So Much Potential

I’ve given this plugin 3 stars because it so much potential to benefit users of auto machine translation on their websites, but is not quite there. I have searched the WordPress Plugin directory and it appears to be the only free plugin with auto machine translation for both Microsoft and Google translation services.

IMO only two things need to happen to realize that potential and make this plugin a serious alternative to the other plugins (free and premium) in the auto translation space:

(1) Expand on the languages. Both Microsoft and Google now have over 100 languages on offer. I’m not sure why this plugin is limited to 6 languages, but if it calls the API for those services, then expanding it would not seem to be a big change.

(2) Give users the option to enter their own API key. I mention this because Bing Translation is no longer available. However, Microsoft has released its next generation AI text and document translation service, Azure Translator. This service uses NEURAL MACHINE TRANSLATION. Best of all, users can get a free Azure account and an API key for free and which allows up to 2 million character text translations per month at no cost. That’s between 30,000 and 50,000 words each month!

Based on my research other translation plugins on offer only make auto neural machine translation available through their premium versions. These plugins also require the user to go through a proprietary server with word caps on translations. The user must then pay a monthly subscription fee. In effect users are prevented from going to Microsoft an/or Google translation service direct and can’t take full advantage of the free accounts they offer.

Having free plugin that simply works and allows users to go direct to Microsoft and Google auto NMT tech is sorely needed IMO.