WPML is the veteran of WordPress multilingual — a mature, professional suite. It is also a yearly license with no free version and an automatic-translation system metered in credits that run on WPML’s servers. Here is the honest comparison, with every figure checked on wpml.org in July 2026.
Side by side
| TranslateRocket | WPML | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — every feature | No free version, no trial (“We don’t offer a trial version of the plugin. However, there is a 30-day refund policy”). Blog €39/yr (1 site), CMS €99/yr (3 sites), Agency €199/yr (unlimited) — first-year prices, yearly renewal for updates and support |
| Entry plan really usable? | Everything is in the free plugin | The €39 Blog plan excludes automatic translation, the Advanced Translation Editor, String Translation and page-builder support — for those you need CMS at €99/yr |
| AI / automatic translation | Bring your own key — DeepL, OpenAI, Anthropic (Claude), Google Gemini, Google Cloud: you pay the provider directly, no meter in the middle | Only through WPML’s credit system, processed on WPML’s servers. Their FAQ: “You can’t use API keys from DeepL, Google, or Microsoft”. Credits per word (Azure 1, DeepL/Google 2, WPML AI 4); CMS includes 90k credits/yr; on renewal credits top up to the plan amount, they don’t add up; extra credits €50/40k up to €800/1M, or pay-as-you-go from €0.75 down to €0.10 per 1,000 |
| Click-to-translate on the page | Yes — visual editor: click any text on the live page and translate it in a popup | No click-to-translate popup: translation happens in the separate side-by-side Advanced Translation Editor; the front end is used to review (and, since WPML 4.7, to auto-detect untranslated strings while browsing) |
| Where translations live | Your database | Your database too — and translations keep working after the license expires (you lose updates and support) |
| Database footprint | 3 tables (trrocket_) | 23 custom tables (icl_ prefix, documented) |
| Move your translations over | One-click WPML importer — reads WPML’s own tables, works even with WPML deactivated or expired | — |
| Preview before going live | Preview mode: admins see translations, visitors don’t, until you publish | No equivalent documented |
Prices and features as shown on wpml.org, checked July 2026. They may change — always verify on the official pages.
WPML is a trademark of its respective owner. This is an independent comparison and we are not affiliated with WPML.
Where WPML is genuinely strong
- Ecosystem: 15+ years on the market, an official directory of tested themes/plugins, and — by WPML’s own count — over 1.5 million sites.
- WooCommerce depth: WooCommerce Multilingual includes multicurrency — deeper e-commerce coverage than most translation plugins, TranslateRocket included.
- Professional workflows: translator roles, job assignment, and native integration with professional translation services.
- Fair guarantees: 30-day refund, plus a performance guarantee (“If WPML causes any performance issues and we can’t fix them, we’ll refund you up to 12 months after your purchase”).
Why people pick TranslateRocket instead
- €99–€199 a year becomes €0 — and there is no credit meter: with your own DeepL/OpenAI/Claude/Gemini key you pay cents to the provider, directly.
- Your content stays with your provider of choice. Automatic translation doesn’t transit through a vendor’s cloud: text goes only to the AI provider you configured, when you ask.
- The fastest workflow: click text on the live page, translate, done — no separate translation management screens to learn.
- Leaving WPML is a 5-minute, reversible job: the importer brings over string translations, titles, slugs and matching body text — even if your WPML license already expired. Full migration guide →
FAQ
Is TranslateRocket really free, even for features WPML charges for?
Yes — unlimited languages, SEO URLs and hreflang, the visual editor, importers: everything ships free. You only ever pay your own AI provider, directly, if you use AI.
Can I use my own DeepL or OpenAI key with WPML?
No — WPML’s FAQ states you can’t use your own API keys from DeepL, Google or Microsoft; automatic translation runs through WPML’s credit system. TranslateRocket is built around bring-your-own-key.
What happens to my translations if I leave WPML?
They stay in your database, and TranslateRocket’s importer reads them directly from WPML’s tables — WPML can be deactivated or expired. Nothing is deleted, so you can roll back anytime.
More comparisons: vs TranslatePress · vs WPML · vs Weglot · vs GTranslate · full comparison.
Want a hand with your site? I can do it for you
I am Federico, the developer of TranslateRocket — and building and translating WordPress sites is what I do for a living. That is how this plugin stays free: it is not crippled to sell you an upgrade, it is the tool I use every day on the sites I am paid to build.
A new multilingual site from scratch, a design put right, an existing site taken from one language to ten, custom development, reviewed translations, or a migration off a plugin that charges you every month: tell me what you need and I will tell you honestly whether I am the right person for it. You get the person who wrote the engine, not a support queue.
