When using Weglot for multilingual support on Webflow sites, there are a few limitations and issues to be aware of:
1. Cost: Weglot is a paid service, and the cost increases as the number of translated words and languages increase. This can be a significant factor for small or budget-conscious projects.
2. Third-party integration: Using Weglot requires integrating their JavaScript code into your Webflow site. While this is usually straightforward, any changes or updates to the Weglot system may require additional adjustments on your end.
3. Translation accuracy: Although Weglot uses machine translation and provides a language editor for manual adjustments, the translations may not always be perfect. It's crucial to review and edit the translations to ensure accuracy and avoid potential misunderstandings.
4. SEO implications: Weglot uses subdomains or subdirectories for translated content, which can impact SEO. Search engines may consider each language version as a separate website, potentially affecting the overall search visibility and SEO performance of your site.
5. Customization limitations: When using Weglot, you have limited control over the styling and layout of the translated content. While you can apply some basic customization options, more advanced design changes may not be possible through the Weglot interface.
In terms of alternatives for native multilingual support on the Webflow platform, there were limited options until recently. However, Webflow introduced native multilingual support in 2021, addressing many of the limitations associated with third-party solutions like Weglot.
With Webflow's native multilingual support, you can create multiple language versions of your website within a single project. This eliminates the need for third-party integrations, reduces costs, and provides more control over the translation process.
Webflow's native solution allows you to define language-specific URLs, create language switchers, and manage translations directly within the Webflow Designer and Editor interfaces. This makes it easier to maintain consistency across different language versions and ensures better control over the translation quality.
While Weglot can still serve as an option for websites built on older versions of Webflow or for specific use cases, Webflow's native multilingual support is generally recommended for projects that require multilingual functionality.