Multisite Language Switcher
by Dennis Ploetner · Multilingual
Also makes 4 other plugins · 3.2K+ installs across the portfolio →
A simple, powerful and easy-to-use plugin that will help you to manage multilingual content in a multisite WordPress installation.
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
A 90/100
no flags
Active installs
3K+
≈3.9K estimated
Momentum
-34%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “multilingual” and “localization” for “gettext” and “mo”. “multilingual” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “gettext” sits at #8 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “localization” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #22. “mo” sits at #16 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
90 health vs 67 average across 496 Multilingual plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →0.4%
of downloads still active
At least 3K of 678.3K lifetime downloads are still running, below its category: the median Multilingual plugin keeps 0.9%, across 280 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Multilingual plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
This plugin shipped 5 releases in the last 12 months, and every existing install that updated counted as another download. wp.org publishes no split between first installs and updates, so we show the raw rate rather than guess at one.
Details
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Well optimized
Most to gain: Support resolution
Updated 19 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.8★ over 99 reviews, smoothed to 4.57★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
0 of 2 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
To rank higher: Mark more forum threads resolved — the resolved ratio feeds the ranking.
Get the full rank-higher report →Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
36
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.1
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
13%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.1
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| language switcher | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| switcher language | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| multisite your tag | #4 | #5 | 0 |
| language your tag | #6 | #7 | 0 |
| switcher your tag | #7 | #5 | 0 |
| gettext | #8 | #6 | 0 |
| content switcher | #7 | #5 | 0 |
| localization your tag | #22 | #19 | up 2 |
| easy language | #11 | #11 | down 2 |
| languages | #19 | #19 | down 2 |
| wordpress multisite | #12 | #14 | up 1 |
| arabic | #22 | #14 | up 2 |
| wordpress language plugin | #24 | #21 | 0 |
| multilingual your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
56 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 13 listed. 43 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 1 of its tags isn't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “multilingual” and “localization” for “gettext” and “mo”. “multilingual” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “gettext” sits at #8 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “localization” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #22. “mo” sits at #16 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 14.5K · peaks are release surges
Directory rank vs rivals
wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
Actively maintainedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
5
releases in the last 12 months
2mo ago
latest release · v3.0.3 · 10 Sep 2026
60
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “3K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 2 months ago and the previous band took 16 months to cross, so the real count is still just under 4K.
Install history since 1 Aug 2018
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ Laurent Holdrinet7mo ago
I gave up the chaotic WPML, MSLS is the solution to deal with multilingual site.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Anonymous8mo ago
Simple yet universally functional. Every language is separate sub-site, so you can have them identical or as different as necessary and plugin provides means to tie it all together. Have been using it for years and never disappointed.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ wpapm10mo ago
At first I had some trouble with the plugin. But now – I wouldn’t want to be without it! I really like the plugin’s functional simplicity! Thanks, Dennis, for this wonderful plugin!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Becki Beckmann1.1y ago
I think we still need to wait some time before WordPress core implementation for Multilingual sites. See WordPress roadmap I’ve tried WPML in the past but did not really like it. Haven’t tried Polylang plugin yet In my opinion the best setup for multilingual sites is a wordpress multisite setup. Then this great Multisite Language Switcher plugin is the way to go. Simply loving it and also top support deserves a 5 * star rating please keep up the good work you’re doing! greetingsBecki
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ delythchandler2.0y ago
I always use this plugin when creating multi-language multisite wordpress sites. Easy to set up and very useful. Top-rate support too
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Gunther H.2.5y ago
There is a learning curve and i think someone should make a tutorial how to implement the language switcher and menu and how to work with it. But after all a great plugin.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ MattV3.0y ago
This is a fantastic plugin: it does exactly what promises to do, it’s not bloated with extra features and it’s been around for a long time. I can’t thank the plugin author enough for developing this plugin, maintaining it for years and having the patience to deal with occasional 1-star reviews from people who can’t be bothered to read the docs.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ joodill3.0y ago
I’m not keen to write reviews, but in this case I was so overwhelmed of this plugin’s simple features and ease of use that I had to. This is by far THE easiest multisite multilanguage plugin I ever tried. Over the years I tested several multilingual approachs (plugins for standalone WP sites, multisite “premium” plugins, country domains, etc.). But this here exceeds all my expectactions for its simplicity. Multilanguage should not be an option in WordPress, but part of the core, out of the box. This plugin deserves a 10 of 10. Two thumbs way up! Thank you for this peace of art.
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 3.0.1 Fixed: 3.0.0 could not be published on WordPress.org The plugin code is identical to 3.0.0. 3.0.1
- — Version 3.0.0 New: Quick Create – create the translated post straight from the editor metabox, or pick a source post on the new Add from Translation submenu (single and bulk). Backed by a REST endpoint and switchable in the settings. 3.0.0
- — Version 2.10.1 Fixed: deprecated function warning pointed to a non-existent function. Documentation: README.md code snippets reflect the new function names. 2.10.1
- — Version 2.10.0 New: prefixed public helper functions ( msls_get_* , msls_the_switcher ) with deprecation shims for the legacy names. New: action hook names are exposed as constants for safer programmatic use. Accessibility: aria-curren 2.10.0
- — Version 3.0.2 Fixed: with more than 100 users on a blog, opening the settings page raised a PHP notice that ended up in the error log (and in services such as Sentry). The truncated user list is now reported as a hint below the “Refer 3.0.2
- — Version 3.0.3 Fixed: on PHP 7.4 the plugin’s dependencies could not be installed, because one of them required PHP 8. MSLS supports PHP 7.4 again, as documented. 3.0.3
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0.1
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 126 languages, 2 at 90% or more
Plus 102 more locales with partial translations.
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
6 of 8 pass · checked 27 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "A simple, powerful and easy-to-use plugin that will help you to manage multilingual content in a multisite..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 8 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 7 of 8 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions Multisite.
- ! Headings and lists 1 heading and 1 list; assistants quote headed sections and bullet lists, not paragraphs.
- ✓ Enough to quote 2,022 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 4 of 5 tags appear in the text; "localization" does not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-08-24 4K+ → 3K+ down after 467 days in tier
- 2025-05-14 5K+ → 4K+ down after 670 days in tier
- 2023-07-14 6K+ → 5K+ down after 765 days in tier
- 2021-06-09 7K+ → 6K+ down after 459 days in tier
- 2020-03-07 8K+ → 7K+ down after 1208 days in tier
- 2016-11-15 7K+ → 8K+ up after 288 days in tier
- 2016-02-01 6K+ → 7K+ up after 88 days in tier
- 2015-11-05 5K+ → 6K+ up
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).
- S Simple Language Switcher 100+ installs · 4.1★ · 4 shared tags D
-
Polylang 900K+ installs · 4.7★ · 3 shared tags B -
Bogo 10K+ installs · 4.4★ · 3 shared tags A -
xili-language 600+ installs · 3.9★ · 3 shared tags C -
GPTranslate – Multilingual AI Translation Agent for WordPress: Translate Your Site with AI 500+ installs · 4.7★ · 3 shared tags A - T Theme Blvd WPML Bridge 200+ installs · 4.1★ · 3 shared tags D
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Multisite Language Switcher into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/multisite-language-switcher" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Multisite Language Switcher — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Multisite Language Switcher: 3K+ active installs, 4.8★ (99 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/multisite-language-switcher
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