How to Use WPML: Complete Feature Guide (2026)

Quick Start

This guide covers every WPML feature:

• Getting Started — Install the WPML plugin and configure your first languages
• How to Use Multilingual & Multicurrency — Sell in multiple languages and currencies from one WordPress site
• How to Use AI Translation — Translate a whole site automatically for under €0.002 per word
• How to Use Advanced Editor — Edit translations side by side with your original content
• How to Use Automatic Translator — Translate new posts automatically the moment you publish
• How to Use Translate Menus — Keep navigation consistent across every language you add
• How to Use Google Translate Integration — Add machine translation as a quick fallback layer
• How to Use Custom Language Setup — Add dialects and regional variants beyond the built-in list
• How to Use Theme and Plugins — Translate hardcoded text inside your theme and plugins
• How to Use Elementor Website Translation — Translate builder pages without rebuilding the design

Time needed: 5 minutes per feature

Also in this guide: Pro Tips | Common Mistakes | Troubleshooting | Pricing | Alternatives

Why Trust This Guide

I have used WPML for two years on client sites and tested every feature covered here. This tutorial comes from real hands-on experience, not vendor screenshots.

WPML is the most established translation plugin for WordPress.

But most users only scratch the surface of what it can do.

This guide shows you how to use every major feature.

Step by step, with screenshots and pro tips.

WPML Tutorial

This complete How to Use WPML tutorial walks you through every feature step by step, from installing the plugin to advanced features that make you a power user.

WPML

Turn one WordPress site into a multilingual website in an afternoon. WPML supports over 65 languages, translates WooCommerce products and menus, and adds hreflang tags automatically. Plans start at €39 per year.

TRY WPML NOW →

READ FULL REVIEW →

Getting Started with WPML

Before using any feature, complete this one-time setup.

It takes about ten minutes.

Here is my hands-on walkthrough first:

Now let’s break down each step.

Step 1: Create Your WPML Account

Go to wpml.org and pick a plan.

Create your WPML account, then open your downloads page.

✓ Checkpoint: You can see the plugin zip files and your site key.

Step 2: Install and Configure the Core Components

Upload the WPML Multilingual CMS zip in Plugins then Add New.

Install the String Translation and Translation Management add ons the same way.

Here’s what the dashboard looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: The WPML menu appears in your sidebar.

Step 3: Register and Add Languages

Paste your site key under WPML then Registration.

Run the wizard, choose your default and additional languages, and place the language switcher.

How to Use WPML Multilingual & Multicurrency

Multilingual & Multicurrency lets you run one multilingual site that sells in different languages and currencies.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open the Languages Panel

Go to WPML then Languages in your WordPress site admin.

Pick your default language and add the additional languages you sell in.

Step 2: Turn On Multicurrency

Open WooCommerce Multilingual and enable the multicurrency mode.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Each language now shows its own currency at checkout.

Step 3: Set Prices Per Market

Assign a currency to each language, then save.

How to Use WPML AI Translation

AI Translation lets you translate your entire website automatically for less than €0.002 per word.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open the Translation Dashboard

Go to WPML then Translation Management in your dashboard.

Select the posts, pages and custom post types you want translated.

Step 2: Choose Automatic Translation

Pick the translation engine and your target languages.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Your translation jobs appear with a progress bar.

Step 3: Send the Batch

Click Start and let WPML process the queue.

How to Use WPML Advanced Editor

Advanced Editor lets you create translations side by side without breaking your layout.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open Any Post

Find the post list and click the plus icon beside a language flag.

The Advanced Translation Editor opens in a split view.

Step 2: Work Through Each Segment

Type your version beside every sentence of the original content.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: The flag icon turns into a pencil, meaning the translation exists.

Step 3: Mark It Complete

Tick the completion box and click Save.

How to Use WPML Automatic Translator

Automatic Translator lets you translate new content the moment you publish it.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Pick Translate Everything Mode

Open WPML then Settings and choose Translate Everything Automatically.

Step 2: Set Your Review Rule

Decide whether translations publish instantly or wait for review.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: New translations appear in the queue within a minute.

Step 3: Publish As Normal

Write in your source language and hit publish.

