7 Best WordPress Directory Plugins in 2023 (Ranked)

If you want to build an online directory website in WordPress, you’ll need the best plugin for the job. Online directories are basically public listings to help visitors find businesses, services, products, and more. But building one from scratch in WordPress is difficult without a plugin. Thankfully, some great directory plugins are out there to make that process much easier. But finding the right one for your needs can be challenging. In this post, we’ll share our list of the best WordPress directory plugins to help you make the right choice for your business.

How to Choose the Right Directory Plugin for You (What to Look For)

Directory plugins have been around for a long time. Most solutions take into account 90% of what’s needed to create a decent directory. But, the best directory plugins go above and beyond by offering:

• Simple directory creation: The best WordPress directory plugins make it easy to create a directory website, even if you don’t have coding skills. For an ideal solution, choose one that doesn’t take a lot of work to set up.
• Flexible and customizable: They should allow you to customize everything from the layout of your directory pages to the (custom) fields included on each listing.
• Advanced search and filtering: The ability to search and filter listings is vital for a directory website. The best directory plugins offer advanced search options to help visitors find what they’re looking for without any hassle.
• Payment support: If you plan to make money off of your directory website, look for a plugin that supports popular payment gateways and eCommerce platforms like WooCommerce. This will allow you to charge for listings, create different subscription plans, and display sitewide ads.
• Compatibility with other plugins and WordPress themes: To ensure your directory plugin works seamlessly with your other WordPress plugins and themes, look for a plugin that is compatible and updated often.

If you want the best chance for your directory to gain traction, getting a feature-rich tool will do wonders for you.

The Best WordPress Directory Plugins

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If you’re looking to create a directory website using WordPress, you’re in luck! Various plugins are available to help you get started, each with its own strengths and features. Whether you need a simple address book, a classified ads section, or a business directory, a plugin on this list will fit your needs. First up is a crowd-pleaser—GeoDirectory.

1. GeoDirectory

GeoDirectory is a versatile WordPress plugin that allows you to create a location-based business directory similar to popular sites such as Yelp or YellowPages. For example, users can easily submit for approval, search for businesses and other entities, and display them nicely on an interactive map. By using GeoDirectory, you can transform any WordPress website into a useful business directory.

Learn how to build a business directory with GeoDirectory

Key Features for GeoDirectory:

• Transfer directory data using CSV import and export options
• Drag-and-drop interface for building your directory listings
• Easy to style directory using available themes.
• Location management system.
• Customize the look of search results and single listing pages
• Search results based on a specific location
• Allows users to rate listings
• Integrates with Ninja Forms to connect with other CRMs and
• Integrates with page builders like Divi
• Integrates with popular SEO Plugins like RankMath.
• Supports WooCommerce.
• Premium Add-ons to monetize your site, set up recurring payments, and allow business owners to claim listings.
• Multisite compatible to create a network of directories

GeoDirectory handles every aspect of creating a directory site. But, with its smart compatibility with other top plugins, GeoDirectory starts to shine. For instance, its BuddyPress integration can connect BuddyPress to your directory, giving your directory a social edge. This makes your directory more personal—giving your directory more of a chance to stand out in a crowded market.

GeoDirectory is for you if you…

• Need to build a high-quality directory site based on location
• Want the ability to create a simple or complex online directory
• Like extending the core plugin with powerful premium add-ons like (recurring payments, enhanced search, and multi-location directories) as needed

GeoDirectory Pricing: Free, Premium $229 a year

Get GeoDirectory

2. Business Directory Plugin

The Business Directory Plugin is an easy-to-use WordPress plugin that enables you to create and manage a variety of directory types for any directory website. It includes everything you need to get started, regardless of the type of directory you want to create. Plus, it allows visitors to submit listings without coding anything.

Key Features for Business Directory Plugin:

• Monetize your directory via Authorize.net, PayPal, or Stripe
• Supports WPML for multilingual directories
• SEO friendly and integrated with Yoast SEO
• Users can filter business listings by location
• Enable rating and reviews with proper schema markup
• Enable users to be able to upload files and control the file types that they can add to listings

Easily make money with your directory by creating different pricing plans. You can choose to have a directory with only free plans or attach certain features to different plans and charge a fee. Additionally, you can set plan time limits or create recurring payment plans.

Business Directory Plugin is for you if you…

• Need a free and comprehensive directory plugin with the option to upgrade to more advanced functionality via an extensive add-on directory
• Are you looking for payment support with the ability to create listing-based monetization

Pricing: Free, $149 a year

Get Business Directory Plugin

3. AWP Classified

AWP Classifieds is another easy-to-use plugin that allows users or visitors to create classified ad listings on your WordPress website. From the makers of Formidable Forms, this plugin is perfect for anyone looking to quickly add a classified ads section to their site with little fuss.

Key Features for AWP Classified:

• Automatic creation of required pages streamlines the setup process
• Non-registered users can post ads with simple email verification
• Monetization support with customized subscription plans, enabling the creation of a classifieds site to make money easily
• Integration with 4 major payment gateways for easy monetization through paid listings and charging for banner ads on classified pages

AWP Classified lets you limit the number of submissions, reviews, or listings a user can make depending on their plan. This allows you to easily create pricing tiers for monetizing your new classified section. You can even display external ads (such as Google Adsense) across your website’s classified sections for additional monetization potential (without having to use an advertising plugin).

