{"id":4616,"date":"2024-08-09T08:38:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-09T02:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/directorist.com\/blog\/?p=4616"},"modified":"2025-11-10T17:55:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T11:55:30","slug":"directorist-vs-directories-pro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/directorist.com\/blog\/directorist-vs-directories-pro\/","title":{"rendered":"Directorist vs Directories Pro – A Concrete Comparative Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

More often than not, it’s not worth picking up a tool based on its popularity. This is why you need to vet their versatility and scalability so that you can go for the one that really suits your needs. Having said that, very few directory solutions are as popular as Directorist and Directories Pro. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But these two tools shine in different hues from their own perspectives. Do you know how they differ from each other? If not, grab a cup of tea and give a shot to this comparative guide so that you can get to know which one gives you the better value for money. Now, let’s get the ball rolling. But before we move any further…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Brief Intro to Directorist<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"directorist<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Directorist <\/strong><\/a>is a WordPress-based directory solution that allows you to build any kind of Directory websites such as local business listings, restaurant directory, automobile directory, classified ads, and so many more. Surprisingly, it comes with a free version<\/strong> including two free themes<\/a><\/strong> which is enough to create a basic directory website with a few advanced features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best part is that it is scalable through a host of premium extensions and themes. If you want to customize with your taste, you can do it very easily with the free directory builder. Additionally, as Directorist comes with16 free Gutenberg Blocks<\/strong>, 17 free Elementor widgets<\/strong>, and 17 premium Oxygen Builder components<\/strong>, you can also feel comfortable if you are using one of these page builders. Last but not least, it can also turn your directory website into a native mobile app<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tool has more than 9000 active installations<\/strong> with a good 4.7 customer satisfaction<\/strong> rating out to 5 on WordPress.org<\/strong>. Even though Directorist joined the party late, it has gone very far and it’s gaining even more momentum. If you are planning to create a directory website just like yelp.com, or Craigslist, or Google+ places<\/strong>, then it is a go-to-go solution for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Brief Intro to Directories Pro<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"directorist<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Directories Pro is another WordPress plugin that enables you to create any kind of directory website just like Directorist. It is a useful directory solution that helps you create directories like Google+ Places or Yahoo or Yelp.com<\/strong>. It also ships with a whole slew of features that makes the plugin versatile and scalable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Directories Pro ships with notable features like fast loading speed and responsiveness, Advanced Search & Facet Filters, Custom Fields management, Content Display Editor, Paid Listings, Frontend Dashboard, Claim Listings, Multi-Directory support, Frontend Submission & Dashboard,<\/strong> etc. The plugin has 6000+ sales on CodeCanyon<\/strong> with a good 4.8 customer satisfaction<\/strong> rating which indicates it is also a popular directory solution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to create a premium directory website, you can unhesitatingly go for Directories Pro as it does not come with a free version. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Directorist vs Directories Pro (When They Stand in Toe-to-toe)<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You are here because you know there is no one size fits all solution, aren’t you? That’s why we are comparing these two giants so that you can make a better-informed decision. Now, let’s demystify the opposite of the tip of the iceberg based on the following criteria:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Free Version Availability<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Pricing Plans<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Support Duration<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Mobile Apps Availability<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Advanced Form Builder<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Multi Directory<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Unlimited Custom Fields<\/a>\u200b<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Social Importer<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. CSV Bulk Importer<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Search with Advanced Filters<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  11. Ease of Migration and Personalization<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  12. Frontend Listing Submission and Management\u200b<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  13. Private Directory<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  14. Exclusive Plugins<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  15. Exclusive Themes<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  16. Page Builder Support<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  17. WooCommerce Multivendor Plugin Compatibility<\/a>\u200b<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  18. Develop Booking System<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  19. Built-in Checkout and Popular Gateways<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  20. Earn Through Monetization<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  21. Live Chat<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  22. Ads Manager<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  23. Social Login<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  24. Face Detection<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  25. More premium features<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  26. Integrations<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  27. Growth Rate<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  28. Miscellaneous<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    1. Free version availability<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    It’s a common scenario in the WordPress industry that most of the premium plugin developers build their solutions based on a scalable core version. In most, if not all the cases the core version comes free of cost, and the premium features ship in the form of paid extensions or modules. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In this regard, Directorist includes a free core version but the Directories Pro does not include a free core version. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Feature<\/strong><\/td>Directorist<\/strong><\/td>Directories Pro<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    Free version<\/td> \u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    \n
    \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    2. Pricing plans<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Directorist offers 4 pricing plans including a lifetime pricing plan with unlimited sites. The basic plan starts from just $79 (now $55 at a limited time discount offer) per 3 months. However, the most popular plan is the lifetime plan for unlimited sites that costs $999 (now $599 at a limited time discount offer). If you choose the lifetime plan, you don’t have to renew it yearly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Then again, if you want to save even more, you have the option to pick up the number of sites (for example 1 site or 5 sites to cut the costs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Directorist pro pricing usually starts from just $79 per 3 months. However, you can get it at $55 per month as of now while I’m writing this article. You can also get the unlimited website plan for a lifetime only at $599 (Usually available at $999). <\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"\"
