LATW Multilingual
LATW Multilingual vs Polylang: which one should run your multilingual WordPress?
Polylang has been a go-to free multilingual plugin since 2007, with one of the largest active install bases in WordPress. LATW Multilingual takes a different approach: no duplicated posts, WooCommerce and automatic translation included in the free tier, and custom post type translation without needing to upgrade to Pro.
At a glance
The handful of differences that actually decide most people's choice.
Pricing and feature data verified July 2026 against public Polylang.pro pricing and documentation. Plugins change - if you spot something outdated, let us know.
The real difference: how each plugin stores your translations
Polylang duplicates your content, just like WPML. LATW keeps a single post and swaps its content in on the fly. This one architectural choice explains most of the differences on this page.
A separate post for every language
Polylang creates a full copy of each page for every language and links them together as a translation group - the same underlying model WPML uses. You edit each copy in the normal WordPress editor, but one article still becomes several rows in the database, each with its own ID, revisions and metadata to keep in sync.
One post, content swapped on the fly
There is only ever one post. Each language lives as an overlay in its own separate tables, and LATW swaps the right content in at render time. Your original stays untouched and canonical, the database stays clean, and uninstalling leaves nothing behind.
Where LATW Multilingual pulls ahead of Polylang
No database duplication
Polylang links a full copy of each post per language into a translation group, the same model as WPML. LATW keeps one canonical post and overlays each language on top, so your database stays smaller and cleaner as the site grows.
WooCommerce included, no extra add-on
Polylang requires the separate, paid Polylang for WooCommerce add-on to translate products, variations and attributes. LATW covers all of that in its free tier.
Custom post types translate without upgrading
Polylang Free cannot translate custom post types or custom taxonomies at all - that requires Polylang Pro. LATW handles them in the free tier, no license needed.
Automatic translation is free-tier eligible
Polylang's machine translation is a Pro-only feature. LATW's Free plan gives you unlimited languages and manual translation with no license, and Pro adds automatic translation on your own key - same as Polylang Pro's own-key DeepL integration, just without the license fee to unlock it.
A translation inspector Polylang has no equivalent for
Click any piece of text on your site and LATW tells you exactly which layer produced it - post, term, menu, widget, theme option or plugin string - with a link straight to where to translate it.
Clean uninstall
Because LATW never touches your original content directly, removing the plugin does not leave behind duplicated posts or orphaned translation groups the way removing Polylang can.
ACF fields translate without upgrading
ACF integration - including repeater and group fields - is a Pro-only feature in Polylang. LATW translates ACF text, textarea and WYSIWYG fields in its free tier.
Where Polylang is still the safer pick
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Track record and scale: Polylang has been on the market since 2007 and runs on over 800,000 active WordPress sites, making it one of the most battle-tested multilingual plugins available.
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Developer familiarity: because so many WordPress developers and agencies have already worked with it, finding help, tutorials and freelancers experienced with Polylang is generally easier.
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DeepL as your translation engine: if you specifically want DeepL rather than an OpenAI model, Polylang Pro has that integration built in - also on your own API key.
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Already invested in the workflow: if your team is used to editing each language as its own separate post and has built processes around that, switching to an overlay model has a real learning cost.
Full feature comparison
Every capability that typically decides a multilingual plugin choice, side by side.
Polylang feature data based on publicly available Polylang.pro documentation as of July 2026. Always confirm current details on the vendor's site before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
Can't find what you're looking for? Reach out to support directly.
Is LATW Multilingual better than Polylang?+
It depends on what you value most. If you want your original post to stay a single canonical entry with no duplicated copies, plus WooCommerce and automatic translation included free, LATW is the better fit. If you specifically want the largest, longest-running multilingual plugin with the biggest active install base, Polylang's track record still counts for something.
Does Polylang duplicate posts like WPML does?+
Yes. Polylang creates a separate post for each language and links them together as a translation group, the same underlying model as WPML. You edit each language version in the normal WordPress editor, but it is still a distinct post with its own ID.
Can I migrate from Polylang to LATW Multilingual?+
Yes for new translation work going forward: your existing Polylang-translated content stays live while you translate new content with LATW's overlay model. There is no automatic importer that converts Polylang's linked posts into LATW overlays yet, so plan a manual review for already-translated content.
Is LATW Multilingual cheaper than Polylang?+
Yes for most sites once you factor in WooCommerce and automatic translation. Polylang's core plugin is free, but automatic translation and WooCommerce support each require Polylang Pro and the separate Polylang for WooCommerce add-on, together well above LATW's $35/year Pro plan. Both plugins bill automatic translation to your own provider key - LATW to OpenAI, Polylang Pro to DeepL - so the real cost gap comes from the license fee itself.
Does LATW Multilingual support everything Polylang supports?+
LATW covers posts, pages, WooCommerce, Elementor, menus, widgets, taxonomies, media and theme/plugin strings, all without extra add-ons. Polylang has a longer track record and a much larger active install base, which can matter if you want the plugin most other WordPress developers have already worked with.
Does LATW Multilingual work with WooCommerce like Polylang does?+
Yes, and it is included in the free tier. Polylang requires the separate, paid Polylang for WooCommerce add-on to translate products, variations and attributes.
See the difference on your own site
Free tier included, no credit card, no license. Switch back any time - nothing is left duplicated in your database.
Try LATW Multilingual free