In our interconnected world, having a website in multiple languages is no longer a luxury; it’s necessary for any organisation looking to reach audiences beyond a single language group. Multilingual websites allow you to communicate effectively across regions and cultures, giving your audience a seamless experience while helping you establish your brand as accessible and inclusive.

Choosing the right multilingual website builder can be a game-changer, allowing you to easily manage different languages, enhance your SEO, and grow your business. This guide explores why multilingual websites are essential, key features to consider, and in-depth reviews of the best website builders for creating a multilingual site.

The Importance of a Multilingual Website in Today’s Global Market

Creating a multilingual website does more than just translate content; it demonstrates your commitment to understanding and valuing diverse cultures. Here’s why it’s so crucial:

Broader Market Reach

Offering content in multiple languages increases your potential market size by making it accessible to speakers of other languages who might otherwise be unable to engage with your offerings.

Improved Conversion Rates

Studies show that users are far more likely to purchase a product or service from a website in their native language, even if they are proficient in English. Catering to this need will likely improve your site’s conversion rates.

Stronger Brand Identity

A multilingual website shows that you’re willing to invest in communicating effectively with various audiences, which can improve your brand’s reputation as global and culturally aware.

Enhanced SEO

A multilingual site enables you to rank higher in non-English search results. For instance, having Spanish, French, or German content can significantly boost your visibility in regions where those languages are predominantly spoken.

Greater Engagement and User Retention

Visitors are likelier to stay on a website that speaks their language. Multilingual websites often have higher engagement and retention rates, as users feel more comfortable interacting with content they understand fully.

Essential Features of a Multilingual Website Builder

A few core features are essential to ensure smooth operation and a compelling user experience when building a multilingual website.

1. Seamless Language Management

The website builder should allow easy duplication and management of pages in various languages. Look for a dashboard that lets you control all language versions from a single interface, simplifying updates and content management across languages.

2. Machine and Manual Translation Options

Many builders now offer integrated machine translation (e.g., Google Translate) for quick, on-the-go translations. However, it’s equally important to have the option for manual translation to ensure accuracy, especially for nuanced language or branding elements that machine translation may misinterpret. Some builders even allow integration with professional translation services directly within the platform.

3. SEO Support for Multiple Languages

SEO features are vital for multilingual sites to rank globally in search engines. Look for builders that allow you to set up hreflang tags (which indicate language and regional targeting to search engines), language-specific metadata, and URL structures (e.g., subdirectories or subdomains) to improve search visibility in each language.

4. Localisation Capabilities

Localisation goes beyond language translation by adapting the content, visuals, and layout to suit specific cultural contexts. This may involve customising currency, regional phrases, and imagery, which can enhance the user experience for visitors from different regions. Ideally, your builder should allow customisation for each language to reflect these preferences.

5. Automatic Language Detection and Redirects

To enhance user experience, some builders offer automatic language detection based on a user’s IP address or browser settings, which redirects them to the appropriate language version of the site. Where automatic redirection isn’t possible, a visible and user-friendly language switcher should be available for manual selection.

6. Mobile Responsiveness

As global audiences increasingly access websites from mobile devices, choosing a builder that offers responsive design templates is essential. Your multilingual site should look and function seamlessly on all screen sizes, allowing users to engage with your content on mobile, tablet, or desktop.

7. Flexible URL Structures for SEO

SEO best practices for multilingual sites involve setting up URLs that reflect language versions. For example, subdirectories (e.g., yoursite.com/fr/ for French) or subdomains (e.g., fr.yoursite.com) help search engines understand that the content is intended for different language speakers.

8. Integration with Global Payment Gateways and Currencies

For eCommerce sites, providing multilingual content is only part of the equation. Supporting regional payment methods and displaying prices in local currencies are critical for enhancing user experience and maximising conversions. Builders that integrate with various global payment gateways and allow currency customisation are essential for eCommerce-focused multilingual sites.

In-Depth Look at Leading Multilingual Website Builders

Let’s examine some of the top website builders in more detail, examining how each caters to the needs of a multilingual audience.

1. Wix: Simple and User-Friendly Multilingual Capabilities

Wix is widely regarded for its user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, which makes it suitable for users with limited technical skills.

