Update August 2020
Since writing this guide, a new competitor has entered the market and they’re really good. We still recommend our Multilingualizer product for Squarespace users who have no need of eCommerce, but if you’re on another platform or if you’re a Squarespace eCommerce user then you should try Weglot for free – they have far better pricing and features than Bablic and LocalizeJS. We have also written an expansive guide comparing Weglot to the Multilingualizer.
Introduction
The Multilingualizer is our product (Built by Dave Hilditch @ AWD). It allows you to easily add multilingual capability to your website. We have some competition – Bablic and Localize – but if you read on, we are confident you will choose us.
All 3 of Bablic, Localize and the Multilingualizer allow you to add multilingual capability to your existing website very easily. They all work on any websites which allow you to upload JavaScript.
They all work by presenting different text to users who visit your website and they all use the same URL for each translation – e.g. /about-us/ for English, German and French.
They differ significantly in SEO benefits however as well as price.
Bablic vs the Multilingualizer
Bablic do not store your translations on your page. Instead, they store your translated text on their servers. They run some code when users load the page and fetch the relevant text from their server to display to the user.
That works well for users already on your site – they can switch back and forth between English and German just like they can with the Multilingualizer. The real problem comes when people are trying to search for your site in German. Since your German text for your /about-us/ page exists on their servers with Bablic, Google cannot see the translated text and therefore Google cannot include the German text in their search results.
That means with Bablic your German users you are trying to reach out to will have to search for your site in English before then switching to German.
In my opinion, that makes Bablic an incomplete multilingual solution. Why would you choose a solution that means your new German users cannot find you by searching in their own language? Especially when they charge a monthly premium for the privilege.
Localizejs vs the Multilingualizer
Localize also take the approach of a single URL for all languages and, like Bablic, they store the translations on their server. Again, like Bablic, that means any of your users who are searching in a language other than your default language will not find your site.
I cannot see much difference between Bablic and Localizejs other than price and the interface they provide to edit the translated text.
The fact that with Localizejs your translations do not exist on your server should stop you from buying their service. You can try this out yourself – visit the Localizejs or Bablic home page, check out the major clients they are using to encourage you to buy, visit their site, change to the non-English language and then try searching Google for some of the text in that language. The site will not appear – it’s simply impossible. That means if you want users to find you in their language, you should not choose Localizejs or Bablic.
A demonstration of Bablic vs Localizejs vs the Multilingualizer
In the video below, I show you Google searches for Bablic customers, Localize customers and the Multilingualizer customers. Notice how Bablic and Localize customers CANNOT BE FOUND when searching in the 2nd or 3rd languages.
Why the Multilingualizer is the best multilingual solution for SEO
With the Multilingualizer, all the translated for all languages exists on your server so Google can see it and can index it. That means that German users can search in German and find your site. With Bablic or Localize, German users would need to search in English.
Why would you choose a multilingual solution and spend all the effort of translating your site into another language only for the few users who search in English but then wish to switch to French or German? Wouldn’t you rather choose a multilingual solution, like the Multilingualizer, which lets your users search in their own language and find your site. They can also switch languages when they visit your site if they wish.
In summary, Bablic and Localize store your translations on their servers which means Google can’t see it and your foreign language customers cannot find your site in Google search results. With the Multilingualizer, ALL your text exists on your pages so Google *can* see it and your customers can find you in whatever language they wish.
Bablic and Localize pricing structure
As well as making it impossible for Google to find your translated content and direct those other language speakers to your site, Bablic and Localize also charge you more than the Multilingualizer for the privilege.
All of your translated text exists on their servers.
- Google can’t see the translated text, so your customers can’t find you if searching in their own language (they can only find you if searching in the original language of your website – watch the video above for a demonstration)
- You need to learn their interface to enter translations
- You get charged escalating monthly fees
Bablic – $199/month for unlimited languages, unlimited traffic. Minimum $15/month with max 2 languages and capped traffic.
Localize – $1250 per month and your traffic and languages are still capped. Minimum $59/month with max 2 languages and capped traffic.
(Comparison valid on 19 February 2016 and prices valid on 31st March 2018)
A quick google search suggests that the comparison is still valid.
In stark contrast, the Multilingualizer is offered for a ONE-OFF fee that saves you a fortune and gives you a better solution.
Check out the Multilingualizer prices
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March 28, 2016 @ 10:41 pm
Hi Dave,
What about Shopify language variables? Can I translate them using your software?
April 14, 2016 @ 10:32 am
Can you provide a link to the page which has the shopify language variables on it and tell me which piece of text to look at? I can add this to the Multilingualizer – it depends where these variables exist – they may work already.
April 3, 2016 @ 12:20 pm
Does this work with a WordPress site?
