Multilingual WordPress for Agencies: WPML, Polylang, Weglot Compared
A client asks for a site in three languages. Your agency says yes — then discovers that multilingual WordPress is not just about translating content. It affects everything from SEO architecture to page speed to editor workflow. Here is a technical comparison of the three main approaches, written for agencies that need to make the right call the first time.
The Three Approaches at a Glance
| Feature | WPML | Polylang Pro | Weglot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Self-hosted plugin | Self-hosted plugin | SaaS translation proxy |
| Cost (per site/year) | €39 – €199 | €99 (Pro) | Free – €199/month |
| Setup Time | 30–60 min | 15–30 min | 5–10 min |
| Performance Impact | Moderate | Light | Minimal (CDN) |
| WooCommerce Support | Excellent | Good (Pro) | Good |
| Translation Storage | Your database | Your database | Third-party servers |
WPML: The Enterprise Standard
WPML has been the default multilingual plugin for over a decade. It supports 65+ languages, professional translation workflows, and deep WooCommerce integration including multi-currency. If your client has a translator reviewing content before publication, WPML's translation management dashboard is the most mature option.
Strengths
- Translation management with reviewer roles
- WooCommerce multicurrency built in
- Professional translation service integration
- Auto-translation credits included in higher tiers
Watch Out For
- • Database bloat — adds tables for each language
- • Can add 100KB+ to autoloaded data
- • Theme compatibility varies — test before committing
- • Annual subscription required for updates
Polylang Pro: The Lightweight Alternative
Polylang Pro takes a simpler approach. Each language gets its own post, page, category and tag — no complex translation management dashboard. It is lighter on the database and works well for sites with 2-3 languages managed by a single editor. For editorial WordPress projects with straightforward translation needs, Polylang is often the right default.
Strengths
- Minimal performance impact
- Clean data structure — uses native WP tables
- Simple admin interface, lower learning curve
- Good builder compatibility (Elementor, Bricks)
Watch Out For
- • No built-in translation management workflow
- • WooCommerce requires paid add-on
- • No auto-translation without third-party integration
- • Media translations are manual
Weglot: The Quick SaaS Solution
Weglot takes a fundamentally different approach — it is a SaaS service that intercepts your content, translates it through its servers and serves translated pages from subdirectories. Setup takes 5-10 minutes and the visual editor makes it easy for non-technical editors to tweak translations. But the trade-offs are significant for agency work: ongoing costs scale with word count and page views, translations live on third-party servers, and you add latency through the proxy layer.
Decision Matrix: Which One for Your Project?
| Project Type | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Simple 2-3 language brochure site | Polylang Pro | Lightweight, no SaaS costs, clean data structure. |
| WooCommerce store (multi-currency) | WPML | Best WooCommerce support, multi-currency built in. |
| Small site, quick launch, low budget | Weglot | Fastest setup, visual editor for non-technical teams. |
| Enterprise with translation team | WPML | Mature translation management, reviewer workflows. |
| Performance-critical, multilingual SEO | Polylang Pro | Minimal overhead, clean hreflang implementation. |
Multilingual SEO: What Agencies Get Wrong
Multilingual SEO is where most agency projects unravel. The most common issues I see:
- Missing hreflang tags: Without proper hreflang implementation, Google may serve the wrong language version to users — or treat translations as duplicate content. All three plugins handle this, but only if configured correctly.
- URL structure mistakes: Subdirectories (/fr/, /de/) are the standard recommendation. Subdomains (fr.example.com) dilute domain authority. Avoid query parameters (?lang=fr) entirely — they cause indexing problems.
- No translated metadata: Each language version needs its own title tags and meta descriptions. If you let a plugin auto-generate translations without human review, you risk poor-quality metadata in search results.
- Separate sitemaps per language: Each language version should have its own sitemap or be clearly segmented within the main sitemap with proper hreflang annotations.
Need a Multilingual WordPress Build?
I handle multilingual WordPress projects for UK agencies — WPML, Polylang and custom setups. Clean implementation, proper SEO architecture, and a build your editors can actually manage post-launch. White-label, NDA-friendly.