Introduction

The best shopify translation app can turn a single-market store into a multi-market revenue engine. Choosing the right app affects SEO, checkout language, product feed translations, and the time it takes to go live in a new market. Many merchants underestimate the technical and content work required to translate product descriptions, meta tags, and checkout flows while maintaining site speed and SEO.

This guide explains what to look for, compares the top apps, gives pricing and rollout timelines, and delivers a practical checklist you can use today. You will learn which apps offer machine translation, which support human editing and professional services, how each app handles translated URLs for SEO, and a 4-6 week implementation timeline for stores of typical sizes. The recommendations focus on measurable outcomes: faster time to market, improved organic traffic in new markets, and conversion uplift from localized content.

What to look for in the best shopify translation app

Choosing the best shopify translation app starts with defining your goals: SEO-driven growth, speed to market, cost control, or enterprise-grade localization. Each goal changes which features matter most.

If SEO is a priority, look for apps that:

Create translated URLs or subfolders (example: /fr/ for French) so search engines index language versions.
Let you translate meta title, description, alt text, and hreflang tags.
Avoid client-side translation only (which is weaker for SEO).

If speed and low cost matter, prioritize:

Automatic machine translation with bulk import/export capability.
A good editor so a small team can review and fix machine output.
CDN-friendly delivery to avoid slowing page loads.

If quality and brand voice matter, choose apps that:

Offer professional human translation or easy integration with agencies.
Support glossary and translation memory (TM) features.
Allow product-level or collection-level manual overrides.

Key technical concerns to evaluate:

URL structure options: subfolders, subdomains, or query-strings. Subfolders are best for SEO in most cases.
Checkout and cart translation: native Shopify checkout support is limited; verify that the app covers checkout text or that Shopify Markets will handle it.
Page speed and code bloat: check app reviews for reported site speed impacts.
CMS and theme compatibility: ensure the app supports your theme, page builders, and dynamic sections.
Support and SLA: multi-market launches need prompt support across time zones.

Example: If you sell 2,000 SKUs and plan to add two languages, estimate the work: even with 80% machine translation coverage, expect 20-40 hours for editorial review of high-value pages and product descriptions. Budget 1-3 days for app setup and integration tests, and 2-4 weeks for full QA and SEO indexing.

best shopify translation app top picks and comparisons

Below are commonly used apps and how they compare on core criteria. Pricing is provided as a snapshot as of June 2024; confirm current pricing on each vendor site before purchase.

Weglot

Type: Automatic machine translation + human editing and professional services.
SEO: Creates translated subfolders and hreflang support.
Strengths: Fast setup (minutes), translation memory, good UI for editors.
Pricing: Free plan for very small sites (limited words and 1 language). Paid plans typically start at about 9-15 EUR monthly and scale by translated words and languages; higher tiers for teams and enterprise support.
Best for: Merchants who want fast, SEO-friendly translations with easy editing.

GTranslate

Type: Automatic translation with paid tiers that enable SEO-friendly URL structure.
SEO: Premium tiers produce server-side or subfolder pages for indexing.
Strengths: Lower-cost options for basic needs, supports many languages.
Pricing: Free tier for display-only translations; paid tiers for SEO start around $9.99/month, with advanced plans for SEO and custom domains higher.
Best for: Budget-focused stores that need quick multilingual display and optional SEO indexing.

Langify

Type: Manual translations with a strong editor and redirect management.
SEO: Supports translated meta tags and SEO-friendly URLs (subfolders).
Strengths: Very good control for manual/localized copy; stable performance.
Pricing: Typically around $17.50 - $20/month, sometimes with a trial.
Best for: Merchants who will handle translations themselves or work with translators.

Transcy (OneCommerce)

Type: Automatic translation, manual editing, and marketing localization tools.
SEO: Offers SEO-friendly URL options in higher tiers.
Strengths: Integrated currency switch and localized popups; built for conversion features.
Pricing: Free tier for basic use; paid plans typically range $9 - $29+/month depending on features.
Best for: Stores that need translation plus conversion-localization features like currency and targeted banners.

