06 Jul Store Locator Plugins for WordPress
We recently started working on a unique project. The aim is to highlight the businesses that exist within a very large housing division. To do so, the core part of the website will be a business listing, but we do not want it to seem dated or look like a standard list of businesses. We would like it to be interactive so that we can display a Google Map of all businesses within that area and have links to a post about each business. To make it seamless, we wanted visitors to be able to view a map containing only certain types of businesses such as banks, or they could switch to view all businesses, or a different category. We do not want other businesses from Google Places to be pulled in and displayed on the map
Below, we will list each Store Locator plugin for WordPress that we could find which had been updated recently as well as each feature we require for this project. We hope this will help others decide the best plugin for their project.
AKW Store Locator
By Around Kitchener Waterloo
This is a fairly compact and simple plugin. Stores can be added via their address and when Google places the pin in an incorrect location, it can be dragged and dropped to the correct location.
To be able to view stores, the user needs to first search for a location.
Bottom Line: Map controls are stretched. Stores do not display on map by default as the user needs to enter a location to search.
AKW Store Locator on WordPress.org (removed from WordPress.org)
Easy2Map
By Steven Ellis
Easy2Map lets you create individual maps which you can add pins to. While it is very easy to use, we need a plugin that will display the pins based on what type of business is being searched for. The issue with having completely separate maps is that we would need to add the business to multiple maps, which would be time consuming and would not allow the fluid experience we want for our website.
You can add a custom pin, custom text and even include a link and html within the popup for the pin. The only issue is that the pins do not have a label, so if you are adding different types of stores, it is impossible to tell what the store is without clicking on the pin. However, if you are only listing one type of store (such as all the stores one business has) then this plugin is ideal.
Bottom Line: Great plugin, easy to use with nice customizable options.
GEO my WP
By Eyal Fitoussi
Unlike other plugins, this one does not force a store locator upon you. Instead, it allows you to set a location for each post or page, displaying a pin for each on the map.
The downside is that a user needs to search to view the map. It is possible to display the map containing all pins, but that requires an add-on costing $28.
However, GEO my WP is still a great option with many interesting add-ons.
Bottom Line: GEO my WP Great option, no labels for pins, but very customizable. Search forms can even be set to search posts, pages, media and custom posts such as property listings, events etc.
Gwebpro Store Locator
By G web pro
Gwebpro Store Locator uses custom posts for stores to be added. The pin can not be manually placed, so you either need the exact address (which google maps can understand) or the exact longitude and latitude.
The plugin site link within the plugins admin section is broken. The map controls are broken and stretched. My location was automatically detected as being hundreds of miles south of my actual location and on an island! None of the pins I added displayed on the map.
Bottom Line: Broken controls on map, no stores display and location incorrectly detected as hundreds of miles south.
Locations
By GoldPlugins
Locations is a decent looking plugin, but we could not get any features to work. The pin did not display on the map and other locations were displayed from Google Places. While this could be helpful, it poses a risk of cluttering the map and taking customers away from your store to a competitor.
Bottom Line: Store did not show on map.
Pazzey’s Store Locator
By Cris Puno
Simple, small and very easy to use. However, there are no admin options and no methods to add controls using the shortcode (except for map size). You can not set the default location or zoom for the map.
Bottom Line: Very limited options, no way to set location or zoom for map. However, it is simple to use and may suit smaller projects.
SimpleMap
By Michael Torbert
The name Simple Map sounds as if it contains simple options, which it does not, the options contained within the plugin are absolutely extensive including AdSense for Maps and Auto load locations on map to name just a few. This plugin is well worth testing.
Bottom Line: Includes a wealth of nice features.
Store Locator
By Viadat Creations
A nice, feature packed plugin which we used as the store locator for Fila when we were creating their website. The plugin developer actually lists the Fila website as an example.
Store Locator comes with all the standard features you would expect. The only issue is the price of the add-ons which range from $249 all the way up to $5,000!
Bottom Line: Nice plugin with many features.
Store Locator Plus
By Charleston Software Associates
Another plugin that has premium add-ons available. The plugin has many options. However it displayed the location of my house approximately 5 miles north east of its actual location. My location (detected from IP which is never very accurate) set me in the ocean, miles from land.
Bottom Line: Good plugin, but pin locations seems to be inaccurate.
WP Google Maps
By WP Google Maps
This is a unique plugin which goes beyond a Store Locator or map marker, allowing you to add pins, routes and even polygons. This can be very handy if you want to create a map to show your distribution area or a specific route from one location to the other such as a bike ride or walk.
Bottom Line: Many great features including store locator and polygon.
WP Map markers
By Paul de Wouters
Another nice plugin with many features and a large number of pin designs. Listings can be categorized and have features assigned to them. This makes it easier when searching for a type of store or service.
However, the pin icons within the plugin do not load as the developers website (where the pin icons are located) has been offline for at least 2 years due to a configuration issue within the server.
Bottom Line: Great plugin, but some items are broken due to the developers website being offline.
WP Store Locator
By Tijmen Smit
Packed with all the standard features as well as extras such as custom map sizes, pin clusters and label customizations.
The only negative point is that the users location defaults to Africa when no location is set or detected.
Bottom Line: Great plugin, very customizable and lots of features.
Conclusion
These plugins cover such a wide range of requirements from store locations to geotagged posts and even graphical presentations.
I think it is safe to declare a winner for each requirement.
Store Locator is the best plugin for listing multiple stores on a map. Each store can have its own graphical pin.
GEO my WP is the best plugin for tagging your posts and custom posts which can include Real Estate Properties, Events, Reviews or anything else you can think of.
WP Google Maps does an awesome job, providing routes and polygons as well as the usual store locator.
Which plugin did you use and why? Did we miss any plugins you think we should have included?
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