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Shopify CA to CA-FR Translation
Shopify CA to CA-FR Translation
TL;DR – Translating the Rove Lab CA Store to Quebec French
To localize the Rove Lab CA store for Quebec French:
- ensure the theme is internationalization-ready (t filters, locales support).
- Shopify’s Translate & Adapt app should be used for translating core content like products, collections, pages, and SEO metadata. It’s built-in, efficient, and supports both auto and manual translation.
- For dynamic content from third-party apps, image-based sections, or advanced workflows, apps like Weglot, Langify, or Transcy are recommended.
- A Shopify developer is required to adapt custom theme components, structure multilingual metafields, and handle any content not covered natively.
📚Shopify translation apps summary and comparison
🌐 Shopify Translate & Adapt (Native App)
✅ Best for: Basic Shopify stores with limited translation needs. Pros:
- Completely free, integrated directly in Shopify admin.
- Enables manual and automatic translation (via Google Translate) for up to two languages free .
- Supports multilingual SEO with translated slugs, meta tags, and hreflang in subfolders or subdomains . Cons:
- Auto-translation capped at two languages; additional languages require manual input .
- Lacks support for translating many content types: metafields, collection filters, manual payment instructions, tags, non-Shopify theme injected content .
- Limited bulk import/export; no CSV workflow automation.
- Not compatible with all third-party apps unless they use Shopify Translations API .
💡 Weglot
✅ Best for: Stores with dynamic content, third‑party app text, or multi-language SEO needs. Pros:
- Automatic detection and translation of most store content—including checkout, email notifications, and third-party app content—right after setup (~5 minutes) .
- Strong multilingual SEO structure: translated URLs, subdomains/subfolders, meta tags, hreflang tags, and auto redirections for returning visitors .
- Central translation dashboard where merchants or translators can edit or order professional translations . Cons:
- Free plan limited to ~2,000 words and one language; paid plans can be expensive for high‑volume stores .
- Minor performance slowdown on some installations .
- Not fully compatible with Shopify Markets (native) .
✍️ Langify
✅ Best for: Stores needing precise manual control and SEO customization. Pros:
- Focuses on manual translation control, allowing imports/exports via CSV or JSON and creating custom glossaries .
- Built-in SEO support with translated URLs, metadata, and language switchers .
- Flat monthly rate (~$17.50/month) regardless of word count . Cons:
- No free tier (only a 7‑day trial).
- No automatic translation—requires manual input or external machine translation export/import.
- May require more dev effort for highly customized themes, especially AJAX-loaded elements .
🖼️ Transcy
✅ Best for: Visual-heavy stores, large catalogs, or stores needing currency conversion. Pros:
- Offers AI-powered translation, DeepL integration, manual editing, plus image and media translation (alt text, text overlays) and real‑time currency conversion .
- Supports unlimited word translation with broad integration across themes and apps .
- Cost-effective pricing starting around $19.99/month, free tier trial available . Cons:
- Can slow down load speed on complex stores; some reports of PageSpeed drops .
- Slightly less mature SEO setup compared to Weglot or Langify; handles custom translations well but may require configuration.
📊 Summary Table
| App | Auto Translation | SEO & URL Support | App / JS Content Support | Media/Text-in-Image Support | Manual Control / CSV Export | Pricing Structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Translate & Adapt (Shopify) | Yes (2 languages) | Yes (basic SEO, slugs) | Limited to Shopify features | ❌ | ❌ | Free; larger stores manual only |
| Weglot | Yes (high volume) | Advanced SEO (URL & hreflang) | ✅ Covers most third-party app content | ❌ | ✅ (dashboard editor) | Tiered word-based pricing |
| Langify | No | Strong SEO & URL control | Partial (depends on theme) | ❌ | ✅ (CSV import/export) | Flat monthly (~$17.50) |
| Transcy | Yes (AI + DeepL) | Good, some custom setup | Broad support | ✅ | ✅ (manual + AI tools) | Flat pricing (starting ~$19.99/mo) |
⚖️ Recommendations
- Use Translate & Adapt for core Shopify-native content (products, pages, menus, basic SEO) in small to medium stores—especially if you’re translating into just 1 or 2 languages.
- Employ Weglot for stores with heavy dynamic content, checkout translations, email notifications, or third-party app text—especially when SEO-friendly URLs and automatic redirection are priorities.
- Choose Langify when you need full control over translations and SEO with manual workflows, CSV-based editing, and strict linguistic precision (ideal for Quebec French).
- Opt for Transcy in situations where you need image localization, currency conversion, and support for very large catalogs with flexible translation sources.
🛒 Summary: What’s Needed to Translate a Shopify E-commerce Store
✅ 1. Basic Translation Structure in Shopify
To make a Shopify store multilingual, you need to:
-
Enable additional languages in the Admin (Settings > Languages);
-
Use a compatible translation app (e.g., Translate & Adapt);
-
Ensure your theme is internationalization-ready (i18n-ready);
-
Translate the following:
-
Static content: titles, descriptions, page text, menus, footers;
-
Dynamic content: products, collections, checkout, blogs, email notifications;
-
Metafields and custom sections.
-
🌍 2. What Translate & Adapt Covers (Shopify’s Native App)
| Coverage | Details |
|---|---|
| ✅ Products and collections | Name, description, slug, SEO metadata |
| ✅ Pages, menus, blogs | Titles, body text, descriptions |
| ✅ Checkout (Shopify Plus) | Translation via Shopify files, not directly through the app |
| ✅ Email notifications | Can be translated manually in the admin |
| ✅ Manual and automatic translation | Google Translate with manual post-editing in the editor |
| ✅ Multilingual SEO | Slugs and meta tags per language |
| ❌ External app content | Not all apps expose content to Translate & Adapt |
| ❌ Image or media translation | Does not translate media with embedded text (e.g., banners) |
Limitation: Translate & Adapt does not handle content injected by third-party apps, JavaScript-rendered text, or components not using t tags/locales files.
🧩 3. Where Third-Party Apps Are Needed
| Use Case | Recommended Apps |
|---|---|
| Translating content from external apps | Weglot, Langify, Transcy |
| Automatic translation + manual review | Weglot, Translation Lab |
| Media/file translation support | LangShop, Transcy |
| Advanced management and manual workflows | Langify (CSV import/export support) |
| Logic-based content (e.g., dynamic banners) | Apps with in-context editing like Weglot |
👨💻 4. When a Shopify Developer is Needed
| Scenario | Developer’s Role |
|---|---|
| Custom theme without locales support | Add i18n support in Liquid files using the t filter |
| Translating schema-defined input text | Ensure default + locales values in settings |
| Translating logic-based components | Refactor Liquid to isolate translatable content |
| Complex metafields content | Build multilingual structure to store per-language values |
| Multilingual SEO with custom URLs | Configure handles/URLs dynamically per language |
| Integration with apps that hide content | Build custom solutions using API or injected JS |
🧭 Conclusion and Recommendations
| Need Level | Recommended Solution |
|---|---|
| Small/medium store | Translate & Adapt + manual review |
| Store with dynamic content and third-party apps | Weglot or Langify for fine control |
| Store targeting regional dialects (e.g. Quebec French) | Langify + native human review |
| Custom theme | Direct involvement of a Shopify developer |