Polylang

What is Polylang?

Polylang is a free multilingual plugin that adds translation capabilities directly into WordPress using native taxonomies. It has been developed by Chouby for 15 years, making it one of the oldest dedicated language plugins in the repository. As of May 2026, version 3.8.5 powers over 800,000 active installations. The plugin holds a 4.7/5 rating from 2,960 reviews, with 89% of users awarding five stars.

The plugin lets you add between one and ten or more languages without any hard limit. It relies entirely on WordPress core features to keep performance steady. You can translate posts, pages, media, categories, custom post types, and RSS feeds. RTL scripts are fully supported.

Key Features of Polylang

• URL Language Modes — Set language by code in the URL, or use a different sub-domain or domain per language.
• Automatic Meta Copy — Copy categories, post tags, and other metas automatically when creating a new translation.
• Customizable Language Switchers — Add switchers as blocks, classic widgets, or navigation menu items.
• Classic Menu & Widget Translation — Translate classic menus and widgets, also accessible via Site Editor Classic Features in block themes.
• Yoast SEO Compatibility — Works directly with Yoast SEO for multilingual SEO metadata.
• Wizard Setup — All versions include a wizard that configures the plugin in just a few clicks.
• RTL Script Support — Full support for right-to-left languages and scripts.
• Language Pack Integration — WordPress language packs are automatically downloaded when ready for each added language.

Who Should Use Polylang?

Polylang suits site owners of any skill level who need a straightforward multilingual solution. Beginners benefit from the built-in wizard and reliance on familiar WordPress taxonomies. Advanced users appreciate the lack of performance overhead and the ability to scale to ten or more languages. The free version covers most needs for blogs, business sites, and news portals.

Users running WooCommerce stores should pair Polylang with the premium Polylang for WooCommerce add-on. This add-on translates shop pages, product categories, emails, and works with WooCommerce Subscriptions and Bookings. The 800,000+ install base and 89% five-star rating indicate strong satisfaction across a wide range of site types.

Installation & Setup

Install Polylang like any other plugin from the WordPress repository. The plugin requires WordPress 6.5+ and PHP 7.4+. Deactivate any other multilingual plugins before activating Polylang to avoid unexpected results. The built-in wizard guides you through language selection and URL structure setup in minutes.

Support & Community

Community support is available through the WordPress forum. In the last 2 months, 19 threads were opened and only 2 were resolved, giving an 20% resolution rate. This low resolution rate is notable for a plugin with 800,000 active installs. However, 89% of the 2,960 ratings are five-star, suggesting most users find the documentation sufficient. Polylang Pro and Polylang for WooCommerce buyers get access to a premium helpdesk for personalized assistance. Security bugs should be reported through the Patchstack Vulnerability Disclosure Program.