Polylang Pro and Why It’s So Popular?
Polylang Pro is a top-rated multilingual plugin for WordPress. It lets you translate posts, pages, categories, menus, and more—without the need for a separate site per language. Users love it because it’s easy to use, SEO-friendly, and supports unlimited languages. It also integrates smoothly with most themes and plugins, including WooCommerce. The Pro version adds advanced features like language switching in the admin bar, duplicating content across languages, and better compatibility with other plugins.
Polylang Free vs Polylang Pro GPL — Comparison Table
| Feature | Polylang Free | Polylang Pro GPL |
|---|---|---|
| Translate Posts, Pages, Media | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| SEO-Friendly URLs | ✅ Basic | ✅ Advanced |
| Language Switcher | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (customizable) |
| WooCommerce Support | ❌ No | ✅ With Polylang for WooCommerce Addon |
| Duplicate Content Across Languages | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Professional Support & Updates | ❌ No | ❌ No (GPL version) |
| Language for Admin & Login Interface | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Price | ✅ Free | ✅ One-time or free via GPL |
The GPL version offers all Pro features at a lower cost but without official updates or support.
Can you get Polylang Pro for free?
Yes, you can legally get Polylang Pro for free through GPL-licensed sources. Since it’s released under the GPL license, you’re allowed to use, modify, and share the software. The key difference is that GPL versions don’t include automatic updates or support from the original developers. So, if you’re comfortable managing the plugin yourself, this can be a cost-effective way to get full Pro features.
Best Free or Budget–Friendly Alternatives to Polylang Pro
If you’re looking for similar multilingual tools without the premium price, check out these options:
- TranslatePress (Free + Pro GPL) – Easy visual translation and supports SEO-friendly URLs.
- Weglot (Free for small sites) – Cloud-based and super simple, great for beginners.
- WPML (Pro GPL) – One of the most powerful translation plugins, packed with features.
- GTranslate (Free) – Uses Google Translate for automatic translation, quick and easy setup.
- Polylang Pro (GPL) – Same features as the official Pro, minus support and updates.
What is Polylang Pro General Public License?
Polylang Pro is released under the GNU General Public License (GPL), which means you’re free to use, modify, and share the plugin legally. The GPL gives users full control over the software, even premium versions like Polylang Pro. When you download the GPL version from a trusted source, you get all the features without breaking any rules. The only catch? You won’t get automatic updates or official support.
Polylang Pro GPL vs Polylang Pro: What’s the Difference?
| Feature | Polylang Pro GPL | Official Polylang Pro |
|---|---|---|
| All Premium Features | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Translate Everything | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| WooCommerce Compatibility | ✅ Yes (with addon) | ✅ Yes (with addon) |
| SEO Tools | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Auto Updates | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Official Support | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Legality | ✅ GPL Licensed | ✅ GPL Licensed |
| Cost | ✅ One-time or free via GPL | ❌ Subscription-based |
The GPL version is great for experienced users who want full functionality without paying yearly fees, but don’t mind manual updates.
Polylang Pro Version History and Timeline
Polylang Pro has consistently evolved to enhance multilingual capabilities in WordPress. Here’s a concise timeline highlighting key developments:
Version 3.7 Beta 1 – February 24, 2025
- Enhancements:
- Transitioned Polylang options to an object structure for better validation and automatic saving.
- Introduced a new REST API endpoint
/wp-json/pll/v1/settingsfor managing language settings. - Enhanced integration with Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) Pro, including full support for ACF Blocks and layout fields.
- Added a new translation behavior option
translate_oncefor ACF fields. - Improved DeepL machine translation capabilities.
Version 3.2 – March 25, 2022
- Enhancements:
- Ensured compatibility with WordPress 5.9 and Full Site Editing (FSE).
- Added a language switcher block compatible with the navigation block.
- Initiated transition towards PHP 8.1 compatibility.
Version 3.1 – July 27, 2021
- Enhancements:
- Added compatibility with WordPress 5.8.
- Introduced filtering of blocks by language in the widget block editor.
- Enabled export and import of XLIFF files for string translations.
- Added a language switcher in the navigation block (experimental).
- Replaced dashicons with SVG icons in the block editor.
- Added compatibility with The Events Calendar Views V2.
- Enhanced site health checks and optimized image assets.
These updates reflect Polylang Pro’s commitment to providing robust multilingual support, ensuring compatibility with the latest WordPress features, and enhancing user experience for both developers and site administrators.