April 14, 2016 @ 10:30 am
Hi – yes – it works with all websites that allow JavaScript uploads.
April 19, 2016 @ 6:09 pm
Hi. I see no mention of an interface for human translation. Does this mean Machine Translation only?
April 19, 2016 @ 6:43 pm
Hi – the interface is on your own website. You enter text like this (presuming script configured in your account for English + French):
....
Hello World
..
Bonjour tout le monde
....
That means you’re free to use machine translation or human translation. I am building a website scraper to extract all the text from your site and feed optionally feed it through to (paid service) human translators. This will be ready in the summer and included if you buy now.
April 29, 2016 @ 10:37 pm
Would it be possible to get the trial version to test this out before purchasing?
June 27, 2016 @ 4:28 pm
I don’t have a trial version at the moment but there is a demo video and a money back guarantee. I use PayPal too, so you can rest assured that your purchase is protected. If you’re not happy you can get 100% refund within 6 months of purchase.
May 24, 2016 @ 7:07 am
Hello,
We are company which has more than 200 Squarespace customers. We would like to test this tool and if it fits, we have plans to use it in future.
Question: Is it possible to buy one license, and then just upgrade it to another?
Thanks.
June 27, 2016 @ 4:22 pm
Hi – upgrades are available – reply to your order asking for an upgrade coupon and we’ll send you one out.
June 26, 2016 @ 9:28 am
Hi David,
Do you support Chinese and Indonesian languages?
Thanks
June 27, 2016 @ 4:19 pm
All languages including Chinese and Indonesian are supported but bear in mind the Multilingualizer does not do automatica machine translation – you will have to enter the Chinese and Indonesian yourself.
August 10, 2016 @ 6:43 am
Hi mates.
How to translate placeholder input?
Thanks
August 17, 2016 @ 11:08 am
The only placeholder translation support is in the Squarespace extensions at the moment. An upgrade will be included in the next release due out soon.
September 6, 2016 @ 8:26 am
When I do a google search for a term on your site in French, it shows up in Google on the same URL which indicates Google does index the content in other languages unlike bablic/localize.
Upon clicking on the search result, the content is in English which could confuse customers potentially resulting in higher bounce rate when being presented with content different from that of the search result.
I searched for:
Toutes les licences incluent 12 mois de soutien technique et mises à jour, un nombre illimité de langues, un achalandage illimité et le code continue de fonctionner même après l’expiration de la période de soutien.
January 9, 2017 @ 1:22 pm
The language which appears when you click through depends on your own personal browser preferences. If you were an actual French user, your browser language preferences would be set to French and then when you visit the first time, it would display in French.
September 12, 2016 @ 10:41 am
Hi Dave,
What about R-to-L languages and CSS modification? Also, is multilingualizer is something like Easyling? What is the difference between Easyling JS translation and these JS provider’s translation technology?
Cheers,
Adam
September 13, 2016 @ 2:08 pm
Dear Dave,
I am very interested in using Multilingualizer.
Do we have to pay each year the 100£ fee or just once to make the website multilingual?
Many thanks,
Delphine
November 22, 2016 @ 4:42 pm
No subscription fee, payment is singular.
September 21, 2016 @ 3:05 am
i have a top menu where i have EN and FR for english and french. how do i link those buttons with your app to translate the language?
October 26, 2016 @ 8:44 pm
Hi Dave,
I had to remove your code from my Shopify store, the response is just to slow from you guys and my SEO rating went down by 2% because of the code. Its slowing it down big time. Please could you refund me
November 22, 2016 @ 4:41 pm
Dimitrije, if you are still looking to get a refund, please use our refund form:
https://www.multilingualizer.com/contact/
November 4, 2016 @ 7:07 pm
Do you have a WordPress plugin? Does this allow you to ‘tweak’ the translated pages as Bablic does? We have a lot of sites and bablic would cost us a fortune, so hoping that we can use your product! Much more to our needs from the looks of it!
January 4, 2017 @ 1:25 pm
Hello, do you have any live sites that use Multilingualizer? I’m having trouble seeing how it looks in the wild. Thanks.
January 4, 2017 @ 2:09 pm
Hey there Bennett!
Have a look at this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLNc_e40Azo
Additionally, you can register and simply ask your question on our Q&A section, someone who’s using the Multilingualizer will surely link you his page.
January 26, 2017 @ 2:29 pm
I just watched the video. I have a Squarespace site, and I don’t see how you would change items like menu navigation titles. Is that possible?
January 26, 2017 @ 3:35 pm
Hi Don
Yes.
At the place where you edit the text for the title use Multilingualizer format e.g. ….english..french….
I hope this helps.
John
April 5, 2017 @ 7:36 pm
I tried your service but could not successfully translate product names, product descriptions or my overall site navigation. User error, perhaps? I need a service like your or Localize to use for my clients. Would love a support call this week to discuss nuances as we select technologies for this project.
