Websites using WPML

Okay, let s break down WPML, a popular WordPress multilingual plugin.

What is WPML?

WPML (WordPress Multilingual Plugin) is a commercial plugin that makes it easy to translate your WordPress website into multiple languages. It allows you to create and manage multilingual content, including posts, pages, custom post types, menus, and more. It essentially enables you to serve different versions of your website based on a visitor s language preference.

Key Features:

• Translation Management: WPML provides a user-friendly interface to manage translations.
• Multilingual Content: Translate posts, pages, custom post types, taxonomies, menus, and other website elements.
• Translation Editors: WPML offers its own translation editor, and it integrates with popular translation services and translation management systems (TMS). This lets you translate yourself, hire professional translators, or use automatic translation.
• Language Switcher: Adds a language switcher to your website, allowing visitors to choose their preferred language. This can be a menu item, a widget, or custom code.
• SEO Friendly: WPML creates SEO-friendly URLs for each language, helping your site rank in search engines for multiple languages. It also manages hreflang tags.
• Compatibility: Claims compatibility with most popular WordPress themes and plugins.
• E-commerce Support: Works well with WooCommerce for multilingual online stores.
• Automatic Translation: Integrates with automatic translation engines (like Google Translate or Microsoft Translator) to provide machine translations. This is often a starting point and then refined by human translators.
• Translation Memory: Stores your translations for reuse, which can save time and money.
• XLIFF Support: Imports and exports XLIFF files, which are a standard format for exchanging translation data.
• Multilingual SEO: Optimize titles, descriptions, and keywords in multiple languages.

Revenue:

WPML is a commercial plugin, meaning you need to purchase a license to use it. While the exact figures aren t publicly available, it s safe to say that it s a very successful plugin, given its popularity and the pricing model. Their revenue comes directly from the sale of licenses and renewals.

Pricing:

WPML uses a subscription-based pricing model. As of October 2024, here s a general outline (always check the official WPML website for the most up-to-date information):

• Multilingual Blog: This plan is designed for basic websites with blogs and content. Limited features.
• Multilingual CMS: This is the most popular plan. It offers more comprehensive features for building multilingual websites, including support for custom fields, e-commerce, and more.
• Multilingual Agency: Suited for agencies managing multiple websites for clients. Includes unlimited sites.

Important Considerations Regarding Pricing:

• Lifetime Licenses: WPML used to offer lifetime licenses, but these are no longer available for purchase. Existing lifetime license holders have specific terms.
• Renewal: After the initial subscription period (typically one year), you ll need to renew your license to continue receiving updates, support, and access to certain features.
• Free Trial: WPML typically does not offer a free trial. They may occasionally have promotions.
• Automatic Translation Costs: Using automatic translation services through WPML will incur additional costs based on the usage of the chosen translation engine (e.g., credits).

Alternatives to WPML:

There are several other WordPress multilingual plugins available, each with its own strengths and weaknesses:

• Polylang: A popular free (with a premium option) plugin that offers a solid set of features. It s generally considered easier to set up than WPML by some users. However, the free version has limitations, and the premium version doesn t have as many advanced features as WPML.
• TranslatePress: A freemium plugin with a focus on ease of use. It allows you to translate the front-end of your website directly. Offers a visual translation interface and is SEO-friendly.
• Weglot: A SaaS-based solution that automatically detects and translates your website content. It s very easy to set up, but it relies on external servers for translation, and the ongoing costs can be higher, especially for larger sites.
• MultilingualPress: A plugin that creates a separate WordPress site for each language. This can be beneficial for performance and scalability but requires more complex management.
• GTranslate: Uses Google Translate to automatically translate your website. It s quick and easy to set up, but the quality of the translation may not be as good as human translation or other more sophisticated machine translation options. The free version adds a GTranslate badge.

Customer Care Details:

• Support Forum: WPML primarily offers support through its online support forum. This is where you can ask questions and get help from WPML support staff and other users. You ll need an active license to access the support forum.
• Documentation: WPML has extensive documentation that covers all aspects of the plugin.
• Tutorials: They provide various tutorials and guides to help you get started and use the plugin effectively.
• No Phone Support: WPML generally does not offer phone support. All support is handled through the online forum.

Pros of WPML:

• Comprehensive Features: Offers a wide range of features for managing multilingual websites.
• SEO-Friendly: Designed to help your site rank well in search engines for multiple languages.
• Compatibility: Good compatibility with most WordPress themes and plugins.
• Translation Management: Provides robust tools for managing translations, including integration with translation services.
• Mature Plugin: WPML has been around for a long time and is a well-established plugin.

Cons of WPML:

• Cost: WPML is a premium plugin, so it requires a paid license.
• Complexity: Can be more complex to set up and configure than some other multilingual plugins.
• Support Reliance on Forums: Support is primarily through forums, which may not be ideal for all users.
• No Free Trial (Usually): No easy way to try before you buy.
• Can be Resource Intensive: Depending on the size and complexity of your site, WPML can add some overhead.

In Conclusion:

WPML is a powerful and feature-rich WordPress multilingual plugin that is well-suited for websites that need a comprehensive translation solution. However, it s essential to consider the cost, complexity, and support model before making a decision. Carefully evaluate your needs and compare WPML with other alternatives to determine the best option for your specific requirements. Make sure to check the official WPML website for the most up-to-date pricing, features, and support information.