With WordPress you can build any kind of business website you could ever think of. In fact, WordPress is so powerful that powers over 40% of all websites on the internet.
It is one of the most popular and powerful CMS because of its extensive collection of plugins that help website owners add functionality to their sites without writing code.
One category of WordPress plugins that has become increasingly popular in recent years is directory plugins. Business directory plugins allow users to create directories for businesses.
In this article, I am going to list and explain 11 best and most popular free WordPress directory plugins with their cons and pros.
- Key take away: How To Make a Directory Listing Website with WordPress and ListingPro Theme (Like Yelp) -> Video Guide
At a glance, the 11 best and most popular free WordPress directory plugins include;
1. GeoDirectory
2. Business Directory Plugin
3. Advanced Classifieds and Directory
4. Connections Business Directory
5. BePro Listings
6. Directories Pro
7. Sabai Directory
8. Name Directory
9. Simple Business Directory
10. Web 2.0 Directory
11. Simple Directory
1. GeoDirectory (Free & Paid)
GeoDirectory is a powerful and flexible WordPress plugin that allows you to create a business directory, location-based directory, or any other type of directory.
Its free version comes with a range of basic features such as customizable fields, Google Maps integration, and support for multiple categories and tags.
The paid version offers additional advanced features such as customizable themes, pricing plans, monetization options, and the ability to create event listings.
Features:
1. Offers customizable fields for listings
2. Provides a powerful search function
3. Includes Google Maps integration
4. Offers user reviews and ratings
5. Allows users to claim listings
6. Includes paid add-ons for advanced functionality
Pros:
· Comprehensive features for both users and business owners
· User-friendly interface
· Good support and documentation
· Many customization options for directory listings.
· It's compatible with a wide range of WordPress themes.
· Offers a free version
· Paid add-ons are available for advanced features.
Cons:
· Paid add-ons can quickly add up in cost
· May be overwhelming for users who only need basic directory functionality
· The free version has limited features.
· Confusing interface for beginners
2. Business Directory Plugin (Free & Paid)
Business Directory Plugin is a popular WordPress plugin that allows you to create a business directory.
Its free version comes with basic features such as customizable fields, Google Maps integration, and support for multiple categories and tags.
The paid version offers additional advanced features such as custom fields, Google Maps integration, the ability to charge for listings, and the ability to add paid membership levels.
Features:
1. Offers customizable fields for listings
2. Includes payment processing for paid listings
3. Includes Google Maps integration
4. Allows users to claim listings
5. Provides front-end submission forms
6. Offers paid add-ons for advanced functionality
Pros:
· Easy to use and set up
· Good support and documentation
· Offers both free and paid versions
· Offers useful features for paid version
Cons:
· Limited features for the free version
· Paid add-ons can quickly add up in cost
3. Advanced Classifieds and Directory Pro (Free & Paid)
Advanced Classifieds and Directory Pro is a free WordPress plugin that allows you to create a business directory or classifieds website.
Its free version comes with basic features such as customizable fields, Google Maps integration, and support for multiple categories and tags.
The paid version offers additional advanced features such as customizable themes, monetization options, and the ability to charge for listings.
Features:
· Offers customizable fields for listings
· Includes Google Maps integration
· Allows users to claim listings
· Provides payment processing for paid listings
· Offers advanced search functionality
Pros:
· Comprehensive features for both users and business owners
· User-friendly interface
· Good support and documentation
· Includes payment processing for paid listings
Cons:
· Only available as a paid plugin
· More expensive than other options
4. Connections Business Directory (Free & Paid)
Connections Business Directory is a popular WordPress plugin that allows you to create a business directory or member directory. It is one of the most easy-to-usw WP directory plugins.
This plugin has both free and paid version. The free version comes with basic features such as customizable fields, Google Maps integration, and support for multiple categories and tags.
If you need further functionalities, then you can go for the paid version. The paid version offers additional advanced features such as customizable themes, monetization options, and the ability to charge for listings.
Features:
· Customizable fields for listings
· Powerful search function
· Google Maps integration
· Front-end submission forms
· Allows users to claim listings
· Paid add-ons for advanced functionality
Pros:
· Easy to use and set up
· Good support and documentation
· Offers both free and paid versions
· Offers useful features for paid version
Cons:
· Limited features for the free version
· Paid add-ons can quickly add up in cost
· It can slow down your loading speed
· The paid version is expensive
5. BePro Listings (Free & Paid)
BePro Listings is a flexible and powerful WordPress plugin that you can easily use to create a business directory website, or any other type of directory.
This plugin has a free version that you can use to build a standard directory website with basic features like customizable listing fields, Google Maps integration, and multiple listing categories and tags.
In case you are not satisfied with the free version, you can upgrade to the paid version which offers additional advanced features such as customizable themes, monetization options, and the ability to charge for listings.
Features:
· Customizable fields for listings
· Provides a powerful search function
· Google Maps integration
· Allows users to claim listings
· Includes payment processing for paid listings
· Offers front-end submission forms
Pros:
· Ease of use
· Powerful customization options.
