects comfortable with community support. It is a weaker match for Elementor-centered workflows, fully automatic translation expectations or WooCommerce shops unwilling to add the separate commerce extension.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Broad WordPress coverage: localization extends to media, taxonomies, custom post types, menus and widgets.
• URL and SEO control: subdirectories, subdomains and separate domains combine with hreflang, Open Graph and language-specific metadata.
• Editorial flexibility: manual translation, DeepL with your own key and XLIFF exchange support mixed workflows.
• Conservative architecture: WordPress taxonomies are used without additional database tables.

Cons

• No all-at-once translation: large sites must manage translation work deliberately.
• Builder limitation: DeepL is not currently compatible with Elementor and some builders.
• Commerce add-on cost: multilingual WooCommerce requires Polylang for WooCommerce in addition to the main plugin.
• Support expires with the license: updates and helpdesk access end after the paid year, even though the plugin keeps running.

Alternatives

Crowdin is a better fit when you need a broader translation platform spanning Android, iOS, desktop systems and web, with a free plan and trial.

Proxylang suits readers seeking a hosted multilingual option with a free 2,000-word, one-language test plan and paid plans from $7 per month.

Clonable is worth considering for cloned multilingual sites, with a free tier for one clone and up to 20 translated pages.

ConveyThis offers a hosted API/web approach, including a free one-language, 5,000-word plan with 2,500 monthly translation requests.

GTranslate is aimed at widget-based machine translation, with a free selector, all languages and unlimited words and pageviews.

Linguana provides a web-based alternative with a free one-language, one-website tier and 2,000 AI credits.

TextUnited fits teams wanting a translation service with a free allowance of 15,000 words per month, 15 PDF pages and one user.

Webflow CMS is an alternative for teams building multilingual experiences in Webflow rather than WordPress.

Verdict

Polylang is a strong choice for WordPress owners who want granular control over multilingual content, URL architecture and SEO. Choose Pro when managed translation workflows, DeepL assistance, integrations or premium support justify the annual license. Look elsewhere if you need one-click translation, dependable DeepL support in visual builders, or a multilingual WooCommerce setup without an additional add-on.