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Polylang

By Chouby

Multilingual & Accessibility / Translation & Multilingual Management

Polylang Review - In-Depth Analysis

Polylang allows you to create a multilingual WordPress site easily. Define languages for posts and taxonomy terms while maintaining site performance.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

7.4/10

User Rating

4.7/5 (based on 2979+ reviews)

Active Installations

800,000+

Update Frequency

Outstanding It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

4 / 10 (Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

Polylang is a powerful plugin that integrates seamlessly with WordPress, enabling you to create a multilingual site effortlessly. You can add as many languages as you need, and WordPress will automatically download the necessary language packs.

This plugin supports translating posts, pages, media, categories, and custom post types. You can set the language using the URL or by utilizing sub-domains for each language. Polylang also provides a customizable language switcher and is compatible with popular plugins like Yoast SEO.

For enhanced functionality, Polylang Pro offers features like improved integration with the Block Editor, machine translation, and premium support. Additionally, Polylang for WooCommerce allows you to translate WooCommerce pages and products directly within the WooCommerce interface.

Comparing to Alternatives

Polylang is a popular multilingual plugin for WordPress, offering both free and premium features. When compared to alternatives like WPGlobus, Bogo, TranslatePress, Weglot, and GTranslate, it stands out for its integration and user control.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Easy to set up and configure for basic multilingual sites
Seamless integration with WordPress editor and content types
Lightweight and does not significantly slow down the website
Supports manual translations with good language switcher options
Offers both free and pro versions with extended features

Weaknesses

Free version lacks full support for Full Site Editing (FSE) themes
Pro version can be complex to configure, especially with DeepL integration
Support responsiveness and refund policies have been criticized
Compatibility issues with some third-party page builders

User Sentiment Analysis

User feedback on Polylang reveals a mix of satisfaction with ease of use and frustration with support and advanced features.

Positive highlights

"Easy to use and beautiful plugin." – Aprowler
"Works like a charm with Elementor!" – Lucas
"Very easy to set up and configure." – edutechhealth
"Lightweight and does not slow down the website." – edutechhealth
"Best plugin for multilingual websites, easy and straightforward." – exones

Common complaints

Pro version is complex and unreliable under load, especially DeepL integration – klavierart
Lack of refunds and poor support experience – stuartlunn, chrisrisse5
Free version lacks compatibility with Full Site Editing themes – Jer Clarke
Incompatibility with some page builders like Breakdance – skayw

Weaknesses

Support often unresponsive or policy-driven rather than solution-oriented
Pro features require additional configuration and external services
Free version's limitations can hinder testing on modern themes
Refund policies are strict and not customer-friendly

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Polylang is best suited for users who want a lightweight, manual multilingual solution integrated closely with WordPress core features, especially those comfortable with basic setup and manual translation management.

Not ideal for

It is not ideal for users who require seamless automatic translation workflows, rely heavily on Full Site Editing themes without paid add-ons, or expect responsive support and flexible refund policies.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version includes essential multilingual features such as manual translation management, language switcher widgets, and compatibility with standard WordPress content types, providing good value for basic multilingual sites.

Pro version (99 - 139 EUR / year)

The Pro version offers advanced features like DeepL automatic translation integration, support for Full Site Editing themes, menu and taxonomy translation, and enhanced compatibility with third-party page builders.

Final Verdict

Polylang is a solid choice for WordPress users seeking a manual multilingual plugin with a strong free offering and optional premium features. It excels in ease of use for basic multilingual sites and integrates well with WordPress core.

However, the Pro version's complexity, limited support responsiveness, and compatibility issues with modern themes and builders may pose challenges. Users should carefully consider their needs and test compatibility before purchasing the premium version.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free Polylang plugin.

Multilingual

Translation

Localization

Screenshots

FAQ

First time users should read Polylang – Getting started, which explains the basics and includes a lot of screenshots.
Read the documentation. It includes a FAQ and the documentation for developers.
Search the community support forum. You will probably find your answers here.
Read the sticky posts in the community support forum.
If you still have a problem, open a new thread in the community support forum.
Polylang Pro and Polylang for WooCommerce users have access to our premium support through helpdesk.