From Polylang or WPML to Transxlate: A Zero-Drama Migration Plan

Duplication-model plugins (Polylang, WPML) store each translation as a separate post. Migrating to a string-table model simplifies your site — if you sequence it right.

Step order matters

1) Inventory old URLs per language (crawl or sitemap export). 2) Install Transxlate, enable the same languages — same-slug URLs often match 1:1 automatically. 3) Write 301s for any divergent slugs (migration notes). 4) Bulk machine-translate via your key. 5) Port your best human translations page-by-page in the editor. 6) Deactivate the old plugin; keep its data tables until rankings settle.

What you stop maintaining

Per-language post duplicates, sync plugins, compatibility add-ons, credit math. Content edits propagate automatically: change a sentence once, only that sentence re-translates everywhere.

The safety net

Nothing destructive happens until step 6, and even that is reversible — old plugin data persists through deactivation. Run the cutover on staging first (how).