Best WordPress Directory Plugins To Create Directory Website

Howdy! If you’re exploring directory plugins, it means you’ve already uncovered one of the most profitable and evergreen online business models — the directory business. Platforms like Yelp, Craigslist, and TripAdvisor prove how powerful directory websites can be, generating massive traffic and consistent revenue through paid listings, featured placements, memberships, claim listings, and advertising.

But many directory projects fail — not because the idea is bad, but because they choose the wrong system to build on.
A poor plugin choice leads to slow performance, limited features, scalability issues, and months of wasted time and money.

You clearly don’t want to repeat those mistakes — and that’s exactly why you’re here searching for the best WordPress directory plugin to start or scale your directory website the right way.

Finding the right tool can feel overwhelming, especially when every plugin advertises itself as “the most powerful” or “the easiest to use.” Whether you’re building a business directory, local listing website, job board, real estate directory, classified ads marketplace, service directory, or even a multi-directory platform, your success heavily depends on choosing the right plugin from the start. In this article, we’ll discuss —

➡️Quick Comparison: Best WordPress Directory Plugins

➡️8 Tips to Choose the Right WordPress Directory Plugin

➡️Best WordPress Directory Plugins (Reviewed, Compared & With Real Use Cases)

➡️Others WordPress Directory Plugins 

➡️Which WordPress Directory Plugin Should You Choose?

In a hurry?
👉 Our top all-purpose pick is Directorist — now trusted by 20,000+ active users, offering advanced search filters, flexible custom fields, monetization tools, map integrations, unlimited listings (even in the free version), and a full ecosystem of dedicated themes and 30+ extensions for booking, reviews, multi-directory support, and more with exciting Directorist AI (Pro).

For this guide, we thoroughly tested and analyzed the most popular WordPress directory plugins based on:

• Ease of use
• Features & customization flexibility
• Frontend submission & user dashboard
• Search & filtering performance
• Page builder compatibility (Elementor, Gutenberg, Divi)
• Pricing, scalability & long-term growth potential
• Real-world use cases and niche suitability

In this article, you’ll find a clear, non-technical breakdown of the best WordPress directory plugins — complete with pros, cons, pricing, and ideal use cases. By the end, you’ll know exactly which business directory plugin is the right fit to create a directory website that can grow into a sustainable, profitable online business.

Without further ado, let’s dive into the best WordPress directory plugins to create a profitable directory business.

Quick Comparison: Best WordPress Directory Plugins (2025)

Plugin	Rating	Ease of Use	Best For	Best Feature	Free Directory Version	Starting Price
Directorist 🏆 Top Pick	4.9/5	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	All-purpose directories	Custom fields + advanced search builder	Yes	$96 – $109
GeoDirectory	4.6/5	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Map-heavy, multi-location directories	Google Maps + location manager	Yes	$115- $229
Connections	4.7/5	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Staff & member directories	Highly customizable entry types	Yes	$59–$299
Business Directory Plugin	4.4/5	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Simple local business listings	Payment & CSV import tools	Yes	$149 – $349
Advanced Classifieds & Directory Pro	4.5/5	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Classified ads & listing marketplaces	Flexible custom fields & paid ads	Yes	$95–$289

Need more explanation? Read these articles 👇

• GeoDirectory vs Directorist – Which One to Choose?
• Directorist Vs HivePress Vs GeoDirectory: Which One is Right for You?
• Directory vs Classified Listings: Which Is Better for Your Website?
• Directorist vs Directories Pro – A Concrete Comparative Guide

8 Tips to Choose the Right WordPress Directory Plugin

Choosing a directory plugin depends on what kind of listing website you want to build — business directory, job board, events directory, real estate platform, classified ads marketplace, or a multi-directory ecosystem.
Use this checklist to ensure the best business directory plugin fits your directory business model.

