How to Use WPML: Complete Feature Guide (2026)

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This guide covers every WPML feature:

• Empezando — Install the WPML plugin and configure your first languages
• How to Use Multilingual & Multicurrency — Sell in multiple languages and currencies from one WordPress site
• Cómo usar la traducción con IA — 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

Tiempo necesario: 5 minutos por función

También en esta guía: Consejos profesionales | Errores comunes | Solución de problemas | Precios | Alternativas

¿Por qué confiar en esta guía?

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.

Pero la mayoría de los usuarios solo aprovechan una pequeña parte de lo que puede hacer.

Esta guía le muestra cómo utilizar todas las funciones principales.

Paso a paso, con capturas de pantalla y consejos profesionales.

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.

PRUEBA WPML AHORA →

LEER LA RESEÑA COMPLETA →

Getting Started with WPML

Antes de utilizar cualquier función, complete esta configuración inicial.

It takes about ten minutes.

Here is my hands-on walkthrough first:

Ahora vamos a desglosar cada paso.

Step 1: Create Your WPML Account

Go to wpml.org and pick a plan.

Create your WPML account, then open your downloads page.

✓ Control: 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.

Así es como se ve el panel de control:

✓ Control: 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.

Aquí te mostramos cómo usarlo paso a paso.

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.

Así es como se ve:

✓ Control: 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

Traducción de IA lets you translate your entire website automatically for less than €0.002 per word.

Aquí te mostramos cómo usarlo paso a paso.

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.

Así es como se ve:

✓ Control: 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.

Aquí te mostramos cómo usarlo paso a paso.

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.

Así es como se ve:

✓ Control: 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.

Aquí te mostramos cómo usarlo paso a paso.

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 instantáneamente or wait for review.

Así es como se ve:

✓ Control: 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.

Aquí te mostramos cómo usarlo paso a paso.

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.

Así es como se ve:

✓ Control: 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.

Aquí te mostramos cómo usarlo paso a paso.

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.

Así es como se ve:

✓ Control: 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.

Aquí te mostramos cómo usarlo paso a paso.

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.

Así es como se ve:

✓ Control: 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.

Aquí te mostramos cómo usarlo paso a paso.

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.

Así es como se ve:

✓ Control: Button and footer texto 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 constructores without rebuilding the design.

Aquí te mostramos cómo usarlo paso a paso.

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.

Así es como se ve:

✓ Control: 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.

Atajos de teclado

Características ocultas que la mayoría de la gente pasa por alto

• Importación por lotes: 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

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

Arreglar: 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

Causa: Permalinks were not refreshed after adding additional languages.

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

Problem: Custom post types will not translate

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

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

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

¿Qué es 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.

Mira este breve resumen:

Incluye estas características clave:

• Multilingual & Multicurrency: Run a multilingual website and price WooCommerce products per market.
• Traducción con IA: Machine translation for entire sites, priced per word.
• Editor avanzado: 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.

Para una revisión completa, consulte nuestra WPML review.

Precios de WPML

Here’s what WPML costs in 2026:

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

Garantía de devolución de dinero: Yes, 30 days from purchase.

💰 Mejor relación calidad-precio: Multilingual CMS — it unlocks WooCommerce products, custom post types and the add ons most sites need.

WPML frente a alternativas

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

Mira esta comparación:

Selecciones rápidas:

• Mejor en general: WPML — deepest compatibility with themes and plugins
• Mejor presupuesto: Polylang — free core for two or three languages
• Ideal para principiantes: Weglot — hosted setup in under an hour
• Lo mejor para tiendas: WPML — multicurrency and WooCommerce products built in

🎯 Alternativas a WPML

¿Buscas alternativas a WPML? Aquí tienes las mejores opciones:

• 🚀 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.
• 👶 Polilenguaje: A free core plugin for basic multilingual work. Fine for simple blogs with two or three languages.
• 🏢 Prensa multilingüe: Runs each language as its own site in a network. Built for large, separately managed markets.
• ⚡ GTraducir: Machine translation layer that goes live almost instantly. Handy when deadlines beat accuracy.
• 🔧 Loco Traducir: Free string editor for developers working on themes and plugins. Not a full multilingual system.
• 🎯 Transmitir esto: Subscription translation with a generous free tier. Works well for brochure sites.
• 🧠 Lenguaje: Neural machine translation with front-end editing. Strong output quality for the price.

Para ver la lista completa, consulte nuestra WPML alternatives guía.

⚔️ Comparación de WPML

Así es como WPML se compara con cada competidor:

• WPML frente a 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 frente a Polylang: Polylang costs nothing to start. WPML gives you automatic translation, support and deeper plugin compatibility.
• WPML frente a 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 frente a 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
• ✅ Traducción con IA
• ✅ Advanced Editor
• ✅ Automatic Translator
• ✅ Translate Menus
• ✅ Google Translate Integration
• ✅ Custom Language Setup
• ✅ Theme and Plugins
• ✅ Elementor Website Translation

Siguiente paso: Elige una función y pruébala ahora.

Most people start with AI Translation.

Tarda menos de 5 minutos.

Preguntas frecuentes

These are the questions asked most often about using WPML.

¿Merece la pena pagar por WPML?

Yes, if you run a negocio 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.