April 7, 2017 @ 11:57 am
Hi Franki,
Please could you email [email protected] and one of the team will nbe in touch to help you.
Kind regards
John
December 27, 2017 @ 10:25 pm
Is it possible to use multilingualizaer with a webflow website?
Cheers!
January 30, 2018 @ 10:45 am
Yes it is and yesterday I released extra code to make both languages appear in the webflow editor to make editing your languages easier. i.e. the script only runs for users, not for your admins.
February 7, 2018 @ 12:59 am
HI,
Have you had someone who’s tried it on a Wix website? I think it is indeed possible to upload JavaScript on Wix now… if I’m not mistaken.
February 14, 2018 @ 2:39 pm
I’m pretty sure Wix still forces you to upload JavaScript inside an iframe. If that’s still the case then it won’t work.
December 24, 2018 @ 8:02 am
Hello There
Can you translate Russian language?
December 27, 2018 @ 3:00 pm
We don’t do translations, we provide you the ability to use your own languages. Yes, Russian included. You can use any language(s).
January 9, 2019 @ 1:28 pm
Hi Dave,
Can I use this for translating subdomain content, specifically content not managed via WordPress as well as my WordPress content?
If it is easier you can check out our website https://drivestrike.com/ and signup for a free remote wipe trial to check out the internal content I am hoping to translate as well as the main site content.
I am also not sure if we should grad country specific TLDs, subdomain, or directory related implementation. How does your system manage the various models and what is your recommendation?
Thanks for your response in advance! By the way, I agree the on the fly translators lack in the superiority of indexed content.
January 22, 2019 @ 8:26 pm
Hi – yes you could but for WordPress you’d be better off with WPML to be honest. The Multilingualizer is great for sites that don’t let you install your own server-side code.
May 5, 2019 @ 8:12 am
does it support arabic? I have tried it to translate to arabic but it didnt work? any help please…
May 15, 2019 @ 7:33 pm
Yes – it doesn’t matter which language you want, all languages work.
July 8, 2019 @ 2:01 pm
Is this article really old? I have used Bablic for over 2 years before closing my previous sites (both on WP and Shopify) and actually it worked great with SEO.
All languages I added through Bablic were indexed correctly
July 8, 2019 @ 2:15 pm
Yes it’s quite old now, 2 years ago I did this research. Can you tell me what Bablic plan you were on because I think they added an SEO solution after this article but at a higher price point, and can you provide the links to your sites with Bablic so I can check the SEO and update the article?
October 16, 2019 @ 6:42 am
Hello Dave,
Do you offer a scraper for Shopify with the subscription? I would be interested in using Multilingualizer and the ability to extract strings is a must so I can then run my own (python) validations on my product descriptions, for example.
Nice “think outside the box” concept, by the way! Why bother with a “dictionnary” when everything can be in-place.
October 21, 2019 @ 4:33 pm
I don’t offer a scraper for shopify yet – I presume you mean a scraper to extract text and make it easier to implement your translations?
November 13, 2019 @ 2:23 pm
Hi Dave,
Multilingualizer works with new Squarespace 7.1 templates ?
December 16, 2019 @ 9:53 am
Yes of course.
February 24, 2020 @ 12:31 pm
Hi David,
Looking at the video, at 6:43 I see the website in French, but the navigation in English, i.e. ABOUT – SERVICES – PHOTOS, etc.
Can these be translated as well with your system, so as to provide consistency in the French (or other) site?
and how is that done? Thank you
March 26, 2020 @ 9:35 pm
Everything displayed on page can be translated although you have to enter the translations yourself. See our support pages for more info on this.
August 3, 2020 @ 6:05 pm
Would I be able to talk with a representative to answer questions? The ask a question button on site didn’t work for me. Thanks.
August 31, 2020 @ 5:19 pm
What issue did you experience with the Ask a Question button? If you need to contact me directly, you can reach me on twitter or facebook – I’m davehilditch on twitter and dhilditch on facebook.
September 9, 2020 @ 1:22 pm
Hello,
I’m wondering how the plugin handles the SEO parameters for a Squarespace website.
Can I translate the SEO title or SEO description?
September 9, 2020 @ 2:29 pm
If you use the on-page translation system then no, you cannot edit the title/description per language.
If you use our language-specific pages option then yes, you can edit the title/description per language.
You can mix and match these options throughout your site, so our recommendation is to use the language-specific pages for your ‘cornerstone’ content and then the simpler on-page translation system for everything else.
https://www.multilingualizer.com/support/how-to-implement-language-specific-pages/
September 17, 2020 @ 8:58 am
Thanks! I think it’s a perfect solution, I’ll try it. 😊