1. Page Builder & Theme Compatibility

Your plugin should work with:

• Elementor
• Gutenberg
• Divi
• Oxygen
• Any standard WordPress theme

2. Custom Fields & Form Builder

Look for:

• Drag-and-drop form builder
• Custom input types (text, checkbox, select, number, rating, etc.)
• Conditional fields
• Taxonomy support
• Category-specific fields

Example:
A real estate directory requires bedrooms, bathrooms, area size.
A job directory requires salary range, job type, experience level.

3. Advanced Search, Filtering & Query Performance

Your plugin should support:

• Keyword search
• Category/taxonomy filters
• Directory custom field filters
• Radius search
• Map-based filtering
• AJAX search (faster results)

Why it matters:
A directory is only useful if users can find directory listing quickly.
Plugins like Directorist and GeoDirectory excel here.

4. Frontend Submission & User Dashboard

Essential for directories built on user-generated content.

You need:

• Frontend listing submission
• Frontend editing
• Moderation queue
• Dashboard for users to manage listings
• Email notifications
• Listing expiration tools

Directorist, ACDP, and Business Directory Plugin are best WordPress Directory Plugins offering this strongly.

5. Maps & Geolocation Tools

Online directory plugins should support:

• Google Maps
• OpenStreetMap
• Location autocomplete
• Map clustering
• Geolocation search
• Clickable markers

This is required for business directories, travel guides, and local listings.

6. Monetization Options

If you plan to earn money, look for:

• Paid listings
• Featured listings
• Pay-per-submit
• Membership/subscription packages
• Claim listings
• Ads integration
• WooCommerce compatibility

Directorist and Business Directory Plugin offer multiple monetization models.

7. Scalability & Database Performance

As your directory grows, performance becomes critical.

Look for:

• Optimized database structure
• Fast filtering
• Cache compatibility
• Lightweight scripts
• API support
• CSV import/export tools

GeoDirectory and Directorist handle scaling extremely well.

8. Support, Documentation & Ecosystem

Directory websites grow over time — support matters.

Choose a plugin with:

• Detailed documentation
• Video tutorials
• Active support
• Helpful community groups
• Add-on marketplace
• Regular updates

Directorist, GeoDirectory, and Connections excel in long-term support.

Best WordPress Directory Plugins (Reviewed, Compared & With Real Use Cases)

Below you’ll find detailed reviews of the top WordPress directory plugins. Each plugin includes:

• Best For
• Use Cases (very important!)
• Key Features
• Pros & Cons
• Pricing

Directorist

Directorist is one of the most customizable WordPress directory plugins available that allows you to build almost any type of directory website — from simple business listings to full multi-vendor marketplaces and niche online directory projects.

⭐ Best For: All directory types: business listings, local directories, job boards, classified ads, service directories, events, real estate, or multi-directory platforms.

➡️Use Case Examples: Use Directorist if you want to build:

• A business directory like Yelp
• A job board like Indeed
• A real estate listing site like Zillow
• A service directory (lawyers, doctors, consultants)
• A classified ads website like Craigslist
• A multi-directory platform (jobs + real estate + services)
• A local tourism directory (restaurants, hotels, events)
• A membership-based directory with paid listings

You can start and build directory website with Directorist ‘s free core plugin and can scale later with it rich ecosystem of official themes and extensions.

➡️Key Features:

• Drag-and-drop custom fields & form builder
• Advanced search & filtering system
• Frontend directory listing submission
• Google Maps + OpenStreetMap
• Multi-directory support
• Monetization options (paid listings, claim listing, memberships, ads)
• 25+ Elementor widgets
• Booking / reservation & other extensions
• Directorist themes
• WooCommerce multi-vendor support
• Clean, lightweight, developer-friendly

➡️Pros:

✔ Extremely customizable
 ✔ Beginner-friendly interface
 ✔ Huge extension library
 ✔ Works with any WordPress theme
 ✔ Perfect for both small & large directories
 ✔ Multi-directory support (rare feature)

➡️Cons:

✘ Beginners may feel overwhelmed by advanced options
✘ Theme styling sometimes needs tuning

➡️Pricing:

• Free core plugin
• Add-ons: $29 – $89
• Bundle: $96 – $109 year

GeoDirectory

GeoDirectory focuses on high-performance, location-based directories. Among the Best WordPress Directory Plugins, it’s excellent for websites centered around geographic data and maps.

