Best WordPress Directory Plugin - 2024

Do you want to go straight to the answer? We suggest the Business Directory Plugin and GeoDirectory for the best WordPress directory plugin.

The internet is filled with directories.

In fact, your website may already be listed in some directories right now.

Directories like Yelp help consumers find a restaurant or service in their area. A directory like Angie's List connects people with contractors for electrical, landscaping, and plumbing work.

These two websites are very different - and both are directories.

There is a good chance that you can find a way to set up a directory on your website. Law firms use website directories to list their lawyers and employees. Real estate companies have directories for their listings as well as for their agents. A chain of retail stores probably has an online directory for the locations of its stores.

If you use WordPress, adding a directory to your website is simple. You just need to install a plugin.

Main features of a WordPress directory plugin

The word "directory" being so vague and having tons of potential applications, it can sometimes be a bit difficult to find the best WordPress directory plugin for your website. Before listing the main options to consider, I would like to briefly explain what to look for in a directory plugin.

• Payment options (for those of you who will be charging for directory listings)

• Location-based searches with integrated maps

• Fully customizable form fields

• Simple ways to add and adjust directory listings

• How can customers rate and evaluate companies?

• Management tools

• Characteristics of upstream submission

• Short codes that allow you to easily add a directory anywhere on your website

• Media Support

You may not necessarily need all the elements on this list. It actually depends on your business, the purpose of your website, and the type of directory you are trying to create. Throughout this guide, you will discover these features and many others offered by the directory plugins that I have listed. So, use this list as a reference to help you find the best WordPress directory plugin for your site.

The 6 best WordPress directory plugins

• Plugin for business directory

• GeoDirectory

• Advanced Classifieds & Directory Pro

• Directory of tools

• LDD Directory Lite

• Professional Directories

Below you will find my in-depth analysis of the top six WordPress directory plugins

Plugin for business directory

The Business Directory Plugin is an all-in-one option for WordPress directories.

It offers some of the key features that I am looking for in a directory plugin

• Media support

• Custom form fields

• Payment processing

You can also purchase add-ons to enhance your directory with the Business Directory Plugin. If you plan on using these add-ons, I recommend purchasing the package.

The combo pack is $199.99 for a single site and $399.99 for multiple sites. This may seem expensive at first, but when you consider that the price of each extension starts at $69.99 and $139.98 (for single site and multiple sites, respectively), it is actually a good deal.

They have add-ons for premium features such as:

• 2Checkout Gateway

• Discount codes

• Opportunity for businesses to claim listings on your website, similar to Yelp

• Integration of Google Maps

• Attachments module

• PayPal gateway

• Notes

• Band integration

Even if you have the option to add additional modules, you can install and use this module for free right out of the box. The plugin also comes with a built-in reCAPTCHA tool to prevent spam registrations in your directory.

The Business Directory Plugin also has a feature levels module. It is perfect for those of you who use this directory to generate recurring sales by setting up subscriptions. Here's how it works: You can configure your site to offer specific features for paid registrations.

For example, a company that pays to be listed can have an unlimited number of characters, images, and maps, while a free listing would not have these features. The Business Directory Plugin even allows you to specify different payment levels based on the features you offer.

This plugin truly gives you all the tools you need to compete with the big names in the directory industry. I'm not saying you should all try to be the next Yelp or TripAdvisor, but if that's your goal, you should definitely consider trying the professional directory plugin. I think it would be really smart to create a directory in a very specialized field that is not well represented or easy to search for in an existing directory.

GeoDirectory

GeoDirectory has one of my favorite search interfaces among all directory plugins on the market. With GeoDirectory, you can create a huge global directory on your website. It is a great option for those of you also looking for a free WordPress directory plugin.

They allow website visitors to find exactly what they are looking for without sacrificing the appearance and visual appeal of your site.

This plugin offers a front-end form that allows other businesses and users to submit listings, so that the scale of your directory is unlimited.

When someone searches for a company on your website, the listings are displayed by proximity so that users can see the closest and most relevant options first.

As its name suggests, GeoDirectory is integrated with Google Maps. A large clickable map is located next to each listing in the directory. Users can find directions to the desired location directly from this map without having to leave your website.

Although most features are free, you can purchase additional modules for things like

• Paid Listings

• Exams

• Support for the diversity of places

• Advanced search

• Events

• Possibility for businesses to "claim" their listing

GeoDirectory is also compatible with multiple websites, so I recommend it to developers who will add it to their clients' sites or to those of you who are considering building a directory network.

If you are building your directory website from scratch, you may also consider purchasing directory themes from GeoDirectory. However, this plugin will work with any theme, so you are not obligated.

The merchants listed in your directory will have access to Google Analytics data. This feature will show them how much your site is helping their business. You can use this data to justify your pricing if you plan to charge for listings.

Overall, GeoDirectory is a top choice for anyone looking to create a large and scalable business directory.