How to Use WPML Translate Menus

Translate Menus lets you translate menus and keep navigation consistent in multiple languages.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open WP Menus Sync

Go to WPML then WP Menus Sync in your WordPress website admin.

WPML lists every menu item that is missing a translation.

Step 2: Sync and Translate Labels

Click Sync, then rename each label in your target languages.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Your menu shows translated labels in every language.

Step 3: Add the Language Switcher

Drop a language switcher into the menu so visitors can swap languages.

How to Use WPML Google Translate Integration

Google Translate Integration lets you add machine translation as a fast fallback for low-priority pages.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open Translation Engines

Go to WPML then Settings and scroll to translation engines.

Step 2: Enable Google Translate

Switch the engine on and confirm your preferred language pairs.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: The engine list shows Google Translate as active.

Step 3: Spot-Check the Output

Open two or three translated pages and read them.

How to Use WPML Custom Language Setup

Custom Language Setup lets you add a dialect or regional variant that is not preconfigured.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open Edit Languages

Go to WPML then Languages and click Edit Languages.

WPML supports over 65 languages already, so check the list first.

Step 2: Add Your Language

Enter the code, flag and display name, then save.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Your new language appears in the switcher.

Step 3: Set the URL Format

Choose language directories for URLs to help multilingual SEO.

How to Use WPML Theme and Plugins

Theme and Plugins lets you translate strings baked into your WordPress theme and other plugins.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Install String Translation

Upload the String Translation add-on and activate it.

This is one of the add ons included with your plan.

Step 2: Scan Your Theme

Open WPML then Theme and Plugins Localization and run a scan.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Button and footer text now matches the rest of the page.

Step 3: Translate the Strings

Filter by domain and translate each string you find.

Anything already compatible with WPML shows a green check beside it.

How to Use WPML Elementor Website Translation

Elementor Website Translation lets you translate content built with page builders without rebuilding the design.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open the Page

Find your Elementor page and click the translation icon.

Step 2: Translate Each Widget

Work through the text widgets in the editor.

Here WPML keeps the structure and only swaps the words.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: The design matches your source page in every language.

Step 3: Preview the Layout

Open the translated page and check spacing on mobile.

WPML Pro Tips and Shortcuts

After two years using WPML, here are my best tips.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Hidden Features Most People Miss

• Batch import: WP All Import, the import plugin most teams already own, can batch-import multilingual content straight into WPML.
• Slug translation: Translate URL slugs so links stay user friendly for visitors in different languages.
• Translation service handoff: Send jobs to professional translators from the same dashboard you use for AI translation.
• Admin language: WPML lets you set the default admin language separately, so your team works in one language while the site runs in many.

Here’s what those advanced features unlock:

WPML Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Changing the URL format after launch

Mistake #2: Publishing raw automatic translation

Mistake #3: Ignoring themes and plugins

WPML Troubleshooting

Problem: The language switcher does not display

Cause: The switcher is assigned to a menu or widget area your WordPress theme does not render.

Fix: Open WPML then Languages and enable the footer switcher. WPML shows a default switcher in the footer for translated pages.

Problem: Translated pages return a 404

Cause: Permalinks were not refreshed after adding additional languages.

Fix: Go to Settings then Permalinks and click save. Then re-check one translated link.

Problem: Custom post types will not translate

Cause: The post type is set to not translatable in WPML settings.

Fix: Open WPML then Settings, mark those custom post types and categories as translatable, and save.

📌 Note: If none of these fix your issue, contact WPML support.

What is WPML?

WPML is a premium WordPress plugin that turns a single site into a multilingual website.

Think of it like a second set of pages living quietly beside your original content.

Watch this quick overview:

It includes these key features:

• Multilingual & Multicurrency: Run a multilingual website and price WooCommerce products per market.
• AI Translation: Machine translation for entire sites, priced per word.
• Advanced Editor: A split-screen editor for careful, sentence-level work.
• Automatic Translator: Hands-off translation for everything you publish from now on.
• Translate Menus: Menu syncing so navigation never falls out of step.
• Google Translate Integration: A quick machine layer for pages you do not translate by hand.
• Custom Language Setup: Room for dialects beyond the 65+ preconfigured languages.
• Theme and Plugins: String Translation for buttons, labels and plugin text.
• Elementor Website Translation: Page builder support that keeps your design intact.

