Which Shopify Translation Apps Offer Best Accuracy and Speed?

Translating a Shopify store may seem like a straightforward endeavor, but the reality is often far more complex. Imagine trying to translate a product description embedded in intricate HTML, only to find that the formatting is lost or the dynamic content fails to display correctly! This is where specialized translation apps come into play, offering solutions designed to translate even the most technical content.

In this article, we’ll compare the best translation apps for Shopify, focusing on their ability to handle complex store elements efficiently, without impinging on quality. By understanding these apps’ capabilities, you’ll be able to choose the right one for your needs, and accelerate your global expansion efforts.

Top 5 Shopify Translation Apps for Accuracy and Speed

Translation apps are essential tools for Shopify store owners looking to expand into global markets. They provide automated solutions for translating content, enabling businesses to reach international customers and potentially boosting engagement and conversion rates.

With worldwide online retail sales expected to make up 23% of total sales by the year 2027, tapping into international markets can significantly boost sales. Dedicated apps save time and costs compared to manual methods, allowing even smaller Shopify stores to use multiple languages and compete internationally.

We’ve selected five of the leading translation apps for Shopify and put them to the test. We’ve looked into each app’s translation capabilities, SEO features, and any impact they have on site speed and overall performance. We’ll also detail any standout features, and compare pricing plans, so site owners can make a truly educated choice as to the best solution for their brand.

Here’s an introduction to our contenders:

1. Weglot

Known for its ability to translate dynamic content and third-party apps, Weglot can translate your store into 110 languages instantly. With automatic translation and human human-editing, Weglot’s  Visual Editor allows for easy manual adjustments, ensuring high accuracy, and its hreflang and subdomain implementations are great boosts for multilingual SEO.

2. Langify

This app is favored for its SEO-friendly features, creating language-specific domains and customizable language switchers. Langify also supports manual editing, giving users precise control over translations.‍

3. GTranslate

Utilizing Google’s Neural Machine Translation, GTranslate ensures improved accuracy across multiple languages. Excellent analytics can help store owners understand their international market performance.

4. LangShop

With support for over 200 third-party apps, LangShop excels in integrating with complex tech stacks. It offers various translation methods, including AI-powered options.‍

5. Transcy

This app stands out with its ability to translate images and media content in addition to text. Transcy supports real-time currency conversion, making it ideal for a global audience.

Comparing Features: Weglot, Transcy, Langify, GTranslate, and LangShop

Understanding the unique features of each option is vital before making any decisions. Here’s an overview of our five software choices, followed by a detailed comparison below the table.

HTML and Technical Content Translation Capabilities

When it comes to translating HTML and technical content, the differences among the five translation apps become apparent:

1. Weglot: Weglot excels in translating content within HTML tags, including JavaScript and AJAX. It handles all dynamic content and Right-to-Left (RTL) languages, making it ideal for complex Shopify themes. Weglot’s integration capabilities extend to various third-party apps, ensuring comprehensive site translation.
2. Transcy: Known for its robust HTML translation, Transcy performs particularly well with image alt texts and custom CSS. However, it may struggle with very complex JavaScript implementations.
3. Langify: While Langify provides accurate HTML translation, it may require manual adjustments for highly customized themes. It generally manages most dynamic content well but can face challenges with some AJAX-loaded elements.
4. GTranslate: Utilizing Google's translation API, GTranslate offers solid HTML translation. It performs effectively with standard Shopify themes but may need additional configuration for heavily customized stores.
5. LangShop: This app provides comprehensive HTML translation, including support for RTL languages. It excels in translating product variants and customer reviews but may struggle with some third-party app content.

In summary, Weglot and LangShop stand out for their ability to handle technically complex Shopify stores, while Transcy offers unique capabilities in visual content translation. GTranslate and Langify provide reliable performance for standard implementations but may require more attention for highly customized stores.

Speed and Performance Benchmarks

Speed and accuracy vary significantly across these translation apps, impacting user experience and operational efficiency:

1. Weglot: Weglot translates content on the server-side, which ensures that translations are displayed quickly. Overall performance remains strong due to its efficient handling of translated content through a Content Delivery Network (CDN), which reduces loading times for users globally. No significant impact on load speeds.
2. Transcy: While Transcy supports an extensive range of languages at 148, some users have reported slower speeds after installation, with one case showing a drop to a performance score of 28 on Google PageSpeed. The app’s performance can vary based on the complexity of the store and the number of languages used.
3. Langify: While Langify provides good control over translations, users have reported that it can be slower than other apps due to its more complex setup process. The app’s loading speed is generally good, but manual editing features may require more processing time during translation updates.
4. GTranslate: GTranslate uses Google Translate for automatic translations and can handle multiple languages effectively. However, depending on how it’s configured (e.g. using subdomains), it may affect loading speeds slightly due to additional requests made to load different language versions of pages.
5. LangShop: LangShop supports a wide range of languages at 241 and provides quick translations. However, the initial setup might take longer due to configuration needs. The app has been designed to minimize impact on load times through efficient translation processes. Users generally report satisfactory performance with minimal slowdowns.