· Comprehensive features for both users and business owners
· User-friendly interface
· Offers both free and paid versions
· Offers useful features for paid version
Cons:
· Limited features for the free version
· Complex to set up
· The paid version is somewhat expensive
6. Directories Pro
Directories Pro is another popular business directory plugin for WordPress that offers a wide range of features and customization options.
With Directories Pro, you can create a business directory website with custom post types and taxonomies, and you can also use the plugin's drag-and-drop form builder to create custom submission forms for your directory listings.
You can also create custom fields, user reviews, and paid listings, as well as integration with popular payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe.
Features:
· Customizable fields
· Frontend business submission feature
· Google Maps integration
· Payment gateway integration
· Customizable templates
· Users reviews
· Paid listings
· Drag-and-drop form builder
Pros:
· Flexible and powerful
· Friendly user interface
· SEO-friendly
Cons:
· It’s somewhat expensive
· No free version
· Not easy to use for beginners
· May require some learning to fully utilize all the features
7. Sabai Directory
Sabai Directory is a flexible and powerful directory plugin for WordPress that you can use to create custom directories for your businesses. With Sabai Directory, you can create custom post types and taxonomies to organize your directory contents.
You can also use the plugin's built-in search functionality to help users find the business they are looking for by performing a simple search.
Features:
· Built-in templates
· Customizable fields
· Fontend submission
· Google Maps integration
· Payment gateway integration
Pros:
· SEO-friendly
· Comes with Built-in templates
· Has a paid listing functionality
Cons:
· No free version
· Bulky set up interface
8. Name Directory
Name Directory is a WordPress plugin that allows you to create a directory website that you can possibly use to list business names.
It offers a simple and user-friendly interface which enables you to add and manage business names, and it also allows you to categorize the business names into different groups or categories.
The plugin supports custom fields, so you can use it to add more detailed information to each business name, such as business category, business email, or phone number.
Name Directory comes with a built-in search feature that allows visitors to search for business names by using certain keyword phrase, search by category, or use custom field search.
Another great feature of this plugin is that, it has a shortcode that you can use to display the directory on any page or post of your website.
Name Directory is a highly customized plugin. You can also play with the layout by changing the layout template, colors, and styles of the directory to match your website's design.
Features:
· Short code to insert directory anywhere in your website
· Multiple layout options
· Customizable fields,
· Google Maps integration,
· Customizable templates
· Easy search functionality
Pros:
· User-friendly interface, and
· Easy to change layout template
· Multiple design colors, and styles
· Free Version available
Cons:
· Limited features
· Not suitable for all kinds of directory websites
9. Simple Business Directory
Simple Business Directory is another great WordPress plugin that is designed for creating directories that are focused specifically on businesses.
With this plugin, you can create a directory of businesses, along with information such as the business name, business address, phone number, website, and logo.
You can also add categories and tags to the businesses, making it easier for users to search and browse the directory. Simple Business Directory has a user-friendly interface and includes features such as business submissions, custom fields, and CSV import/export.
Features:
· Customizable fields
· Business submission form
· Shortcode
· Widget support
· CSV import/export
Pros:
· Easy to use
· Integrates well with WP themes
· Large support community
Cons:
· Limited features
· May require some coding for some customization
10. Web 2.0 Directory
Web 2.0 Directory is yet another WordPress plugin that is designed for creating directories that are more complex and feature-rich than the previous plugins listed here.
With this plugin, you can create directories of businesses. Web 2.0 Directory includes features such as advanced search, ratings and reviews, Google Maps integration, payment processing, and social media integration.
The plugin also includes options for monetization, such as charging users for submitting their business or featured listings.
Web 2.0 Directory is a powerful plugin that can be customized extensively, but it may be overwhelming for users who are new to WordPress customization, or directory creation.
Features:
· Customizable fields
· Submission of businesses
· Google Maps integration
· Payment gateway integration
· Customizable templates
· Social media integration
Pros:
· Flexible and powerful
· User-friendly interface
· SEO-friendly
Cons:
· Some features are only available in the paid version
· It requires some learning to fully utilize all the features
11. Simple Directory (Free & Paid)
Simple Directory is a WordPress plugin that is designed for creating simple and straightforward directories such as business directory websites.
With this plugin, you can create directories of businesses or some other form or directories and display them in a variety of formats such as tables, lists, or grids.
Simple Directory has great features like submission of businesses, filtering options, custom fields, etc. It is a good choice for users who want to create a simple business directory website quickly and easily, without the complexity of more advanced plugins.
Features:
· Customizable fields
· Google Maps integration
· Customizable themes
· Monetization options
· Paid to list option
Pro:
· Easy to monetize
· It’s a lightweight plugin
· Easy-to-use WordPress plugin
· Free version available
· Support for multiple categories and tags
Cons:
· Advanced features are only available in the paid version
· It is more limited in terms of advanced features compared to other directory plugins
How To Make a Directory Listing Website with WordPress and ListingPro Theme (Like Yelp)
Conclusion:
WordPress host different directory plugins that will enable you create a beautiful business directory website, meanwhile, each of these plugins have their own strengths and weaknesses.
The plugins I discussed in above have different features, complexity and functionality. You can always twist them to meet the needs of your business website.
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