WPML Widgets
Plugin Review
AI-ResearchedWhat is WPML Widgets?
WPML Widgets is a focused extension for WordPress that adds a language selector dropdown directly to your widget areas. Developed by Jeroen Sormani, this plugin has been available for 12 years. It currently holds 9K+ active installs and a 4.9/5 rating from 36 reviews. The rating breakdown shows 97% 3% one-star ratings. The current version is 1.0.6, with the most recent update on Nov 28, 2017. This plugin answers the specific need of how to add language switcher in WordPress widget areas without extra complexity.
The plugin is described as ultra lightweight, with near-zero loading time. It works as a wordpress multilanguage widget that integrates with the WPML ecosystem. For users seeking a straightforward method to show language selector in sidebar WordPress, this tool provides a direct solution.
Key Features of WPML Widgets
- Simple language selector dropdown – Adds a dropdown widget to select languages, fitting neatly into any sidebar or widget-ready area.
- Zero performance overhead – The ultra lightweight design ensures no measurable impact on page load times.
- WPML integration – Works directly with the WPML plugin, using its existing language setup without additional configuration.
- Widget-ready compatibility – Functions with all standard WordPress widget areas, including sidebars, footers, and custom widget zones.
- Minimal setup required – After activation, the widget appears in your widgets list, ready to drag and drop into any area.
- Long-term stability – With 12 years of availability and consistent ratings, the plugin has proven reliable for basic multilingual widget needs.
- Tag-based discoverability – Tagged with wordpress-multilanguage-widget and wpml-widget-selector, making it easy to find for specific use cases.
Who Should Use WPML Widgets?
This plugin suits site owners who need a basic wpml language selector without extra features. It targets beginners and intermediate users running multilingual sites on older WordPress versions. With a tested upper limit of WordPress 4.7.33, the ideal user maintains a legacy installation or a site that has not updated beyond that version. The plugin serves those who want to add language switcher to WordPress widget areas quickly, with no coding knowledge required.
Sites with 9K+ active installs indicate steady use among a niche audience. Users who value a straightforward wordpress multilanguage widget over complex alternatives will find this tool appropriate. The plugin fits small business sites, personal blogs, or content portals that rely on WPML for translations but need a simple dropdown in sidebars.
Installation & Setup
Installation follows a standard process: upload the wpml-widgets folder to /wp-content/plugins/, then activate through the Plugins menu. The plugin requires WordPress 3.6 or higher, making it compatible with many older installations. Setup is beginner-friendly—once activated, the widget appears in your Appearance > Widgets section, ready to be placed into any widget area.
Support & Community
Support data shows 0 open threads and 0 resolved threads over the last 2 months, resulting in a 0% resolution rate. This suggests limited active support engagement from the developer. The 4.9/5 rating from 36 reviews, with 97% five-star ratings, indicates that most users find the plugin works without needing assistance. The 3% one-star ratings may reflect compatibility issues or unmet expectations for users on newer WordPress versions.
Given the last update on Nov 28, 2017 and the plugin age of 12 years, users should verify compatibility with their current WordPress setup before installation. The high rating count relative to installs suggests a satisfied user base, but the lack of recent support threads means troubleshooting may rely on community forums or personal testing.
Pros & Cons
- With 9K+ active installs and a 4.9/5 rating from 36 reviews, it is a trusted choice for adding a language selector dropdown to widgets.
- 97% of its 36 ratings are 5-star, indicating high user satisfaction with its core functionality.
- It is described as ultra lightweight, claiming approximately zero extra loading time, which minimizes performance impact.
- The plugin adds a simple language selector dropdown to widgets, making it the easiest way to implement multilingual widgets on a site.
- It has zero total support threads, suggesting either extreme simplicity or very few users encountering issues.
- With only 36 total ratings, the sample size is very small, making the 4.9/5 rating less statistically reliable.
- The plugin is limited to adding a language selector dropdown to widgets, offering no other multilingual widget features.
- Zero support threads could indicate the plugin is abandoned or not actively maintained, as no user questions have been addressed.
- It requires the WPML core plugin to function, adding dependency and potential cost for users.
Technical Details
- Requires WordPress
- 3.6+
- Tested up to WP
- 4.7.33
- First Released
- 2014 (12+ years)
- Support (last 2 months)
- 0 threads
Feature Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, WPML Widgets is completely free and available on WordPress.org. You can download and use it without any cost.
WPML Widgets has 9K+ active installs and is rated 4.9/5 from 36 ratings. Most users find it reliable for adding multilingual widgets.
WPML Widgets requires WordPress 3.6 or higher and has been tested up to WordPress 4.7.33. Your site should meet this minimum version to use the plugin.
The plugin was last updated on Nov 28, 2017 and is currently at version 1.0.6. It was first released in 2014, so it has a long history but receives infrequent updates.
The plugin facts do not specify a required PHP version. However, since it requires WordPress 3.6+, it should work with most modern PHP setups used by WordPress.
Support threads in the last 2 months show 0 total and 0 resolved, meaning very few users are currently asking for help. The plugin has a high rating of 4.9/5, indicating most users find it works well without issues.
Yes, WPML Widgets is suitable for beginners as it is ultra lightweight and simple to use. You just upload the plugin folder, activate it, and add a language selector dropdown to your widgets.
The main feature is adding a language selector dropdown to your WordPress widgets for multilingual sites. It is ultra lightweight, causing about zero extra loading time, and works seamlessly with the WPML plugin.