Pros

Wix’s multilingual app quickly duplicates pages into different languages. It also automatically creates SEO-friendly language-specific URLs, which is beneficial for ranking on search engines. Furthermore, Wix enables content customisation for each language, allowing for slight tweaks to text or images based on the target audience.

Cons

Wix relies on subdomains (e.g., fr.yoursite.com) for language versions, which some SEO experts suggest is less effective than subdirectories for international SEO. Additionally, automatic language detection and redirection features are limited.

Cost: Wix offers various pricing plans, with higher tiers offering increased bandwidth, storage, and eCommerce capabilities.

Ideal For: Small businesses, freelancers, and bloggers need a straightforward yet functional multilingual setup without extensive customisation needs.

2. WordPress with WPML Plugin: High Flexibility and Scalability

In combination with the WPML (WordPress Multilingual Plugin), WordPress is one of the most versatile options for creating highly customised multilingual websites.

Pros

WPML supports complete content translation for all types of content, including posts, pages, and custom post types. It offers robust SEO support with hreflang tags, customisable URLs, and the ability to use subdirectories, subdomains, or even separate domains for different languages. WPML also integrates with professional translation services, which is invaluable for businesses needing high-quality translations.

Cons

WPML requires some familiarity with WordPress and can be challenging for beginners. Additionally, the plugin incurs a yearly subscription cost, and additional plugins may be required for complete eCommerce functionality, adding to the cost.

Cost: WPML plans start at an affordable rate, with a higher-tier plan offering advanced features like automatic updates and translation management.

Ideal For: Mid-sized to large websites, including blogs, eCommerce platforms, and businesses looking for extensive control over multilingual features.

3. Shopify: Ideal for Multilingual eCommerce Sites

Shopify is widely regarded as one of the best eCommerce platforms. It offers a range of features and plugins to support global businesses.

Pros

Shopify offers a range of third-party apps (such as Langify and Weglot) to help translate content and set up multilingual SEO. The platform is powerful in localisation, supporting multiple currencies, global payment gateways, and localised shipping options. Shopify’s setup is straightforward, allowing new users to quickly build a functional eCommerce site.

Cons

Shopify’s native multilingual support is somewhat limited. You’ll need third-party apps for full multilingual capabilities, which adds to the cost.

Cost: Shopify offers a range of plans, with higher-priced options offering additional functionality such as international domains and advanced reporting.

Ideal For: eCommerce businesses focused on expanding to international markets with a high sales volume.

4. Squarespace: Beautiful Designs with Multilingual Potential

Squarespace is known for its high-quality, design-oriented templates that suit creatives, professionals, and small businesses.

Pros

Squarespace’s multilingual options include support for language-specific content and the integration of third-party translation apps. Its highly responsive and visually appealing templates ensure each language version looks polished on any device.

Cons

Squarespace’s multilingual support is more manual, with page duplication required to create language versions. Additionally, automatic language detection isn’t available, so visitors must manually select their language.

Cost: Squarespace plans are priced competitively, with advanced features such as eCommerce capabilities in the higher tiers.

Ideal For: Professionals, creatives, and small business owners looking to create a visually compelling site with moderate multilingual needs.

5. Duda: Performance-focused with Native Multilingual Support

Duda is a website builder that prioritises performance and multilingual support, making it an ideal choice for agencies and enterprises.

Pros

Duda offers built-in multilingual capabilities, including language-specific SEO settings, automatic language detection, and a streamlined process for creating language-specific versions. It also allows extensive content customisation for each language, giving users control over images, videos, and layout adjustments.

Cons

Duda’s price point is higher than that of other builders, reflecting its more advanced features. For small businesses or personal projects, it may be cost-prohibitive.

Cost: Duda plans start at a higher rate and are tailored towards agencies or larger teams.

Ideal For: Agencies, enterprise-level sites, and businesses prioritising performance and localisation capabilities.

Conclusion

Choosing the right website builder for a multilingual site depends on your specific needs, technical skill level, and budget. Each builder discussed offers unique advantages, from Shopify’s eCommerce focus to WordPress’s extensive customisation potential. When choosing, prioritise features like language management, localisation options, SEO support, and automatic detection to ensure a smooth, user-friendly experience for your global audience.