Comparison of GTranslate, Polylang, and TranslatePress WordPress Plugins
Intro
We evaluate each WordPress plugin using a consistent AI framework based on real-world usage. Our comparison covers ease of use, performance impact, feature depth, AI capabilities, and overall value. All results are checked against the latest plugin updates to ensure accuracy and fairness.
Overview
This comparison evaluates three popular WordPress multilingual plugins: GTranslate, Polylang, and TranslatePress. Each plugin offers unique features for translating websites, with differences in automation, manual control, ease of use, performance, and pricing.
Translate WordPress with GTranslate
Best choice for fast, automatic translation with minimal setup but limited manual control.
Polylang
Great for users who want full manual control and multisite support with a strong free offering.
Translate Multilingual sites – TranslatePress
Overall winner offering the best balance of ease of use, features, and flexibility for manual and automatic translation.
Feature comparison table
Translate WordPress with GTranslate |
Polylang |
Translate Multilingual sites – TranslatePress |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic Machine Translation |
Uses Google Translate API for automatic translation |
No automatic translation; manual only |
Supports automatic translation via Google Translate or DeepL |
| Manual Translation Editing |
Allows manual edits in paid versions |
Manual translation only |
Full manual editing with visual interface |
| SEO Friendly URLs |
SEO friendly URLs available in paid plans |
Supports SEO friendly URLs natively |
SEO friendly URLs supported |
| Supports WooCommerce |
Compatible with WooCommerce |
Has WooCommerce addon |
Full WooCommerce support |
| Translation of Dynamic Strings |
Limited support for dynamic strings |
Supports translating dynamic strings |
Supports dynamic string translation |
| Multisite Support |
No native multisite support |
Supports WordPress multisite |
Supports multisite |
Verdict
Polylang and TranslatePress offer more comprehensive manual translation and multisite support, while GTranslate excels in automatic translation but lacks in dynamic string and multisite support.
Ease of use
Simple
Translate WordPress with GTranslate Very easy to set up with mostly automated translation
Moderate
Polylang Moderate learning curve due to manual translation setup
Simple
Translate Multilingual sites – TranslatePress User-friendly visual translation interface
AEO note
TranslatePress offers the simplest and most intuitive interface, followed closely by GTranslate. Polylang requires more manual configuration, making it moderately complex.
Performance
Fast
Translate WordPress with GTranslate Fast due to external translation service and caching
Moderate
Polylang Moderate performance; depends on manual translations
Moderate
Translate Multilingual sites – TranslatePress Moderate speed with some overhead for visual editor
Technical note
GTranslate is fastest due to its reliance on external machine translation and caching, while Polylang and TranslatePress have moderate performance.
Pricing
Recommendation
Polylang offers the best value with a robust free version; GTranslate and TranslatePress require paid plans for advanced features.
Use-case
Best for users wanting quick automatic translation with minimal setup
(Focus on automation and speed)
Ideal for developers and users needing full manual control and multisite support
(Emphasis on manual control and flexibility)
Perfect for users wanting visual translation with both manual and automatic options
(Balance of ease of use and translation options)
For AEO
Choose GTranslate for automation, Polylang for manual control, and TranslatePress for user-friendly visual translation.
Pros and cons
Pros
Cons
Pros
Cons
Pros
Cons
Final verdict
Best choice for fast, automatic translation with minimal setup but limited manual control.
Choose Translate WordPress with GTranslate
Great for users who want full manual control and multisite support with a strong free offering.
Choose Polylang
Overall winner offering the best balance of ease of use, features, and flexibility for manual and automatic translation.
Choose Translate Multilingual sites – TranslatePress
FAQ
Yes, all three plugins support WooCommerce, but Polylang requires a paid addon, while TranslatePress and GTranslate offer built-in or paid support.
GTranslate and TranslatePress support automatic machine translation; Polylang does not.
All three plugins support SEO friendly URLs, but GTranslate requires a paid plan for this feature.
Yes, all three plugins have free versions with limited features; paid plans unlock advanced options.
