How to Add a Google Translate Button to WordPress (Fast & Free)

As times change, more and more businesses are focusing on accessibility and inclusivity to reach global audiences. And that includes providing a quick way for international visitors to read your content via the Google Translate widget.

Fortunately, there is an easy, non-code-y way of doing so: Google Translate.

It is a fast, free way to add a translation switcher to your site without the complexity of a full multi-language site. Whether you’re an agency, an ecommerce store, or any other business, you can set Google Translate to WordPress without coding in a few minutes.

In this blog, you will learn how to integrate Google Translate and how to use it, the limitations of machine translation for SEO, and some alternative plugin options so you can explore the most popular ones.

Why Use Google Translate on Your WordPress Website?

If you use Google Translate, you’ll be able to reach a broader audience by offering content in multiple languages since many may prefer to use their native language when browsing. Offering this option can significantly improve your site’s user experience.

Even though Google Translate can’t replace a professional translator, it is the most convenient way to add instant accessibility. It’s perfect for sites that don’t need a complex multi-language site structure but want to offer a better experience for global users. It is highly convenient for quickly making your site accessible to users across the globe. You’ll definitely find out ahead.

However, SEO is a tricky thing when using multiple languages on your website. More on that later.

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Step-by-Step Guide to Add Google Translate to WordPress

To add Google Translate on WordPress and then configure it, follow these 5 steps:

• Step 1: Install the Google Language Translator Plugin
• Step 2: Configure Google Translator Settings
• Step 3: Add Google Translate to Your WordPress Navigation
• Step 4: Set Up Google Translate for WordPress Usage Settings
• Step 5: Test the Translation Feature

Let’s begin…

Step 1: Install the Google Language Translator Plugin

The first step would be to install the plugin and activate it. To do so,

• Go to your WordPress Dashboard.
• Navigate to Plugins > Add New.

• Search for the Google Language Translator plugin.
• Click Install Now.

• Then Activate.

Step 2: Configure Google Translator Settings

Once the plugin is activated,

• Go to Installed Plugins.
• Look for Google Language Translator.
• Under there, look for Settings.

Here, you will find lots of options, as seen in the image below:

💡Please check the box (shown in the image below) to activate the plugin, though it should already be checked by default.

💡You will also need to select the current language of your website. While the plugin typically auto-selects this, it’s a good idea to double-check and ensure the correct language is chosen. In my case, it’s set to English.

Right on the main screen, you will see a long list of languages and checkboxes under What Languages Will Be Active. Next to it are two options

• Select all
• Clear

The first option allows the translation from the original language, English, into any language. In the second option, you can specify particular languages for translation.

I have selected French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Next, choose to display flags for each language that you have selected.

Step 3: Add Google Translate to Your WordPress Navigation

You can customize the display settings, such as choosing a button or dropdown style for the translation widget. Scroll down to Floating Widget Settings to find settings like:

• Show Floating Translation Widget: Decide whether to display the floating translation widget on your site or not.
• Custom Text for the Floating Widget: Type any text you would like to be displayed in the floating widget.
• Allow Floating Widget Text to Translate: Check this option if you wish the text on the floating widget to be translated into other languages.
• Floating Widget Position: Select the position of the floating widget on your website that is more appropriate for your website.
• Floating Widget Text Color: Change the color of the text that appears in the floating widget according to the general theme of your site.
• Floating Widget Background Color: Customize the background color of the floating widget to match your website’s design and overall aesthetic.

Check out the image below to see how I have tweaked my settings:

This shows I want to display my widget in the top center, and I want it to be red in color. Plus, I’ve changed the text to “Translate For Me”.

Once done, scroll down and save the settings.

Here’s what the changes I did look like. The translation widget is on the top center with the text and colors I wanted:

And then here goes the German version of my Home Page:

Step 4: Set Up Google Translate for WordPress Usage Settings

The Google Language Translator plugin enables you to place the Google Translate widget in any part of your WordPress site, including the pages, posts, sidebars, headers, and footers.

