Next.js multilingual: react-i18next, next-intl, or no code changes?
No, you don't need react-i18next or next-intl to make a Next.js app multilingual, because Proxylang adds 77 languages with one script tag and no component changes. The libraries are still the right choice if you want translation keys and message files inside your codebase.
Two ways to make a Next.js app multilingual
You can internationalize the code, or you can translate the site as it already runs.
react-i18next and next-intl are libraries. You wrap text in translation functions, keep message files per locale, and set up routing for each language. That means touching components and maintaining the files as the product changes.
Proxylang takes the other route. You add one script tag, and it translates in the visitor's browser. Your hosting, analytics and A/B tests stay as they are, and Proxylang is not a proxy in front of the site. The script tag needs no refactor, and setup takes about 60 seconds.
Side by side
| react-i18next / next-intl | Proxylang script tag | |
|---|---|---|
| Component changes | Yes, text goes through translation functions | None, one script tag |
| Who produces translations | You or your team, in message files | Proxylang translates for you; you can edit in the Live Editor |
| Languages | The ones you write files for | 77 |
| Hosting | Your own | Stays as it is |
Search engines and AI assistants
Per-language URLs with hreflang tags are included from Lite up, so search engines can tell the language versions apart. With Proxylang you have no duplicate pages and no second site to manage.
For sites built with code, like a Next.js app, hybrid SEO/GEO mode is available from Lite. You add a few DNS records at your registrar, and Google, Bing, Naver, ChatGPT and Perplexity get fully translated per-language pages. Visitors keep the script tag.
Search-indexed languages per plan:
- Lite: 1
- Start: 3
- Pro: 10
- Business: 25
- Global: 50
Pro and up also offer an optional full proxy mode, for sites that want every visitor served translated pages. Most sites never use it. By default the script runs in the visitor's browser and the site stays on its own hosting.
Fixing wording and keeping control
Translations are not locked once they are live. The Live Editor lets you click any translated sentence on the live site to fix it, and you can invite proofreaders. A glossary and never-translate lists keep product names and technical terms as written.
Links, bold and italic text inside a sentence are translated as one sentence and moved to the right place for Japanese and Korean word order. That matters for UI copy with inline links. In a 280-sentence blind test re-scored 2026-10-18 by Claude Opus 5.5 and GPT-5.6 Terra Pro, Proxylang scored 4.72 out of 5, DeepL 4.61 and Google Translate 4.20. For Korean to Japanese it was 4.69 against Google's 3.10.
Plans and how to try it
You can test without signing up. Paste one prompt into your AI coding tool pointing at proxylang.dev/agents.md, or go to proxylang.dev/start. The trial gives you 2,000 words in 1 language, and you have 7 days to save it.
Plans:
- Free, $0/mo: 2,000 words, 1 language, 1,500 page views/mo, 1 website, no credit card
- Lite, $14.99/mo: 20,000 words, 5 languages, 15,000 page views/mo, 1 website
- Start, $39/mo: 100,000 words, all 77 visitor languages, 50,000 page views/mo, unlimited websites
- Pro, $99/mo: 500,000 words, 150,000 page views/mo
The free plan uses the same translation engine as paid plans.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Proxylang together with next-intl?
Proxylang needs only a script tag and no component changes, so it does not depend on which i18n library your app uses.
Do I have to rewrite my components to translate a Next.js app?
Not with Proxylang. You add one script tag, and setup takes about 60 seconds.
Does Proxylang work for Korean and Japanese?
Yes. Many customers are Korean and Japanese companies, and Proxylang scored 4.69 for Korean to Japanese against Google's 3.10 in the blind test.
Is there a free plan?
Yes. Free is $0/mo with 2,000 words, 1 language, 1,500 page views/mo and 1 website, and needs no credit card.
More from Proxylang