Advanced Classifieds & Directory Pro

Advanced Classifieds & Directory Pro made my list because its potential applications seem endless. You can use it as a platform for classified ads, similar to Craigslist, or go in a completely different direction and use this plugin for something like a movie ranking directory. Perhaps you want to add a travel guide directory, a wedding directory, a restaurant guide, or a real estate portal to your website. All of these options are possible with the Advanced Classifieds & Directory Pro plugin for WordPress.

Similar to other plugins on our list, Advanced Classifieds & Directory Pro is free to install. But it offers additional features that you can purchase. One of my favorite additional features is the ads slider.

The plugin has a user-friendly interface that allows businesses to manage their ads on your website. This area also allows these businesses to view the history of their payments and renew their subscriptions directly from the platform. This plugin can integrate with Stripe, PayPal, and WooCommerce for payment processing, and even supports offline payments, meaning you can accept checks from local businesses that do not want to pay online. This can save you money by avoiding the use of a payment processing add-on. Merchants will be automatically notified by email of the expiration of their subscription. They will also receive a confirmation message when payments have been received.

Advanced Classifieds & Directory Pro allows you to organize ads by category, which you should take advantage of. An advanced search widget is also available in Advanced Classifieds and Directory Pro, so that users can narrow down their options by category, location, keywords, and more. All of these flexible features make it one of the best WordPress directory plugins you will come across.

Directory of tools

The directory of tools provides all the key features you will need for an advanced directory website without using complex PHP coding.

The plugin is aimed at both experienced programmers and coding novices. Developers will be able to quickly add features such as front-end forms without having to waste precious time coding in PHP. Meanwhile, beginners will be able to create complex directory websites that they didn't think were possible for someone at their level.

Use the Toolset directory to create a variety of features, including

• Types of posts, fields and custom taxonomies

• Customized search with multiple filters

• Maps with distance filters

• Entry forms

• Paid lists

• Email notifications

• Payment assistance through WooCommerce integration

It is also easy to customize these features. For example, you can choose how the results of your search are displayed - whether in a grid, a table, or on a map.

If you are building a multilingual directory website, you will be pleased to learn that the Toolset Directory was created by the team behind WPML so they are fully compatible.

Toolset Directory is also integrated with other popular plugins such as Elementor, WooCommerce, and Yoast SEO. Additionally, it works with leading WordPress themes.

The full set of Toolset directory on three websites costs $149. But its versatility means you can also use it to create other types of websites, such as e-commerce, membership, and brochure sites. So there is no need to download multiple plugins if you plan on creating multiple websites.

LDD Directory Lite

LDD Directory Lite is extremely easy to install, which means you can set up a directory on your site in just a few minutes.

This is another free WordPress directory plugin with additional options available for purchase. Compared to other plugins, these premium updates are quite inexpensive, ranging from $10 to $20.

The LDD Directory Lite shortcode allows you to add a directory to any page or publish it on your WordPress site. Once the shortcode is added, the directory is generated automatically. This makes it one of the lightest directory plugins (hence the name) available.

Once the plugin is installed, you have seemingly unlimited customization options. You have full control over the appearance and user-friendliness of the directory on your site. Some of the main add-ons include social media and Google Maps integration.

By using this plugin, you will benefit from a modern design. It is perfect for WordPress users who are not too tech-savvy and do not want to deal with confusing features, but still want a good result.

LDD Directory Lite is compatible with front-end submissions. It is easy for website visitors to view your listings and navigate smoothly as well.

You can configure email notifications related to listings. Businesses that have ads on your site have the option to customize and modify them from the interface.

I recommend it to all those who want a simple directory plugin that is powerful and does not weigh down their website.

Professional Directories

Finally, last but not least, is the Directories Pro WordPress plugin. It is extremely responsive and uses caching to optimize directory performance on both desktop and mobile devices.

The plugin offers advanced search and filtering for your visitors. You can even enable an auto-suggest feature in search forms.

All fields are fully customizable. Each list can include fields such as tags, locations, comments, and categories.

One of the best features of Directories Pro is the content display editor. It is easy for you to use drag-and-drop editing options to customize the directory without having to use any code. Here are some of the other key features:

• Integration of the map

• Paid listings

• Complaints lists

• Import and export of CSV

• Personalized notifications via email

With Directories Pro, customers can evaluate and view directory listings without having to register, log in, or create an account. You will likely receive more feedback that will improve your directory.

It is also easy to create multiple directories with this plugin. You also have the ability to clone or migrate your directories from one site to another. All of these features make Directories Pro one of the best plugins for WordPress directories, both for developers and average users.

Conclusion

There are so many different ways to add a directory to your website.

Some of you may be trying to create giant commercial directories that will compete with the big players in this industry. Other websites will create local directories in niche categories. You may even want a directory for something as simple as your staff.

Whatever your situation, you can easily add a directory to your WordPress site by installing a plugin. Use this guide to narrow down your search. Look for the option that has the specific features you need to help you find the best WordPress directory plugin for your website. If you are considering creating a large directory, make sure you have a fast web host. Check out my list of the best WordPress hosts if you need a new host.