In terms of performance during high-traffic scenarios like Black Friday, both Weglot and GTranslate maintain speed effectively. However, others may experience slight delays under heavy loads. For stores frequently updating content, Weglot and Transcy offer the most efficient real-time translation capabilities.

SEO Optimization and Multilingual Features Across Apps

SEO optimization and multilingual features vary significantly across translation apps, impacting how effectively stores can reach global audiences. Here’s a breakdown of each app’s capabilities:

1. Weglot

• URL structure: Offers both subdirectory (e.g. /fr/) and subdomain (e.g. fr.) options.
• Hreflang: Automatically implements hreflang tags for better search engine indexing.

• Meta translation: Fully translates meta titles, descriptions, and alt text.

• RTL support: Comprehensive support for right-to-left languages.
• Geolocation: Provides automatic language switching based on browser language.
• Shopify Markets integration: Compatible with Shopify Markets..

2. Transcy

• URL structure: Supports subdirectory and parameter-based URLs.
• Hreflang: Automatically implements hreflang tags.
• Meta translation: Translates all SEO elements, including structured data.
• RTL support: Offers full support for right-to-left languages.
• Geolocation: Includes IP-based language detection.
• Shopify Markets integration: Compatible with Shopify Markets.

3. Langify

• URL structure: Provides subdomain and subdirectory options.
• Hreflang: Automatically adds hreflang tags.
• Meta translation: Allows manual editing of translated meta elements.
• RTL support: Supports right-to-left languages.
• Geolocation: Offers browser-based language detection.
• Shopify Markets integration: Limited integration with Shopify Markets.

4. GTranslate

• URL structure: Offers subdomain and subdirectory options.
• Hreflang: Implements hreflang tags automatically.
• Meta translation: Translates meta elements using Google Translate.
• RTL support: Supports right-to-left languages.
• Geolocation: Provides IP-based language switching.
• Shopify Markets integration: Basic integration with Shopify Markets.

5. LangShop

• URL structure: Supports subdirectory and parameter-based URLs.
• Hreflang: Automatically adds hreflang tags.
• Meta translation: Translates all SEO elements, including JSON-LD.
• RTL support: Full support for right-to-left languages.
• Geolocation: Offers browser-based and IP-based language detection.
• Shopify Markets integration: Comprehensive integration with Shopify Markets.

Weglot and LangShop stand out for their comprehensive SEO features and simple Shopify Markets integration. For stores targeting specific regions, Weglot and LangShop offer the best localization features, allowing for region-specific content beyond basic translation.

Pricing and Value: Finding the Right Fit For Your Store

Choosing the right translation app also involves understanding pricing structures to find a fit that aligns with your store’s needs and marketing budget:

1. Weglot: Offers a tiered pricing model based on word count and languages. Plans start at €15/month for up to 10,000 words and one language. Enterprise plans are available for larger-scale needs, along with a 10-day free trial and free plan available.
2. Transcy: Uses a tiered model based on features and translated languages, with plans starting from $11.99 per month. It offers a free plan with limited features and a 7-day trial for paid plans.
3. Langify: Subscription-based pricing begins at $17.50/month for up to 20 languages. Higher tiers provide additional features, along with a 7-day free trial.
4. GTranslate: Provides both free and premium plans, with paid options starting at $9.99 per month. Features increase by tier, accompanied by a 15-day free trial.
5. LangShop: Offers a free plan alongside paid options starting at $10/month. Pricing scales with features and the number of languages, including a 7-day free trial for paid plans.

For small stores with basic needs, GTranslate’s free plan or Transcy’s entry-level option may suffice. Medium-sized stores with more complex requirements will find Weglot’s options more suitable. Large enterprises or stores needing extensive translations should consider Weglot’s or LangShop’s higher-tier plans for comprehensive features and scalability.

Implementing Your Chosen Translation App: Next Steps

So there we have it! In our comparison of the best translation apps for Shopify, we’ve looked at translation capabilities, performance, SEO, and pricing, and it’s safe to say that there’s a tool for all needs and budgets.

When shopping around, it’s worth considering the long haul, and having an app that can scale with your brand’s own growth can make a real difference. Also consider the savings that can be made from employing an app that’s super efficient and offers high-quality translations.

Transforming your single-language Shopify store into a global storefront is easier than ever with Weglot. Its simple integration process allows you to get started in just a few clicks.

Automatic translation ensures your content is handled quickly, while full human editing capabilities let you refine translations as needed. Compatible with all website technologies, Weglot also improves search engine visibility, and a centralized dashboard makes it easy to collaborate with teammates.

Experience how Weglot simplifies the translation process by starting a 10-day free trial today!