    Check the Pricing Plan Page<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    On the other hand, Directories Pro pricing starts from $39 per 6 months. However, you can extend the support up to 12 months for $29.75 (Now it’s now available only at $12.75)<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    N.B: Pricing plans from both sides are subject to changes over the time <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. Support duration<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Feature<\/strong><\/td>Directorist<\/strong><\/td>Directories Pro<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    Support Duration<\/td>Yearly + Lifetime (Depends on Pricing Plan)<\/td>Half Yearly & Yearly (Depending on Pricing Plan<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Directorist has both yearly and lifetime pricing plans. Consequently, it provides support on a yearly and lifetime basis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    However, you will only get 1-year support for Connections Business Directory as it only has yearly-based pricing plans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Directorist usually gives 1-year of support but you can get unlimited support without renewal if you go for the lifetime plan. On the other hand Directories Pro gives only 6 months of support which can be extended up to 12 months for $29.75 (Now at $12.75)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    4. Mobile apps availability<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n
    \n
    \"directorist<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    Mobile apps of your directory solution indicate how efficiently you can reach more customers. Nowadays, more people are using smartphones than ever before. According to Broadband Search, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    If we were to look at these numbers for the United States, about 50 percent of people use a desktop while 46 percent of the market share goes to mobile devices. Tablets make up 4 percent.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    The fact from above suggests that you must have an app for your directory website to grow faster, acquire and retain more customers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Directorist has a full-fledged native mobile app but unfortunately, Directories Pro does not have any mobile app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Feature<\/strong><\/td>Directorist<\/strong><\/td>Directories Pro<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    Mobile Apps<\/td> \u2714\ufe0f (Android + iOS)<\/td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    5. Drag & drop directory website page builder<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n
    \n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    An “Advanced drag and drop directory website page builder” can be a cog in the machine if you are to customize your add listing page, single listing layout, all listing page, and advanced search form builder above all the key pages of your directory website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Directorist allows you to enjoy a drag-and-drop form builder that helps you to create all these necessary web pages in a playful and smooth way. Similarly, Directories pro comes with a drag and drop content display editor that works well enough to customize the pages. But it is not that extensive and feature-rich like the directory builder of Directorist<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Features<\/strong><\/td>Directorist<\/strong><\/td>Directories Pro<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    Drag & drop based input fields<\/td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td> \u2714\ufe0f <\/td><\/tr>
    Advanced drag & drop based search form builder facility<\/td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr>
    Create and customize the listing card for grid view<\/td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\u2714\ufe0f <\/td><\/tr>
    Single Page Layout and List Layout Builder<\/td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td> \u2714\ufe0f <\/td><\/tr>
    Personalized builder settings panel<\/td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    6. Multi-directory facilities<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    You may start with one directory type but later may want to expand your business with other categories. In this regard, the multi-directory feature will help you to a great extent. Both of the directory solutions brag about this feature. <\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"multi<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
    Feature<\/strong><\/td>Directorist<\/strong><\/td>Directories Pro<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    Multi-directory Facility<\/td>\u2714\ufe0f (Free)<\/td> \u2714\ufe0f (Paid)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    7. Unlimited Custom Fields\u200b<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n
    \n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    If you don’t want to settle in the preset fields, custom fields are the key. To this end, Directorist and Directories Pro both come up with the custom field option with drag and drop functionalities where you can add as many custom fields as you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Feature<\/strong><\/td>Directorist<\/strong><\/td>Directories Pro<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    Custom Fields<\/td>\u2714\ufe0f (Free)<\/td> \u2714\ufe0f (Paid)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    8. Social importer<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Social importer lessens the hassle to import business information and events from Facebook, Yelp, or TripAdvisor using just the URL of your page. However, none of the plugins have this feature in place yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To get rid of the hassles to import business information from platforms like Facebook, Yelp, or TripAdvisor, a directory solution may have this feature. Unfortunately, none of them has introduced this feature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Channel<\/strong><\/td>Directorist<\/strong><\/td>Directories Pro<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    Facebook<\/td>\u274c<\/td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr>
    Yelp<\/td>\u274c<\/td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr>
    TripAdvisor<\/td>\u274c<\/td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    9. CSV bulk importer<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    You may use other directory solutions and may switch back to another. To this end, you will have to export the data of your current directory website and import it to the new one. Interestingly, both of the directory solutions come up with the CSV Bulk Importer<\/a> feature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Feature<\/strong><\/td>Directorist<\/strong><\/td>Directories Pro<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    CSV Bulk Importer<\/td>\u2714\ufe0f (With mapping)<\/td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    10. Search with advanced customizable filters<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Adding a search option with advanced filters is a bare minimum for a directory website. Fortunately both of the directory tools bolster this feature. You can even customize the search form the way you want. For example, you can decide whether to show or hide a field on the search form. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Both of the tools ship with advanced customizable search filters. <\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"Connections<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
    Features<\/strong><\/td>Directorist<\/strong><\/td>Directories Pro<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    Search Filters<\/td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><\/tr>
    Advanced Custom Filters with drag and drop builder<\/td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    11. Multiple mapping sources & mapping styles<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Each of these directory tools arms you with multiple mapping sources and mapping styles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Features<\/strong><\/td>Directorist<\/strong><\/td>Directories Pro<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    Multiple Mapping Source<\/td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td> \u2714\ufe0f <\/td><\/tr>
    Google Map<\/td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td> \u2714\ufe0f <\/td><\/tr>
    Open Street Map<\/td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><\/tr>
    Customize Map<\/td> \u2714\ufe0f <\/td> \u2714\ufe0f <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    12. Frontend listing submission & guest submission\u200b<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    With frontend listing submission & guest submission, users can immediately post their listings. It helps you optimize the sales funnel even more. As a result, your users are more likely to become paying customers. Another benefit is that if you restrict your users from logging in to the backend of your website, it decreases the risk of getting hacked<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Other benefits include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n