Directorist Vs HivePress Vs GeoDirectory: Which One is Right for You?

Choosing the right WordPress directory plugin can be overwhelming, especially when balancing ease of use, scalability, and monetization options. With so many plugins offering similar features, it’s hard to know which one will best serve your needs for building a powerful directory website.

Directorist, HivePress, and GeoDirectory are the most popular directory plugins, but how do they compare? What if you choose one only to realize it doesn’t support the custom fields you need, or you struggle with slow loading times as your site grows? Or worse, what if your preferred monetization options aren’t supported? This can lead to frustration, wasted time, and lost revenue opportunities.

In this article, we’ll break down Directorist, HivePress, and GeoDirectory to help you make an informed decision. By understanding the unique features of each, you can choose the right plugin that scales your business, offers essential customization, and maximizes your revenue potential.

So, without further ado, let’s dig deeper.

What Is Directorist?

Directorist is a versatile and highly optimized free WordPress solution for building any type of modern directory or classified website. It offers a complete platform where admins and business owners can easily manage listings from the frontend. With advanced features designed to help businesses grow, Directorist makes it simple to attract more users and expand your reach. Plus, it enables both admins and business owners to generate more revenue with minimal effort, all while providing a seamless experience.

An Overview of HivePress

HivePress is a free WordPress plugin built for creating all kinds of directory and classified websites. Whether you’re setting up a business directory, job board, real estate listings, or any other type of listing site, HivePress offers all the key features you need to get started.

Some Words about GeoDirectory

GeoDirectory lets you create location-based directories with ease. It’s highly customizable and user-friendly, making it simple to build directories for businesses, events, or places. The plugin supports multiple locations, has advanced search features, and comes with a built-in review and rating system.

Comparison of Directorist, HivePress, and GeoDirectory- Which One Takes The Edge?

When selecting a directory plugin for WordPress, Directorist, HivePress, and GeoDirectory are three prominent options. Each plugin has unique features and capabilities that cater to different requirements. Here is a detailed comparison based on their functionalities, customization options, and support features.

Let’s start with active installations and user base

• Directorist: Over 10,000 active installations, rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on WordPress.org.
• HivePress: Also boasts over 10,000 active installations worldwide.
• GeoDirectory: Matches the active installations of the others, but is more niche-focused on location-based directories.

5-Star ratings on WordPress.org

Directorist has received 553 five-star ratings on WordPress.org, reflecting its strong user satisfaction. HivePress has 180 five-star reviews, and GeoDirectory tops the list with 594 five-star ratings. These numbers show just how users have received these platforms.

Features (Free) comparison at a glance

Customization options

• Directorist: Offers a range of customization options, including unlimited custom fields and advanced form builders. The plugin is designed to be user-friendly, requiring no coding skills for basic customizations for directory or classified websites.
• HivePress: Provides extensive customization capabilities, allowing users to create any directory or classified site.
• GeoDirectory: While it allows for some customization, it is more rigid than HivePress and Directorist. Custom fields and search filters are limited unless premium features are purchased.

Monetization features

• Directorist: Supports monetization through paid listings, feature listings, claim listings, ranked featured listings, pay-per-submit, and subscriptions. However, some of them are locked behind a paywall.
• HivePress: Offers a variety of monetization methods, including paid listings and claim listings, making it versatile for different business models.
• GeoDirectory: Also supports multiple monetization strategies, but its premium extensions can become costly.

Support and community

• Directorist: Provides support through a ticket system, live chat, and community forum for both premium and free users. However, premium users get the services on a priority basis. Moreover, they can ask for customization facilities if needed.
• HivePress: Utilizes a community forum for support, allowing users to ask questions, report bugs, and suggest features.
• GeoDirectory: Offers private ticket support for users with active memberships, while free users can only access basic support.

Mobile app availability

In today’s digital age, people prefer using their mobile devices to browse the internet because of how portable and convenient they are. The ease of carrying a mobile device and the ability to use it anytime make it an essential tool for staying connected in modern life.

Fortunately, Directorist comes with a mobile app (Android & iOS). While other two options, GeoDirectory and HivePress don’t have any mobile apps yet.

Extensions/Add-ons

When it comes to extending the functionality of directory websites, each platform brings a range of add-ons to the table. Directorist leads the pack with an impressive 30 extensions/add-ons, offering robust customization options. GeoDirectory follows with over 25 add-ons, providing plenty of tools to enhance your directory website. HivePress, while smaller in comparison, still packs a punch with 12 add-ons, delivering essential features for a streamlined directory experience.

Niche-specific themes

When it comes to niche-specific themes, Directorist stands out with a total of 14 themes, including 2 free options, giving users a versatile range to choose from. GeoDirectory offers a solid selection with 12 niche-specific themes, while HivePress keeps things simpler with 6 themes.

These themes are designed to cater to a variety of industries, allowing users to build directory websites tailored to specific sectors with ease and customization. Whether you’re looking for a free or premium solution, each platform offers flexibility to match different project needs.

Conclusion

Choosing between Directorist, HivePress, and GeoDirectory depends on your specific needs.

• Directorist is ideal for a comprehensive directory solution with strong customization options and a user-friendly interface for any type of directory, classified websites, or any type of submission sites.
• HivePress is best suited for flexibility and a multi-purpose plugin that can handle various types of directories and classifieds.
• GeoDirectory is tailored for location-based directories and is suitable for users focused on geolocation features.

Evaluating these factors will help determine which plugin aligns best with your requirements. Usually, we recommend the users use the free version of the products just to know how they perform in building a basic directory or classified website.

Finally, if you choose any option from our list, then don’t forget to share your experience with us just by dropping a line in the comment section below.