Loco Translate vs Polylang (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Translation Plugins top 10: Loco Translate at #3 and Polylang at #7. Loco Translate leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Loco Translate
Translate WordPress plugins and themes directly in your browser. Versatile PO file editor with integrated AI translation providers.
Polylang
Go multilingual in a simple and efficient way. Keep writing posts and taxonomy terms as usual while defining their languages all at once.
Who leads on what
Loco Translate leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Loco Translate ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #7 in Translation Plugins.
Loco Translate has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 800,000+.
Loco Translate is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 452 reviews, against 4.7 from 2,984 reviews.
Polylang has more reviews behind its score: 2,984 against 452.
Polylang was updated more recently, on August 17, 2026; Loco Translate on August 1, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Loco Translate
Pick Loco Translate if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run or the review score matters most to you.
Polylang
Pick Polylang if you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Loco Translate vs Polylang side by side
| Loco Translate | Polylang | |
|---|---|---|
| Translation Plugins ranking | #3 | #7 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 452 | 2,984 |
| Active installs | 1 million+ | 800,000+ |
| Total downloads | 38,028,449 | 28,576,140 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 1, 2026 | Aug 17, 2026 |
| First published | Jul 23, 2013 | Sep 22, 2011 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Loco Translate ratings
Polylang ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Loco Translate nor Polylang can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Translation Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Loco Translate vs Polylang: common questions
Is Loco Translate better than Polylang?
Loco Translate leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Loco Translate ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #7 in Translation Plugins.
Which has more users, Loco Translate or Polylang?
Loco Translate ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #7 in Translation Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Loco Translate or Polylang?
Loco Translate has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 800,000+.
Are Loco Translate and Polylang free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Loco Translate may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Polylang may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Loco Translate and Polylang
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
Translate WordPress with GTranslate
900,000+ installs · 4.9 from 4,951 reviews
-
TranslatePress
400,000+ installs · 4.7 from 1,654 reviews
-
WP Multilang
10,000+ installs · 4.3 from 100 reviews
-
Multilingual Contact Form 7 with Polylang
9,000+ installs · 4.9 from 17 reviews
-
Universally
20,000+ installs · 5.0 from 1 reviews
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- Loco Translate vs WPML Multilingual & Multicurrency for WooCommerce
- Loco Translate vs WP Multilang
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.