⭐ Best For: City guides, tourism directories, restaurant maps, multi-city directories, neighborhood listings.

➡️Use Case Examples: Use GeoDirectory if you want to build:

• A city directory with maps & filters
• A tourism website (hotels, attractions, restaurants)
• A multi-location business directory
• A real estate directory with map search
• A restaurant finder website
• A travel/activity guide
• A neighborhood-based directory with map clustering

GeoDirectory shines when maps are the heart of your website.

➡️Key Features:

• Google Maps + OpenStreetMap
• Multi-location support
• Ajax filtering
• Custom Post Type support
• User review system
• Import/export tools
• 13 input field types

➡️Pros:

✔ Best map functionality
✔ Extremely scalable
✔ Perfect for large, location-based directories
✔ Highly customizable

➡️Cons:

✘ Requires paid add-ons for full functionality
✘ Steep learning curve
✘ Design requires tweaking

➡️Pricing:

• Free core plugin
• Bundle: $115-$229 (4 months of updates)

Connections Business Directory

Connections is a simple, structured online directory plugin ideal for internal directories, team listings, and professional member profiles.

⭐ Best For: Employee directories, member directories, association lists, school directories, church directories, and internal company databases.

➡️Use Case Examples: Use Connections if you want to build:

• A staff directory for a company
• A membership directory for an organization
• A doctor/teacher directory
• A non-profit member list
• A simple contact directory
• A church community profile list

Connections excel in structured, profile-style directories.

➡️Key Features:

• Custom entry types (people, organizations, families)
• Gutenberg block integration
• Repeatable contact fields
• Template marketplace
• Shortcodes for easy customization
• Hierarchical categories

➡️Pros:

✔ Perfect for internal or private directories
 ✔ Easy to maintain
 ✔ Lightweight
 ✔ Excellent documentation

➡️Cons:

✘ Not suitable for large public directories
✘ Limited mapping & filtering features

➡️Pricing:

• Free core plugin
• Bundles: $59–$299

Business Directory Plugin

Business Directory Plugin is one of the Best WordPress Directory Plugins, focused on local business listings and small directories.

⭐ Best For: Small local directories, small business listings, community directories, local service directories.

➡️Use Case Examples: Use Business Directory Plugin if you want to build:

• A local business directory (plumbers, salons, gyms)
• A simple yellow-pages style website
• A small-town service directory
• A community listing website
• A local chamber of commerce listings

It’s best for simple, beginner-friendly directories.

➡️Key Features:

• Frontend submissions
• PAYMENT integration (Stripe, PayPal)
• CSV import/export
• Custom form fields
• Image upload rules
• Google Maps support
• Recurring payment support

➡️Pros:

✔ Easy to use
 ✔ Great for small sites
 ✔ Good payment features

➡️Cons:

✘ Many core features are paid
✘ Design looks outdated
✘ Not ideal for advanced or large directories

➡️Pricing:

• Free core plugin
• Bundle: $149 – $349

Advanced Classifieds & Directory Pro

ACDP is designed for category-heavy listing websites and classified ads platforms.

⭐ Best For: Classified ads websites, multi-category marketplaces, listing portals.

➡️Use Case Examples: Use ACDP if you want to build:

• A classified ads website like Craigslist
• A marketplace for buying/selling products
• A multi-category listing website
• A real estate classified site
• A vehicle listing site
• A job posting classifieds portal

Great for category-focused directories with paid promotions.

