Can automatic website translation cost you thousands of dollars annually? The reality lies in the details, and in this article, we’ll analyze the pricing models of three popular WordPress translation plugins to uncover the hidden costs.
Why Multilingual Websites Matter
In today’s globalized digital world, offering your WordPress website in multiple languages is more than a convenience—it’s becoming essential. While English dominates online, most consumers prefer to shop in their native language, even if they understand English.
A multilingual website can unlock new markets, build trust with international audiences, and enhance SEO. However, the journey to a multilingual site often involves unexpected challenges and costs. Let’s explore these potential pitfalls.
Website Translation: Free vs. Paid Options
Translation pricing can be surprisingly complex. Here are the main options available:
- Manual Translation
Hire a professional translator for high-quality but costly results, or do it yourself if you’re multilingual. - Automatic Translation Tools
Use services like Google Translate or DeepL for cost-effective, sometimes free, translations. - AI-Powered Plugins
Many translation companies offer AI solutions with more complex pricing structures. We’ll focus on three major plugins: TranslatePress, WPML, and Weglot.
Free Translation Options: What’s Included?
TranslatePress
- Free Features:
- Unlimited manual translations for one language.
- Google Translate API for automatic translations (free for up to 500,000 characters/month, equivalent to ~100,000 words).
- Ownership of all translations you create.
Weglot
- Translate up to 2,000 words into one language for free.
- Offers multilingual SEO and editing control, but this limit is insufficient for most WordPress websites.
WPML
- No free plan. You’ll need a paid plan to access automatic translation.
Premium Plans: How Do They Compare?
TranslatePress
- Pricing:
- Personal: €99/year
- Business: €199/year
- Developer: €349/year
- Features:
- Unlimited manual translations and languages.
- AI-based automatic translations with credits included.
AI Credit Costs:
- 50,000–500,000 words included depending on the plan.
- Additional credits cost €24–€90 for 100,000–500,000 words.
DeepL Alternative: Free up to 500,000 characters/month; overages start at $30.49 per million characters.
Weglot
- Pricing:
- Starter (10,000 words): €150/year
- Pro (200,000 words): €790/year
- Advanced (1 million words): €2,990/year
- Key Consideration:
Weglot operates on a SaaS model. If you cancel your subscription, you lose access to translations.
WPML
- Pricing:
- Multilingual Blog: €39/year (manual translation only).
- Multilingual CMS: €99/year (90,000 translation credits).
- Multilingual Agency: €199/year (180,000 translation credits).
- Credits:
Translation costs vary based on the provider used (Google, DeepL, Azure, WPML AI). Extra credits start at €50 for 40,000 words.
Real Costs: Translating a 200,000-Word Website
Weglot
- Requires the Pro plan (€790/year) to cover 200,000 words.
Total Cost: €790/year (+VAT).
WPML
- Agency plan (€199/year) includes 90,000 credits. Additional credits for 110,000 words cost €110–€180.
Total Cost: €309–€429/year (+VAT).
TranslatePress
- Personal plan (€99/year) with AI credits for 50,000 words. Additional credits (€40) cover the remaining 150,000 words.
Total Cost: €139/year (+VAT).
Key Takeaways
- Weglot: Easy to set up but costly in the long run. You must pay annually to keep translations.
- WPML: Flexible but complicated credit system, making cost estimation tricky.
- TranslatePress: Affordable with clear pricing and ownership of translations, making it ideal for long-term use.