Shopify Translate & Adapt (native)

Type: Native Shopify translation tool for theme content and product fields.
SEO: Basic support; does not create separate URLs. Use Shopify Markets for full multi-domain/subfolder strategy.
Strengths: Free, integrated with Shopify admin, no third-party app fees.
Limitations: Limited SEO capabilities and less automation than dedicated apps.
Best for: Stores testing localization or with limited content to translate.

Translation Lab (free app)

Type: Community-built, manual translator with CSV export/import.
SEO: Limited; not ideal for enterprise SEO indexing.
Strengths: Free, simple, good for small stores.
Best for: Small merchants or merchants who want a no-cost manual solution.

How to choose between them

For fast, SEO-focused expansion: Weglot or GTranslate (SEO tiers).
For low-cost manual control: Langify or Translation Lab.
For integration with Shopify admin and minimal budget: Shopify Translate & Adapt combined with Shopify Markets.
For conversion plus localization (prices and banners): Transcy.

Example decision: A store with 3,000 SKUs and a marketing team of 2 who want professional-quality French and German translations should plan for Weglot or Langify plus 40-80 hours of editorial work and a monthly translation budget from $30 to $150 depending on volume and professional service use.

Implementation process and 6-week rollout timeline

A practical rollout needs clear milestones, owner responsibilities, and QA phases. Below is a sample 6-week plan for adding two languages to a mid-size Shopify store (1,500 products).

Week 1 - Preparation

Select the app and sign up for a trial.
Export product CSV and key content (blog posts, meta tags).
Create a localization brief and glossary for brand terms.
Assign roles: project lead, editor, QA tester, SEO owner.

Week 2 - Initial translation and setup

Configure language switcher, domain/subfolder settings, and hreflang.
Run bulk machine translation for product titles, descriptions, and key pages.
Integrate the app with analytics (Google Analytics 4) and set up language filters.

Week 3 - Editorial pass and SEO setup

Editors review top 200 SKUs, key landing pages, and home page.
Translate and optimize meta titles and descriptions for target languages.
Generate and submit language-specific sitemaps if the app supports it.

Week 4 - Theme, checkout, and app compatibility QA

Verify translated content in cart and checkout flows (Shopify Plus or Markets may be required for full checkout translation).
Check compatibility with apps that inject content (reviews, product options).
Fix layout issues for longer translations.

Week 5 - Pre-launch testing and indexing

Run cross-browser and mobile tests for each language.
Create a small paid traffic test (Facebook or Google) to the new language landing page to measure engagement.
Use Google Search Console to request indexing of language subfolders.

Week 6 - Launch and monitoring

Remove test flags and enable language switcher for users.
Monitor organic positions, index coverage, bounce rate, and conversions by language daily for first two weeks.
Triage issues and set a weekly cadence for ongoing translation tasks.

Metrics to watch

Organic impressions and clicks for translated pages in Google Search Console.
Conversion rate by language and average order value.
Page load time and Core Web Vitals per language.
Error reports and broken links.

Example resource allocation

Project lead: 8-12 hours upfront, then 2-4 hours/week.
Editors: 40-80 hours for 1,500 products at a 20-40 second per SKU edit rate for high-value items.
Developer: 6-12 hours for theme fixes and analytics.

Tools and resources

This section lists tools, approximate pricing, and where they fit in your localization stack. Prices are indicative as of June 2024; confirm current pricing on vendor websites.

Translation apps

Weglot
Pricing: free tier for tiny sites; paid from roughly 10-20 EUR/month for small sites. Scales by translated words and languages.
Availability: Shopify App Store, web dashboard.
Good for: SEO-friendly, quick setup, translation memory.
GTranslate
Pricing: free display-only tier; paid SEO plans starting near $9.99/month; enterprise options available.
Availability: Shopify App Store.
Good for: Budget-friendly machine translation with SEO upgrade.
Langify
Pricing: typically around $17.50-$20/month; check for trial or promos.
Availability: Shopify App Store.
Good for: Manual translation control and stable theme compatibility.
Transcy (OneCommerce)
Pricing: free tier; paid tiers about $9-$29+/month with advanced features.
Availability: Shopify App Store.
Good for: Translation + currency switch + localization marketing.

