Multilang is a WordPress multilingual plugin that lets you create content in multiple languages. It adds a language switcher to your site and provides a translation interface in the WordPress admin, where you can translate posts, pages, custom post types, taxonomies, menus, and widgets. The plugin uses language codes in URLs for SEO-friendly translated pages and supports hreflang tags for search engines. For users looking for a free alternative to WPML and Polylang Pro, Multilang offers core multilingual functionality without the cost of premium plugins.
The plugin uses WordPress taxonomies to associate posts with languages, similar to how Polylang handles translations. Language settings are stored as WordPress options, and the plugin supports both automatic browser-based language detection and manual language switching.
Competitive Features
- Language management — add unlimited languages with flag icons, language codes, and custom names
- Content translation — translate posts, pages, custom post types, categories, and tags
- Language switcher — dropdown, flags, or text-based language selector for visitors
- Custom post types — full support for custom post types and custom taxonomies
- Widget translation — translate widget content per language
- SEO support — hreflang tags and language-specific URLs for search engines
- Menu translation — translate navigation menu items per language
Key Features
- Translation interface — side-by-side editor with source and target language display
- Automatic language detection — redirect visitors to their browser’s preferred language
- Language flags — built-in flag icons for all supported languages
- Multisite support — manage language settings across network sites
- REST API — language-aware API endpoints for headless WordPress setups
- Import/export — export translation data for off-site translation work
- Browser redirect — optional automatic redirect based on browser language settings
Comparison with Competitors
Multilang vs WPML
| Aspect | Multilang | WPML |
|---|---|---|
| Machine translation | No | DeepL, Google |
| WooCommerce support | No | Yes |
| Custom post types | Yes | Yes |
| Setup complexity | Low | Medium |
Bottom line: WPML offers more features like machine translation and WooCommerce support. Multilang is a simpler, free alternative for basic multilingual sites.
Recommended Stack: Multilang handles multilingual content. For translating theme and plugin files, pair with Loco Translate Premium.
Plugin Updates
Multilang is a premium plugin not listed on WordPress.org. There is no public changelog available for this plugin.
Updates are released by the developer with new features, compatibility improvements, and bug fixes. License holders receive all updates automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Multilang free?
Yes. Multilang is completely free with no premium version. All features are included.
Does Multilang support custom post types?
Yes. Multilang supports custom post types and custom taxonomies, making it suitable for sites with complex content structures.
How does Multilang handle SEO?
Multilang generates hreflang tags for each translated page and uses language-specific URLs for proper indexing by search engines.
Can I use Multilang with WooCommerce?
Multilang does not have dedicated WooCommerce support. For multilingual WooCommerce sites, consider WPML or Polylang with the WooCommerce add-on.
Does Multilang support automatic translation?
No. Multilang requires manual translation of content. It does not integrate with machine translation services like DeepL or Google Translate.
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