➡️Key Features:

• Category-specific custom fields
• Email alerts
• Google Maps integration
• Video support
• Paid promotion listings
• Advanced search widget customization

➡️Pros:

✔ Best for classifieds
✔ Strong directory custom field controls
✔ Supports both online & offline payments

➡️Cons:

✘ Outdated UI
✘ Requires extensions for advanced features
✘ Map tools need setup

➡️Pricing:

• Free core plugin
• $95.88/year

Others WordPress Directory Plugins 

While the Best WordPress Directory Plugins offer the best flexibility and performance for most directory websites, several other tools are worth considering for specific niches or lightweight use cases. These honorable mentions are still solid options depending on the kind of directory website you are building.

HivePress

HivePress is a modern, lightweight, and beginner-friendly directory plugin packed with essential features. It offers clean layouts and easy customization, making it ideal for users launching a small or simple directory site without advanced requirements.

⭐ Best For: Small business directories, freelance listings, community-driven listings, simple marketplace websites.

➡️Use Case Examples:

• A small local service directory (mechanics, salons, pet services)
• A freelancer listing website
• A minimalist listing directory with filters
• A small rental/booking directory (with extensions)

➡️Key Features:

• Simple listing submission
• Custom fields
• Ratings & reviews
• WooCommerce compatibility
• Several free extensions

➡️Pricing:

• Free core plugin
• Premium add-ons: $69–$79

🔍 Why It Didn’t Make the Top 5

❌ Limited scalability for large directories
❌ Advanced features require multiple add-ons
❌ Map + booking + advanced search features are basic
❌ Not ideal for complex multi-directory sites

ListingPro

ListingPro is theme-powered directory solution, offering beautiful templates and built-in directory functionality. They are perfect for users who prefer an all-in-one design experience.

⭐ Best For: Visually rich directories, real estate sites, service marketplaces, event listings.

➡️Use Case Examples:

• A modern real estate listing website
• A service marketplace built with Elementor
• A classified-style directory using theme-based layouts
• A city events or attractions directory

➡️Key Features:

• Pre-built directory layouts
• Frontend submissions
• Google Maps search
• Category & filter builder
• Elementor support

➡️Pricing: $69–$79

🔍 Why It Didn’t Make the Top 5

❌ You are locked into the theme (hard to switch later)
❌ Less flexible than standalone plugins
❌ Heavy on performance without optimization
❌ Not ideal for developers who need customization freedom

Directories Pro

Directories Pro is a feature-heavy directory plugin for users who want deep customization and complete control over directory layouts.

⭐ Best For: Advanced, large-scale directories; complex marketplace-style listings; power users.

➡️Use Case Examples:

• A multi-layered directory with custom taxonomies
• A large marketplace listing website
• A directory with advanced conditional filtering
• A site needing powerful custom field manipulation

➡️Key Features:

• Extensive custom field controls
• Elementor widgets
• Customizable search filters
• Review & rating system
• Ajax-powered results

➡️Pricing: $39

🔍 Why It Didn’t Make the Top 5

❌ Steep learning curve
❌ Can feel overwhelming for beginners
❌ Heavy backend interface
❌ Requires tuning for performance

MyListing Theme

MyListing is a premium directory theme powered by Elementor, ideal for visually appealing listing websites with beautiful search and listing pages.

⭐ Best For: Design-focused directories, event listings, real estate sites, creative service listings.

➡️Use Case Examples:

• A modern real estate directory with map search
• A creative services directory (photographers, agencies)
• A city events directory with beautiful layouts
• A vacation rental listing website

➡️Key Features:

• Custom listing builder
• Modern design templates
• Map search
• Elementor integration
• Review & rating system

➡️Pricing: $69 (ThemeForest)

🔍 Why It Didn’t Make the Top 5

❌ Theme-locked — not flexible
❌ Requires Elementor for all customization
❌ Not ideal for advanced business logic
❌ Hard to scale or migrate

WP Job Manager

WP Job Manager is a lightweight, job-focused directory plugin maintained by Automattic.