Shopify-native and free options

Shopify Translate & Adapt (native)
Pricing: free within Shopify admin.
Good for: Simple translations, testing localization without extra cost.
Translation Lab
Pricing: free community app.
Good for: Manual small-scale translations.

Professional translation services

Gengo, TextMaster, TransPerfect, OneHourTranslation
Pricing: ranges from $0.04 - $0.20+ per word depending on language and quality.
Good for: High-quality, brand-sensitive translations.

SEO and dev tools

Google Search Console: free - submit sitemaps, monitor index coverage by language.
Screaming Frog SEO Spider: desktop tool for crawling multi-language URLs; pricing around 209 GBP/year for full license.
GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights: free - check page speed impacts.

Testing and analytics

Google Analytics 4: free - set up language segments and funnels.
Hotjar or FullStory: trials and paid plans - watch user behavior per language.

Checklist you can export

Export CSVs: product, collections, pages.
Create glossary: 20-50 brand terms first.
Choose URL structure: subfolder recommended for SEO.
Run pilot: translate top 100 SKUs and one landing page first.
Measure: set baseline metrics for traffic and conversions.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Relying only on client-side machine translation

Why it hurts: Search engines may not index client-side text, killing SEO.
How to avoid: Choose apps that offer server-side translations or create subfolders that can be crawled.

Translating UI but not meta tags or alt text

Why it hurts: Organic search and image search remain untapped if meta content stays in the original language.
How to avoid: Include meta titles, descriptions, and image alt text in your translation plan and QA checklist.

Neglecting glossary and tone controls

Why it hurts: Inconsistent brand voice and mistranslations that confuse customers.
How to avoid: Build a 20-50 term glossary before machine translation to lock brand names, SKU codes, and legal text.

Skipping checkout and payment localization

Why it hurts: Customers might abandon carts if shipping, taxes, and payment flows feel foreign.
How to avoid: Test checkout flows for each country; use Shopify Markets or third-party apps for localized payments and duties.

Not planning for ongoing content

Why it hurts: New products and blog posts will remain untranslated, creating a fragmented customer experience.
How to avoid: Create an editorial workflow to translate new content weekly, and use translation memory to reduce recurring costs.

FAQ

What is the Best Way to Get SEO Benefits From Translated Pages?

Use an app or setup that creates server-side or subfolder URLs for each language, translate meta tags and alt text, and submit separate sitemaps or use hreflang tags so search engines understand language targeting.

Do Automatic Translations Harm Brand Voice?

Machine translations produce immediate content but often lack nuance. Always run a human editorial pass on high-value pages to maintain brand voice and prevent embarrassing errors.

Will a Translation App Slow Down My Shopify Store?

Some apps introduce client-side scripts that can affect performance. Choose apps with CDN delivery and server-side rendering where possible, and monitor Core Web Vitals after installation.

How Much Does Professional Translation Cost?

Professional translation typically ranges from $0.04 to $0.20+ per word depending on language and quality. For 10,000 words expect $400 - $2,000. Use a mix of machine translation plus human editing to control costs.

Can I Translate Checkout and Email Notifications?

Checkout translation often depends on Shopify plan and the app. Shopify Markets and Shopify Plus have better native support for multi-market checkouts. Email notifications can usually be edited in Shopify admin or handled via the translation app if supported.

Next steps

Audit your content

Export product CSVs and list pages, blogs, and meta tags. Identify top 10% of SKUs by revenue to prioritize translation.

Start a pilot

Install a 2-week trial of 1-2 apps (Weglot and Langify or GTranslate) and translate a sample of 100 SKUs and one landing page to test SEO and UX.

Build a glossary and workflow

Produce a 20-50 term glossary, assign editors, and create a weekly content translation schedule for new items.

Launch and measure

Use the 6-week rollout timeline above, monitor Google Search Console and GA4 by language, and optimize based on conversion and indexing data.

Final checklist (copyable)

Pick URL structure: subfolder recommended.
Choose app and verify SEO support.
Create glossary and translation memory.
Pilot 100 SKUs + 1 landing page.
Editorial pass for top pages.
Submit sitemaps and request indexing.
Monitor traffic and conversions weekly.

Best Shopify Translation App Guide