What Is The Best Plugin For WordPress Website Localization?
WordPress is the best CMS for building websites, but it has one major drawback: It's not internationalized. That means that out-of-the-box WordPress will only speak English and other languages need to be added manually.
This article will show you how to choose the correct localization plugin for your web design to work with any language.
Localization Plugins For WordPress Website
Not all localization plugins can be used on all websites. Some of them are paid, some have limitations, and others are too complicated to use. This tutorial will introduce you to a set of localization plugins and show you what they are capable of so that you can choose the one that fits your needs perfectly.
Language Management Systems (LMS)
Language Management Systems (LMS) are plugins that allow you to create and maintain multiple languages for your website. They have a language editor in which you can add new translations of pages, menus, etc., for as many languages as you want.
These localization plugins are ideal if you need to translate your entire website's content from English into different languages. If you want to offer your website in multiple languages and don't have time, these plugins will help you save a lot of time. Some of them allow you to change the language as part of the URL, which means that when users visit example.com/en, they will see all content in English, and when they visit example.com/fr, they will see all content in French.
If you want to use this type of localization, ensure that your hosting provider allows changing pages and directories per language (if you're using WordPress on a shared host). You can also check if the plugin supports changing URLs after the site migration.
Language Editor In The Back-End
The first set of localization plugins have a language editor that will allow you to maintain translated content. The language editor is usually located somewhere in the backend of WordPress so that you can access it as soon as you log into your admin area.
These localization plugins are ideal if you need to translate a few pages and posts into different languages, e.g., a website part of an international association or business with branches in multiple countries.
They have pre-defined fields for the most common translations: page titles, URLs, blog posts and their content (usually you can also translate comments), categories, etc. Some allow you to add custom fields for translated content, which is ideal for more flexibility.
Language Editor In The Front-End
The second set of localization plugins has a language editor that will maintain translated content and posts. The language editor is usually located somewhere in the front-end of WordPress so that your users can access it.
These localization plugins are ideal if you need to translate a few pages into different languages, e.g., a hotel website with information about its rooms and services or an international association's website where each country has its page.
They have pre-defined fields for the most common translations: page titles, URLs, blog post titles and their content, comments, etc. Some allow you to add custom fields for translated content, which is ideal for more flexibility.
Widget Only
The third set of localization plugins has a widget that automatically detects the current page's language and shows your site in that language. The widget is usually located near WordPress' default widgets and will be available in every part of your website that is widget-editable.
These localization plugins are ideal if you don't need to translate any content and only want to offer your site multiple languages. Some enterprise users have different login pages for each LMS to choose the language during log-in.
Widget Only With Language Editor
The fourth set of localization plugins has a widget that automatically detects the current page's language and shows your site in that language. They also have a language editor in which you can manage all translations for as many languages as you want. These localization plugins are ideal if you don't need to translate any content, but you can offer your site in multiple languages.
These plugins have an interface that will allow you to translate page titles and URLs by selecting a language from the drop-down list for every content element. These localization plugins are ideal for adding more than one translation for each section, e.g., a hotel website with information about its rooms and services.
Language Editor In The Back-End And Front-End
The fifth set of localization plugins can be used both in the backend and front-end of WordPress so that you can manage content from two different places. They have an interface to maintain translations in the back-end and a language editor widget on the front-end. These types of localization plugins are ideal if you need to translate a lot of content and maintain translations from two different places.
They have an interface for translators in the back-end of WordPress, which will allow them to maintain translations and edit all content elements and their translations. These localization plugins are ideal if you need to translate a lot of content and build a multilingual site, e.g., an international association's website where each country has its page or a hotel website with information about its rooms and services.
Bottomline
As you can see, the localization plugins that we reviewed have a lot in common. They all allow you to translate content and posts into different languages, and they all offer an interface for translators in the back-end of WordPress.
If your translation needs are limited to a few pages or posts, widgets are probably enough. If you need more flexibility or more translatable content, widgets with a language editor will work. If you need to maintain your translations from two different places, backend, and front-end, choose a localization plugin with an interface for translators in the back-end of WordPress.
And always remember that translation is not just about translating words; it's about cultural adaptation!