⭐ Best For: Job boards, job submission sites, recruitment listings, remote job directories.

➡️Use Case Examples:

• A remote job board
• A local employment directory
• A freelance listing board
• A small job portal for schools or institutions

➡️Key Features:

• Frontend job submission
• Employer and candidate dashboards
• Job alerts
• Paid listings
• Easy setup

➡️Pricing:

• Free core
• Paid add-ons: $29–$159

🔍 Why It Didn’t Make the Top 5

❌ Only for job listings (Doesn’t have  multi-purpose functionality like Best WordPress Directory Plugins)
❌ Many essential features require premium add-ons
❌ Limited map + custom field capabilities

For most users, the Top 5 plugins remain the best choices due to flexibility, advanced search, monetization options, and long-term scalability.

Which WordPress Directory Plugin Should You Choose?

Choosing the best WordPress directory plugin ultimately depends on the type of directory website you want to build, your feature requirements, and how much flexibility you need as your site grows. Every plugin in this list can help you launch a directory website, but the right choice will save you time, reduce complexity, and make scaling easier.

Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide:

Choose Directorist if… (Best Overall)

You want a functional, easy, and all-purpose directory solution that works for ANY directory niche — business listings, local directories, job boards, classifieds, service directories, real estate, events, or even multi-directory websites.

It offers powerful customization, advanced search filters, multi-directory support, monetization tools, and integrations without locking you into a theme.

Best for: Most users, beginners to advanced builders, agencies, and anyone who needs long-term flexibility.

Choose GeoDirectory if…

Your directory is map-driven — such as a tourism website, local business guide, or restaurant finder — and you need location-aware search and multi-city support.

Choose Connections if…

You need a staff directory, membership directory, school directory, or internal company list with structured data and simple profiles.

Choose Business Directory Plugin if…

You want a simple, straightforward local directory with basic submissions, payments, and easy listing management.

Choose Advanced Classifieds & Directory Pro if…

You’re building a classified ads marketplace, multi-category listings platform, or Craigslist-style portal.

So What’s the Best Plugin Overall?

If you want the most versatile, modern, and customized directory plugin among the Best WordPress Directory Plugins that can adapt to almost any niche, Directorist remains the best all-around choice. It offers the ideal balance of:

• Customization
• Performance
• Usability
• Monetization
• Extension ecosystem
• Theme/builders compatibility

…and it grows with your business, whether you’re building one directory or many.

If you’re ready to build a powerful directory website without complexity, you can start with the free version of Directorist on WordPress.org and explore premium extensions as your directory grows. It’s free that reduce your financial risk and beginner-friendly also flexible enough to handle virtually any directory niche.

Taking a right decision will keep you ahead than other directory owners. So don’t rush!

Think wisely and take the right step. Here are some questions that we frequently asked by the people who’re interested to start a directory business or want to scale up their current directory business. Hope these will help you too.

It’s Your Turn…

We’re about to end today, but Directory websites continue to grow across industries. Choosing the right plugin today can save you months of rework later and set your directory project up for long-term success.

No matter which plugin you choose, the most important step is to start. In this way, Directorist is a handy solution that can align with your goals. Besides the tools we reviewed above, you’re now fully equipped to make a confident decision and build a directory site that actually make profit.

We welcome you to share if you know a better directory plugin we didn’t mention, or a better way to build a directory website, insights, or real-world experiences.

Drop your thoughts, suggestions, or plugin recommendations in the comments below — your input helps the entire directory business community.

And if you want to connect with other directory builders, marketers, and developers, feel free to join the Directorist Community. It’s a great place to share ideas, get insights, request features, and learn from others building successful directory projects.

Let’s keep the conversation going — your idea might help to build the next Yelp, Craigslist, or TripAdvisor!