3 ways to translate your Shopify store
Written by Noah Howadt
Last updated:
Translating your Shopify store is one of the best ways to reach more customers, improve your SEO, and grow your sales internationally. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to improve your existing multilingual setup, this article will give you an overview of your options. We will explore three practical ways to translate your Shopify store.
1. Manual Translation (Using Export & Import)
If you are fluent in the language you want to translate to or work with a translation agency, you can manually translate your Shopify store using Shopify’s built-in import/export feature.
How it works:
- Go to Settings > Languages > Export and download your current store content.
- Open the exported file and fill in the “Translated content” column for each field.
- You can also send the file to your translation agency.
- Don’t edit the other columns as Shopify needs them to import correctly.
- When the translations are ready, go to Settings > Languages > Import and upload the file again.
- If the import fails due to formatting issues, you can use our free Shopify Translation Import Formatter to fix it automatically.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No extra cost | Manually editing spreadsheets |
| Works with any language or agency | Time-consuming for large stores |
2. Shopify’s Translate & Adapt App
Translate & Adapt is Shopify’s official translation app. Once installed, it lets you manually edit your store’s content in different languages right inside the Shopify admin.
You can also auto-translate content using Google Translate, but only for up to 2 languages per store.
How it works:
- Install the app from the Shopify App Store
- Manually enter translations, or auto-translate your first 2 languages using Google Translate
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free automatic translation (up to 2 languages) | AI translation limited to only 2 languages |
| Easy manual editing in the Shopify admin | No advanced features (e.g., Glossary, auto-translation) |
| Seamless integration with Shopify | Translation quality may vary |
3. Third-Party Translation Apps
For more advanced translation needs, there are many high-quality third-party apps available on the Shopify App Store. These tools offer more flexibility and features compared to Shopify’s built-in tools.
When choosing a third-party app, make sure it uses the Shopify Translations API. This ensures:
- Translations are stored directly in Shopify (no performance impact)
- Your data remains your own
- Full compatibility with Shopify’s native features like Translate & Adapt
One example is Translingo, which offers:
- DeepL integration for high-quality translations (translate up to 500,000 characters/month with DeepL for just €7.90)
- Automatic translation for new or updated content
- And a free 14-day trial so you can test it without commitment.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Various advanced features (depending on the specific app) | Usually not free |
| Easy manual editing in the Shopify admin | If you don’t need advanced features, Translate & Adapt may be enough |
Conclusion
If you already work with a translation agency, the manual import/export method is usually the best approach.
If you’re translating into just one or two languages and don’t need advanced features, Shopify’s Translate & Adapt is a great free option.
But if you need more control, automation, or want to use high-quality engines like DeepL, third-party apps like Translingo offer powerful features to streamline your multilingual setup.