Looking to use WordPress to create the next big directory website like Airbnb, Booking.com, or Indeed?
If so, you’ll need a robust WordPress business directory plugin to help you get people connected with the right businesses, websites, and listings.
If you’re not quite sure how to get started, here is a look at the top 7 WordPress business directory plugins available on the market today, evaluated by their key features and pricing.
Top 7 WordPress Business Directory Plugins
#1: uListing
Taking the number one spot on the list is our very own business directory WordPress plugin, uListing. This plugin is super flexible, easy to use, and is suitable for any type of business directory website that you might be looking to build.
Key Features:
Some of the key features of this WordPress plugin include:
- Flexible Directory Listings. With uListing, you can add an unlimited number of listing types to your WordPress website. That means you can present users with an endless number of products or services that they might be searching for – from hotels and restaurants to car repair shops or local coupons. Additionally, each single page listing is easily adaptable and customizable, allowing you to display specific and high-quality information to drive bookings and leads.
- Advanced Search Functionalities. uListing business directory plugin also has advanced search functionalities. This includes enhanced filters for easy searching, customizable search criteria, and customizable form fields. Additionally, users can also search for listings in a specific location or within a radius of their current location.
- Monetization Capabilities. uListing makes monetizing your business directory WordPress website easy by allowing for different payment options, membership plans, and the capability for users to sign up for a recurring subscription. Whether you use PayPal, Stripe or you accept bank transfers, this plugin makes it simple and easy to get paid.
Other features available with this plugin:
- Flexible listing card displays and previews
- Extensive map services including MapBox, OpenStreetMap, and GoogleMaps
- Page statistics and analytics
- Saved searches feature for users
- Wish lists, listing compare, user roles, and social login (for pro users only)
Pricing Considerations:
One of the best features of uListing is that there is both a free version as well as a pro version. The free version does not include some important features like user roles and listing compare, however, it is a great option if you are just getting started.
When you’re ready to upgrade, this WordPress plugin can still be purchased at an affordable $59.00 for a single website. If you have other business directory WordPress websites that you manage, you can also get some great savings. Currently, you can purchase the plugin for 5 websites at a price of $79.00, and for 25 websites, it can be purchased for $149.00.
Perfect for:
uListing is perfect for those who want some flexibility with pricing. The free version offered is great if you are just shopping around or if you need some time to make a decision.
This WordPress plugin is also very customizable and is suitable for just about any industry including car dealerships, real estate companies, news/media platforms, coupon directories, job boards, blog directories, and any general business directories.
Demo
#2: Business Directory Plugin
Coming in second place on our list is one of the most popular options, Business Directory Plugin. This WordPress plugin has all of the basic features that you may need for your business directory WordPress website and is suitable for most industries.
Key Features:
Some of the key features of this plugin include:
- Extensive Payment Options. One of the huge benefits of this WordPress plugin is that there are a wide number of payment methods available. These methods include PayPal, Payfast, 2Checkout, and Stripe, and Authorize.net. This is a particularly attractive feature for international directories in need of a diverse set of payment options.
- Easy Translations. Another great feature for international listing websites is this WordPress plugin’s extensive language translation capabilities. It not only supports WPML, but it can also translate common languages including German, Spanish, French, and Russian.
- Plenty of Resources and Support. A highly attractive feature of this WordPress plugin is its extensive library of resources and materials to help you every step of the way. With this WordPress plugin, you gain access to a Quick Start Guide, video tutorials, and a community of developers who are ready to answer any question you may have.
Other features available with this WordPress plugin:
- Multiple skins and themes to choose from
- Yoast SEO integration
- Ability to create discount codes for users
- Postal code search
- Star rating feature for users
Pricing Considerations:
The majority of the core features of this business directory WordPress plugin are totally free. However, as you grow, you do have the option to purchase add-ons to enhance your directory WordPress website. However, the full package of add-ons is priced at a onetime fee of $199.99, making it potentially a more expensive option in the long term.
Perfect for:
Given the amount of support available with this directory WordPress plugin, it’s perfect for those with little to no experience with building directory WordPress websites. The fact that there is a free option available also makes it a great choice for those who may be on a tight budget.
Similar to uListing, this WordPress plugin is also quite flexible and is suitable for just about any industry or type of business directory listing WordPress website that you are looking to create.
#3: Directories Pro
Taking third place on our list is Directories Pro by Onokazu. This basic WordPress plugin does not have a free version, however, its cheaper price makes it an attractive choice for newer WordPress website owners looking for a simple option with relevant features.
Key Features:
Some of the key features of this WordPress plugin include:
- Extensive Review Capabilities. One of the best features of Directories Pro is its highly customizable review settings, which allow site owners to set up multiple criteria within a 5-star review system for each listing. Users can then filter and sort listings by star rating, review content, and many other review statistics.