Scroll down to find the Usage section. It will tell you the codes you’re supposed to use.

Here’s how you can use the plugin with different shortcodes and PHP code:

1. For Usage in Pages/Posts/Sidebar:

• Open the page or post where you want the translation widget to appear.
• In the page/post editor, insert the [google-translator] shortcode where you want the widget to show up.

Here is the result:

2. For Usage in Header/Footer/Page Templates:

If you want to add the Google Translate widget directly into your site’s header, footer, or custom page templates, you can use PHP code instead of a shortcode.

Add the following PHP code to the appropriate template file:

<?php echo do_shortcode('[google-translator]'); ?>

Step 5: Test the Translation Feature

Cool, now you have the Google Translate button active on your WordPress website. As I did above, once you save changes, check your live website and see that your users will have a good experience.

Other than that, it is always better to get the translations checked by a native speaker, especially for your important landing pages.

As a business owner, you are building a narrative and maintaining an image. Make sure the translations are accurate!

Alternative Plugins to Google Translate for WordPress

With more than 100,000 active installations and a 4.5-star rating, Google Language Translator is a pretty good option.

But if you want to use a different plugin for automatic translation, you can consider these alternatives:

1. GTranslate

GTranslate is a WordPress translation plugin that will enable you to translate your content, pages, as well as widgets.

It is useful for all types of users, whether bloggers who need to translate their sites or companies that are entering new markets.

Unlike most translation plugins, GTranslate is designed to be cloud-based, which means your website’s speed will not be compromised.

Key Features

• Neural machine translation (NMT)
• URL translation
• Browser language detection

Ratings & Reviews

GTranslate has a rating of 5 stars (4,232) on WordPress.org

2. Weglot

With Weglot, users are able to translate their whole site within minutes without any coding experience needed due to the platform’s sleek design.

It translates into over 100 languages and has a visual editor in which people can view and edit the translated text right on the website.

Key Features

• Media Translation
• Automatic content detection
• 100+ languages

Ratings & Reviews

Weglot has a rating of 5 (1,784) on wordpress.org.

3. WPML

– WPML

WPML is a professional-grade solution for those who want a truly multilingual site. Unlike a simple Google Translate button, WPML allows you to rank in search engines in different languages. For a full comparison of these setups, check out our step-by-step WordPress multilingual guide.

Key Features

• Single WordPress installation for multiple languages
• Simple translation coverage
• Multilingual SEO
• Multilingual & multicurrency eCommerce translation

Ratings & Reviews

WPML has a rating of 4.5 (96) on Capterra.

Google Translate vs. Multilingual SEO: What is the Difference?

While adding a Google Translate button is a fantastic way to improve user experience for international visitors, it is important to understand that it is not a full Multilingual SEO strategy.

Because the translation happens instantly in the user’s browser (client-side), search engines like Google do not see or index the translated versions of your pages. This means your site will not rank in search results for foreign language keywords just by using a Google Translate widget.

When to Upgrade to a Full Multilingual Setup

If your goal is to grow your business globally and rank in international search results, you need a more robust solution than a translation button. A professional multilingual site requires:

• Dedicated URLs: Creating specific paths for languages (e.g., yourstore.com/es/).
• Hreflang Tags: Code that tells Google exactly which language version to show in which country.
• Indexable Content: Storing translations on your server so search engines can “read” them.
• Localized Metadata: Translating your SEO titles and descriptions.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, adding the Google Translate button to your WordPress site is a fast, cost-effective way to improve accessibility for global visitors. While it doesn’t replace a full international SEO strategy, it’s a great ‘quick-fix’ for businesses that want to be more inclusive without a complex setup.

Thanks to the easy WordPress plugin installation process you learned in this blog, you can add translation capabilities to your site without knowing how to code.

WordPress Google Translate also offers several navigation options, such as where to place your translation widget.

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