5 Best Free WordPress Directory Plugins to Jumpstart Your Business
Are you planning to integrate a business directory into your WordPress site? This might be a brilliant idea that you can turn into a reality with the help of a WordPress directory plugin. As a website owner, you can even sell paid listings on your business directory to create a new income stream.
There are many WordPress directory plugin options out there, so how would you find the right one for you? Well, here is a roundup of the best plugins that you can use to add any directory to your WordPress site, ranging from local businesses and people to websites and home listings.
In This Article
- What Are WordPress Directory Plugins?
- Top 5 Best Free WordPress Directory Plugins
- What to Look for in a WordPress Directory Plugin?
What Are WordPress Directory Plugins?
WordPress directory plugins serve a simple purpose: creating an easy-to-navigate database with up-to-date information for end-users and website admins, depending on the parameters provided. Your plugin of choice allows you to access these details along with location information, pictures, and contact details.
In other words, a WordPress directory plugin lets you easily create lists of businesses organized by category, location, and other parameters. These plugins make it easier for any WordPress site to collect, categorize, and show listings of almost any kind. However, one important thing to remember is that not all directories look or work alike. They come in various forms and serve different purposes.
Top 5 Best Free WordPress Directory Plugins
That being said, now let’s take a look at some of the best free WordPress directory plugins that you can use:
#GeoDirectory
GeoDirectory is the world’s most advanced and scalable WordPress directory plugin to turn any theme into a powerful, lightning-fast global business directory like YellowPages, Yelp, TripAdvisor, etc. The free version offers an impressive range of functionality, while you can buy several premium add-ons to integrate advanced features.
GeoDirectory is 100% Gutenberg-compatible and works seamlessly with the most popular page builders, including Divi, Elementor, Beaver Builder, and more. It can scale to millions of listings and withstand the massive traffic that comes along with them. If you’re looking for ultimate flexibility and endless customization options, GeoDirectory is for you!
#Connections Business Directory
This plugin combines simplicity in design and function with a vast array of impressive features, enabling you to create anything from a simple address book to a highly functional business or link directory. The core plugin is free and offers you a great range of themes to get you started.
Being built from the ground up to be as configurable and compatible as possible, Connections is highly scalable and supports 30+ languages. Most importantly, it has been built with developers in mind. There are hundreds of actions and filters that WordPress developers can use to create their custom functionalities. Altogether, Connections is the most suitable free option for those looking for a starter plugin.
#Business Directory
The Business Directory is the most popular, versatile, and easy-to-use WordPress directory plugin that offers you all the essential directory features, such as image support, payment acceptance, and fully customizable form fields. All these features are free with the core plugin, but you also have the option to purchase premium add-ons for more advanced functionalities.
With this lightweight yet powerful WordPress directory plugin, you can create any directory website you want, including a local directory, a Yellow-Pages directory, a book review site, an address book directory, a Yelp clone with review sections, and much more. Moreover, the plugin supports Authorize.net to let you accept payments for business listings.
#Advanced Classifieds & Directory Pro
If you’re looking for a more flexible option for the WordPress directory plugin, ACADP is right up your alley. Not only does this plugin provide a highly configurable locations setup, but also it allows you to set an unlimited amount of custom fields. Additionally, you have the flexibility of what to display and how to display on the front-end.
You can download ACADP for free and integrate it into your existing WordPress site to create different kinds of directories such as a classifieds platform, a travel guide, a movie rating site, or more. Another unique feature of ACADP is nested categories using which you can organize your listings across infinite categories and subcategories.
#uListing
uListing is a groundbreaking freemium WordPress directory plugin with a modern design and pleasant user experience. It offers a drag and drop builder to create a professional WordPress business directory listing site without much hassle. From course listing to real estate to job, you can design and display listings for any niche using this fantastic plugin.
Being built on Vue.js, uListing offers the best out-of-the-box designs and experiences on both the back-end and front-end. You can add as many custom fields as you want and monetize a directory in several ways. With a pretty user-friendly interface, uListing is an ideal plugin for beginners and professionals alike.
What to Look for in a WordPress Directory Plugin?
Before you pick any WordPress directory plugin to install and activate, you’ll want to double-check whether the plugin is worthy or not. Here’s what you should look for during your search:
- Front-end submission options
- Fully customizable form fields for adjusting submissions
- Back-end tools for merchants
- Payment collection features
- Location-based searches with integrated maps
- Media support
- Bookmarking tools
- Rating and review systems
- Shortcodes and widgets to make it easier to add a directory anywhere on your site
- Multilingual compatibility
- WooCommerce integration
- Monetization options
That’s it! Finding the best directory plugin for your WordPress site depends mainly on your specific requirements. Whatever these are, have them in mind and choose the plugin with the particular features you need to get the job done.