AWP Classified is for you if you…

• One of the simplest plugins in the niche (and built by a trusted developer at that)
• Have a high focus on monetization

AWP Classified Pricing: Free, $99 a year

Get AWP Classified

4. Directorist

Directorist is a freemium WordPress directory plugin that is suitable for a variety of websites, from business directories to property listings, classified ads, and more. With a wide range of features, Directorist aims to be the only WordPress directory plugin you will ever need. You even scale up your director with powerful add-ons, including a job manager that rivals many top job board plugins and many other integrations. The same company has built (but doesn’t require) its own classified themes that can also be of help to budding directory owners.

Key Features for Directorist:

• Easily build your listings pages with Directionist’s custom drag-and-drop form builder
• Custom form fields are searchable for exact search results
• Includes search widgets with 10+ different filters
• Use Google Maps or OpenStreetMap for geo-based listings
• Compatible with WooCommerce’s Multivendor plugin for creating a multi-vendor marketplace

Customize all the fields with Directorist! Its truly powerful (and beautiful) filterable listings make your directory-based website easy to go through. You’ll have the ability to add searchable custom fields or use standard directory fields like price, tags, text, location, and more.

Directorist is for you if you…

• Do not want to settle for an ugly directory site
• Need a plugin that can easily convert your directory into a mobile app

Pricing: $139 a year

Get Directorist

5. Toolset

Toolset is a powerful WordPress plugin with a suite of tools that simplifies the process of creating advanced websites. You can use it for custom eCommerce, real estate, membership, and Directory sites. However, it’s not the easiest thing to learn on this list because it feels like its own ecosystem of related tools. But it can help you create a directory website from scratch.

Key Features for Toolset:

• Create custom post types, unlimited custom fields, and taxonomies that you can display on your site frontend
• Create custom frontend forms for users to use and interact with your directory
• Restrict certain website features and sections for paying customers
• Comes with an in-depth course and an onboarding program

Toolset is not made solely to build directory websites. However, it gives you the tools to build just about anything on WordPress. Toolset even has created special training for how to build a directory website. Plus, it can be used with Divi and other page builders to create more beautiful directories.

Toolset is for you if you…

• Are you an advanced WordPress user looking for a suite of tools for managing all sorts of custom post types and how they are shown
• Want to create a directory site from scratch without knowing code.

Pricing: From $69 a year (renews at $51)

Get Toolset

6. Connections Business Directory

Looking for a simple, yet powerful business directory plugin? Connections Business Directory has you covered. While not the most appealing plugin on our list, you can create directories of all types and host thousands of worldwide listings. And, the plugin is completely free.

Key Features for Connections Business Directory:

• Supports the Block Editor with four directory blocks
• Privacy controls for listings and directory entries
• Allows you to control the fields shown on your listings
• Support for nested categories
• Face Detect add-on to properly center the display of profile pictures automatically

The plugin has an optional free add-on to create directories for displaying people (for Alumni, staff, and volunteer sites and pages). For example, its Face Detect add-on can properly render images (of various sizes) so that a user’s face is always front and center.

Connections Business Directory is for you if you…

• Need a free option with solid core features
• Want free and affordable add-ons to extend the functionality of your directories

Pricing: Free, with add-ons (Free – $14.99)

Get Connections Business Directory

7. HivePress

HivePress has created a fantastic and free WordPress directory plugin that truly covers all the bases. And it has more products, including beautiful directory themes and extensions, bringing even more power to the core plugin.

Key Features for HivePress:

• • Can charge users to feature their listing
  • You can allow users can rate listings as well as leave reviews on listings
  • Users can send private messages to listing owners
  • It can allow users to “favorite” listings, making them easy to find again in the future
  • Users have private, frontend dashboards to manage their listings

HivePress comes built-in with a clean and modern user interface that allows users to manage their listings without logging into your WordPress backend. You can easily create a Favorites page for users that have marked listings with a heart. This allows users of your site to save and keep an eye on their favorite listings.

HivePress is for you if you…

• Want a free plugin that has plenty of room to grow as you start making money
• Crave a beautiful directory with plenty of features included

HivePress Pricing: Free, with paid add-ons (Free – $39)

Get HivePress

Comparing the Best Directory Plugins

Not every directory plugin will fit your needs. Since we’ve looked at each plugin one by one, let’s take a side-by-side look at each. We’ll start with the price.

Directory Plugin Price Comparison

Here’s a quick breakdown ranking our top directory plugins by price. This will help you see if a free version is available and what it costs for a paid version (if they have one).

Directory Plugin Feature Comparison

The best WordPress directory plugins balance deep feature sets and multiple plugin integrations and are easy for users and admins alike. Let’s compare the features of our top three picks.

What is the Best WordPress Directory Plugin?

For the best overall directory plugin, we suggest GeoDirectory because it has powerful features plus add-ons, all of which are easy to use. Its lifetime pricing is also something not to consider lightly. Business Directory is also a great choice, especially if you want to monetize your directory.

Advanced WordPress users should look at using Toolset along with Divi. This powerful combo will provide all the tools you need to create a directory specific to your needs. Whatever you choose, make sure that it balances your business needs with your budget—that way, you’ll be on the right track in building out your directory.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Before we wrap up, let’s answer some of your most common questions regarding the best WordPress directory plugins. Did we miss one? Leave a question below, and we will respond!

Looking for more great plugins? Check out our top free plugins for businesses and our collection of the best plugins for WordPress.

Featured Image vis Andrew Krasovitckii / shutterstock.com