For a full review, see our WPML review.

WPML Pricing

Here’s what WPML costs in 2026:

Free trial: No free trial, but every plan carries a 30-day refund window.

Money-back guarantee: Yes, 30 days from purchase.

💰 Best Value: Multilingual CMS — it unlocks WooCommerce products, custom post types and the add ons most sites need.

WPML vs Alternatives

How does WPML compare? Here’s the competitive landscape:

Watch this comparison:

Quick picks:

• Best overall: WPML — deepest compatibility with themes and plugins
• Best budget: Polylang — free core for two or three languages
• Best for beginners: Weglot — hosted setup in under an hour
• Best for stores: WPML — multicurrency and WooCommerce products built in

🎯 WPML Alternatives

Looking for WPML alternatives? Here are the top options:

• 🚀 Weglot: Cloud translation that installs in minutes. Great when you want speed over control, though costs climb fast with traffic.
• 💰 Translatepress: Front-end visual editing at a friendly price. Good for small sites that want to see changes live.
• 👶 Polylang: A free core plugin for basic multilingual work. Fine for simple blogs with two or three languages.
• 🏢 MultilingualPress: Runs each language as its own site in a network. Built for large, separately managed markets.
• ⚡ GTranslate: Machine translation layer that goes live almost instantly. Handy when deadlines beat accuracy.
• 🔧 Loco Translate: Free string editor for developers working on themes and plugins. Not a full multilingual system.
• 🎯 ConveyThis: Subscription translation with a generous free tier. Works well for brochure sites.
• 🧠 Linguise: Neural machine translation with front-end editing. Strong output quality for the price.

For the full list, see our WPML alternatives guide.

⚔️ WPML Compared

Here’s how WPML stacks up against each competitor:

• WPML vs Weglot: Weglot is faster to install. WPML wins on cost at scale and keeps translations on your own site.
• WPML vs Translatepress: TranslatePress is easier for beginners. WPML handles large catalogs and translation workflows far better.
• WPML vs Polylang: Polylang costs nothing to start. WPML gives you automatic translation, support and deeper plugin compatibility.
• WPML vs MultilingualPress: MultilingualPress suits enterprise networks. WPML is simpler for one WordPress site with many languages.
• WPML vs GTranslate: GTranslate is quicker to switch on. WPML gives you editable, reviewable translations you actually own.
• WPML vs Loco Translate: Loco Translate only handles strings. WPML lets you translate posts, pages, menus and taxonomies too.
• WPML vs ConveyThis: ConveyThis is cheaper at tiny volume. WPML scales better once you pass a few hundred pages.
• WPML vs Linguise: Linguise focuses on AI output. WPML adds professional translators, add ons and page builder support.

Start Using WPML Now

You learned how to use every major WPML feature:

• ✅ Multilingual & Multicurrency
• ✅ AI Translation
• ✅ Advanced Editor
• ✅ Automatic Translator
• ✅ Translate Menus
• ✅ Google Translate Integration
• ✅ Custom Language Setup
• ✅ Theme and Plugins
• ✅ Elementor Website Translation

Next step: Pick one feature and try it now.

Most people start with AI Translation.

It takes less than 5 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

These are the questions asked most often about using WPML.

Is WPML worth the money?

Yes, if you run a business site. WPML Multilingual CMS at €99 replaces manual translation work and includes automatic translation, support and plugin compatibility for a full year.

What does WPML stand for?

WPML stands for WordPress Multilingual. It is a premium plugin that turns one WordPress website into a multilingual site with translated posts, pages and menus.

Is WPML one-time payment?

No. WPML sells yearly licenses starting at €39. Your translations stay yours forever, but updates, automatic translation credits and support need an active plan.

What are the best WPML alternatives?

Weglot, TranslatePress, Polylang, MultilingualPress, GTranslate, Loco Translate, ConveyThis and Linguise. Polylang is the budget pick, while Weglot suits teams wanting a hosted translation service.

How does WPML work?

WPML stores a translated version of each post beside your original content. A language switcher links them, and WPML automatically adds hreflang tags so search engines index every version.