12 Dec Is Polylang better than WPMl?

When it comes to building multilingual WordPress websites, two popular plugins come to the forefront: Polylang and WPML. Both offer robust solutions for creating multilingual sites, but each has its strengths and weaknesses.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at both plugins to help you determine which one might be the better choice for your needs.

What is Polylang?

Polylang is a free WordPress plugin that allows you to create a multilingual website. It gives you the ability to translate posts, pages, categories, tags, and custom post types. The plugin comes with an intuitive interface for managing translations, and it supports most themes and plugins. Polylang also integrates with third-party translation services like Google Translate or DeepL, and it allows you to manually add translations or set them up automatically.

Polylang offers a paid version, Polylang Pro, which provides advanced features, including support for translating widgets, custom post types, and other features that are useful for professional websites.

What is WPML?

WPML (WordPress Multilingual Plugin) is a premium plugin that has been a staple for multilingual WordPress websites for years. It allows users to translate all aspects of their WordPress site, including posts, pages, custom post types, taxonomy, and menus. WPML also supports the translation of theme and plugin strings and works with various translation services.

While WPML is a paid plugin, its range of features has made it a popular choice for professional websites. WPML also integrates with many translation agencies, allowing you to outsource your translations if necessary.

Key Features: Polylang vs. WPML

Both Polylang and WPML offer a rich set of features, but the exact features you’ll need depend on the nature of your website and the specific functionality you’re after.

1. User-Friendliness

• Polylang: Polylang’s interface is simple and straightforward, especially for users who are familiar with WordPress. It integrates seamlessly with the default WordPress editor, so there’s no steep learning curve. Adding translations is easy, and the plugin’s language switcher widget allows for simple management of multiple languages.
• WPML: WPML also has a user-friendly interface, though some users find it more complex due to the variety of settings and options it offers. WPML’s translation management system can be more involved, especially when managing large websites or working with translation agencies. However, WPML provides extensive documentation and support to guide users through the process.

2. Translation Management

• Polylang: Polylang allows you to manually translate content and gives you the flexibility to manage your translations at your own pace. The free version of Polylang supports one translation per piece of content, while the pro version includes features for managing multiple translations for the same content.
• WPML: WPML has a more comprehensive translation management system. It supports professional translation services, automatic translation, and manual translation. WPML also features the Translation Management Dashboard, which makes it easier to handle translations for larger websites or teams.

3. SEO Compatibility

• Polylang: Polylang is compatible with major SEO plugins like Yoast SEO and RankMath. It automatically handles hreflang tags, which are important for SEO in multilingual sites. With Polylang, you can set the language for each page and post, making it easy for search engines to understand your multilingual content.
• WPML: WPML also handles SEO well, and it integrates with most popular SEO plugins. WPML adds hreflang tags automatically, ensuring that search engines correctly index each language version of your site. WPML’s SEO functionality is highly refined, especially in its premium version, where users can fine-tune SEO settings for each language.

4. Content Synchronization

• Polylang: Polylang synchronizes some content automatically, such as categories and tags, across languages. However, it does not automatically synchronize all post content, meaning you’ll need to manually update each translation.
• WPML: WPML offers better content synchronization. You can synchronize custom fields, menus, and other content types between languages. It also provides a way to automatically synchronize changes made to one language version of a page or post to others, which can save a lot of time.

5. Third-Party Integrations

• Polylang: Polylang supports integration with third-party plugins, especially those that deal with custom post types, taxonomies, and WooCommerce. However, some advanced integrations, such as translation of complex fields, are limited to the Pro version.
• WPML: WPML excels in integrations, with compatibility for a wide range of third-party plugins, including WooCommerce, advanced custom fields (ACF), and more. WPML’s premium nature allows it to work with more plugins out-of-the-box, including integrations with external translation services.

6. Translation Services

• Polylang: Polylang allows you to integrate with machine translation services like Google Translate and DeepL for automatic translations. However, these integrations are more limited compared to WPML.
• WPML: WPML integrates directly with multiple translation services, allowing users to request and receive translations from professional agencies or automatic translation tools. The plugin is designed to work with both manual and professional translation methods, which makes it ideal for larger or more complex websites.

7. Pricing

• Polylang: Polylang is free for most users, with a Pro version available for $99 per year. The free version of Polylang is very functional for simple multilingual sites, but larger sites or users with advanced needs will likely need to upgrade.
• WPML: WPML is a premium-only plugin, with pricing starting at $39 per year for the basic version. However, to access all features, including advanced translation management and support for larger websites, the price increases. WPML’s pricing might be a drawback for smaller websites or users with budget constraints.

Pros and Cons of Polylang and WPML

Polylang Pros:

• Free version available.
• Easy to use with an intuitive interface.
• Supports automatic translation via Google Translate or DeepL.
• Integrates well with popular SEO plugins.
• Ideal for smaller websites with limited multilingual needs.

Polylang Cons:

• Limited features in the free version.
• Lack of advanced translation management features.
• Some integrations (like complex custom post types) are restricted to the Pro version.

WPML Pros:

• Highly comprehensive translation management system.
• Excellent integration with third-party plugins and translation services.
• Advanced SEO and content synchronization features.
• Ideal for large websites and multilingual businesses.

WPML Cons:

• Expensive, especially for the full feature set.
• Steeper learning curve for beginners.
• Some users report performance issues on very large sites.

Which One is Better for You?

• Choose Polylang if:
  • You have a small to medium-sized website.
  • You’re looking for a free or low-cost solution.
  • You don’t need complex translation management features.
  • You’re okay with manually adding translations or using machine translation.
• Choose WPML if:
  • You have a larger website or need to manage multiple translations.
  • You’re working with a team or translation service.
  • You need advanced translation features and synchronization.
  • You have the budget for a premium plugin with robust support.

Conclusion

Both Polylang and WPML are excellent choices for building multilingual WordPress sites, but they cater to different needs. Polylang is ideal for smaller websites or users on a budget, while WPML is better suited for larger websites or businesses that require advanced features and professional-grade translation management.

Ultimately, your choice will depend on the size of your website, your budget, and the complexity of the multilingual features you need.