- Highly Customizable Listing Information. Another great feature of Directories Pro is that you can customize each listing to display only the information you want it to display. You can add custom fields for any list or review, and you can also add custom fields for categories, tags, and locations. Additionally, you can adapt the appearance of each listing, without the need to change any code.
- Basic Monetization Support. With this WordPress plugin, you can monetize your WordPress business directory website in a few ways. It is not only compatible with WooCommerce and WooCommer Subscriptions, but it can also accommodate guest checkouts and additional monetization add-ons you may need.
Other features available with this WordPress plugin:
- WPML support, and translations available in French, German, Swiss-German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, and Turkish.
- Maps available with Google Maps or OpenStreetMap
- GDPR compliant
- Registered user and guest bookmark capability
- Compatible with Yoast SEO, Rank Math, Breadcrumb NavXT, and WooCommerce breadcrumbs
Pricing Considerations:
Unlike other WordPress plugins on this list that offer a free version, Directories Pro can only be used with a regular license that can be purchased at a price of $39.00. An upside to this is the fact that you have no extra add-ons to worry about purchasing at a later date.
Perfect for:
Directories Pro is a great ‘out of the box’ option with most of the core features required for any business directory WordPress plugin. However, support is only provided for the first 6-months, so it’s not the best option if you are looking for that extra long-term support and resources that can be found with other options.
#4: Directorist
Another great business directory WordPress plugin to consider is Directorist by AazzTech. This plugin, like others, does have a decent free option available if you are on a budget or looking for something to test out.
Key Features:
Some of the key features on the free version of this WordPress plugin include:
- Zero Coding Experience Required. One of the best features of this WordPress plugin is its ease of use. While other WordPress plugins require at least a bit of coding experience, Directiorist is one of the most beginner-friendly options with a simple, intuitive, and easy to use user-interface.
- Unlimited Custom Fields. In addition to its ease of use, this WordPress plugin is also very flexible and allows you to add an unlimited number of custom fields for each listing based on 11 different field types. These fields are then searchable, making it super easy for your users to hone in on the exact listing they are looking for.
- Basic Monetization Capability. In the free version of Directorist, you have the capability to monetize your business directory WordPress website through featured listings. However, if you purchase additional extensions, you can monetize your site in other ways. Some of the other options include paid listings, claim listings, and pay per submission programs.
Other features available with this plugin:
- Google Maps and Open Street Map compatible
- Yoast SEO compatibility
- Compatible with Loco translation plugin
- CSV Bulk Importer
- RTL language compatibility for languages such as Hebrew, Aramaic, and Arabic
Pricing Considerations:
Directorist offers the majority of its most basic features free of charge. However, you can also purchase a number of different paid extensions if your website needs them. Some of the paid features include:
- Multi-pricing plans for users
- PayPal and Stripe payment gateways
- Processes for taking bookings and reservations
- Map-view of listings
- Live chat
- Image galleries
- Social logins
- Listing FAQ’s listing slider and carousel, listing faq’s, and social login.
To get all of these extensions, you will have to purchase a bundle, which starts at $99.00 for a single site.
Perfect for:
This free WordPress plugin is equipped with the most basic features necessary for any business directory site in any industry. However, it may not be the best option if you are price sensitive, as you may become frustrated with the number of additional add-ons that must be purchased separated.
#5: GeoDirectory
Taking fifth place on our list is GeoDirectory by AyeCode, which is a more developer-friendly option that is highly customizable and flexible; allowing you to create the exact WordPress business directory website that you want.
Key Features:
Some of the key features of this WordPress plugin include:
- Compatible with Any Theme. This plugin is intended to be used seamlessly with any WordPress theme, making it an extremely attractive option for developers looking for something flexible. There are also several ways that you can extend and adapt the plugin to suit your needs, enabling you to easily build your own custom them around the GeoDirectory plugin.
- Drag & Drop Form Builder. With this theme’s drag and drop form builder, you can create intuitive and easy to use submission forms for front-end users. When building your listing form, you can choose from 40 different field types. This ensures that each listing has plenty of rich and relevant information for users to browse and search.
- Optimized Database Structure. Geo Directory WordPress plugin has one of the most advanced and robust database structures. That means it can handle high volumes of traffic and facilitate millions of listings from businesses worldwide.
Other features available with this WordPress plugin:
- WPML compatibility
- Page statistics for each user
- Built-in SEO tools
- Badge system to highlight certain listings
- Custom email templates.
Pricing Considerations:
GeoDirectory is another WordPress plugin that features both a free and paid option. And while there are many core features that the free version offers, it is important that you are aware of the fact that the free option can only be used to create a local directory based on one location.
Some of the premium add-ons that you can purchase include:
- Location manager
- Pricing manger
- Custom post type
- Event listings
- Advanced SEO tools
- Custom map styles
- Social importer
- Franchise manager
- Compare listings
These additional listings can be purchased for a price of $99.00 every 4 months, $129.00 every 6 months, $199.00 annually, or $995.00 for lifetime access.
Perfect for:
Due to the advanced features of this WordPress plugin and its more expensive price point, this plugin is definitely more suitable for advanced developers handling large-scale projects. Developers with experience will appreciate its flexibility and capacity for customization to any industry along with its ability to easily scale alongside a growing website.
While you may find the free option to be enough for your new WordPress website, we do not recommend this plugin for website owners with little to no web development experience.
#6: BePro Listings
Taking sixth place on our list is BePro Listings by BePro Software. This option features a very basic design that is suitable for simple business directory WordPress websites.
Key Features:
Some of the key features in the free WordPress plugin include:
- Front-end Submission Forms for Users. Your website users can manage their listing submissions via Buddypress or BePro’s standalone shortcode. This is a relatively easy to use process for WordPress website owners to manage and facilitate.
- Hooks & Filters for Developers. BePro business directory WordPress plugin is another great option for developers as it is very easy to extend and develop further. Each page has a shortcode builder, and there are plenty of additional hooks, templates, and filters available to help you customize your directory website.
- Basic Monetization Tools. This WordPress plugin also comes with basic monetization tools including the ‘BePro Cart’ which is included free of charge and allows you to charge users in several different ways. Additionally, you can also monetize your business directory WordPress website though additional paid add-ons.
Other features available with this WordPress plugin:
- Email notification integration
- Fully responsive design
- Listings display in a cluster on Google Maps
- CVS upload capability
- Built-in SEO tools
Pricing Considerations:
The free version of this WordPress plugin is equipped with all of the basic features needed for a simple business directory website. You can of course upgrade to either a business or premium package, which can be purchased at $19.99 and $59.99 respectively.
The price point of this WordPress plugin makes this a great option if you have a limited budget for the development of your website, as it is much less expensive than other options in this article.
Perfect for:
Even though the setup for this plugin is relatively simple and straight forward, this WordPress plugin is still more suited to those who have at least some background in web development. This is due to the fact that there is some basic coding required and new users may find it difficult to use.
Additionally, while this plugin can be adapted for most industries, its design is not as sleek as other options on this list. That means that if your business needs a WordPress plugin with a modern look and feel, this option may not be your best bet. However, given the price point, it’s a great choice if you just need something simple and basic.
#7: Connections
Coming in the last place on our list is Connections by ZAHMit.design. This option is very basic, however, it does include most of the features needed for a simple business directory WordPress website.
Key Features:
Some of the key features of this WordPress plugin include:
- Continuous updates for the free version. One of the great things about this WordPress plugin is that there are continuous updates available for the free version. This gives you the peace of mind that you will always have a well-supported plugin – even when you don’t quite have the budget yet to splash out on the paid version.
- Built for developers. This is another WordPress plugin that was built with developers in mind. Connections have a ton of potential and flexibility, giving developers the opportunity and freedom to create custom solutions for their website.
- Language-translation tool. Connections has a great language translation feature included, called Transifex, which is a centralized language platform that can help you manage any translations necessary for your website. Some of the most popular languages that Transifex can accommodate include German, Dutch, French, Spanish, Icelandic, Swedish, Italian, Greek, and Hungarian, among many others.
Other features available with this WordPress plugin:
- Quick, thorough, and responsive support team that is passionate about web development
- Integration with most themes and websites
- Premium extensions available as you grow
- Free version offers several basic templates to choose from
- Unlimited repeatable fields available for each listing
Pricing Considerations:
Connections’ free version includes the most basic features needed for your directory WordPress website, and you can use the free version for as long as you want.
However, if you find yourself in need of additional features or templates, you can also consider the following bundles that are available. These include a template pack, which is priced at $59.99 for additional templates for one site. There are also extra extensions available at $29.99 for one site. To get the templates and extensions, you can also purchase a combination bundle which is $74.99 for one site
Another great benefit of using Connections is that they allow you the option to buy individual extensions at affordable prices as low as $5.00. This enables you to only purchase exactly what you need. Individual extensions can be purchased for CSV import capabilities, widget packs, enhanced category features, and many other features.
Perfect for:
Connections are perfect for developers who may be working on smaller-scale projects that do not need advanced or expensive features and add-ons. This business directory WordPress plugin is adaptable for any industry, and developers are free to customize and develop their sites exactly how they want them.
While the website and free version of this WordPress plugin is updated frequently, there are not as many support materials available when compared to other plugins. This may become an issue for newer developers in need of more support materials like how-to videos or guides.
Final Thoughts & Considerations
There are a ton of different directory WordPress plugins available that suit a wide range of needs and budgets. Before making a final decision though, you may also want to consider the following questions:
- What is the potential traffic of the website?
- What is the total lifetime budget for this website?
- How many different locations will be needed for this directory website?
- How much web development experience do you already have – or will someone need to be hired?
- How customizable does each listing page need to be?
- Do you need additional marketing integrations such as automated emails, SEO tools, and chat boxes?
Once you have the answer to these questions, you will be in a good position to make a decision about which plugin to choose.
