How to Choose the Right Map Plugins for WordPress

As a digital agency, you likely get frequent requests from clients to incorporate maps into their WordPress websites. After all, many businesses with physical locations need to provide a way for potential customers to find them quickly and effortlessly. 

The White Label Agency’s team of developers has experience in building thousands of WordPress websites over the years. We’ve become experts in the integration of any WordPress feature. We offer our best practices for adding maps to your client’s WordPress websites, along with a curated list of the top map plugins for WordPress.

Must-Have Features in a Map Plugin for WordPress

When choosing the right map plugin, a good first step is to look at a plugin’s active installation numbers and its most recent update. Highly active installations indicate a popular and trusted plugin, while a recent update ensures security and compatibility with the latest WordPress versions. Beyond these general considerations, here are some key features to prioritize when selecting a map plugin:

• Customization Options: The plugin should offer a variety of customization options, such as marker styles, colors, and info windows. This will ensure the map seamlessly integrates with your client’s website design.

• Responsive Design: In today’s mobile-first world, it’s crucial that the map plugin creates responsive maps that adjust perfectly for any device, be it a desktop computer, tablet, or smartphone

• Integration with Popular Page Builders: Many digital agencies leverage page builder plugins like Elementor or Divi. Make sure the map plugin integrates smoothly with your preferred page builder for a streamlined workflow.

• Multiple Map Views: Some plugins offer a variety of map views, like satellite or terrain. This can be a valuable feature depending on your client’s needs.
  
• Marker Functionality: Look for a plugin that allows for easy placement of markers and pop-up windows with information like business hours or contact details.

• Route Building (Optional): If your client needs a map where users can plan routes or get directions, then route-building functionality becomes a key feature.

WP Go Maps

One of the most popular map plugins for WordPress is WP Go Maps. This user-friendly option requires minimal coding knowledge and offers a smooth integration process. Here’s a closer look at what WP Go Maps brings to the table:

• Intuitive Interface: A user-friendly builder with live previews makes customizing your maps a breeze. You can easily adjust styles, overlays, and markers to perfectly match your client’s website design.

• Feature-Rich and Flexible: WP Go Maps offers a variety of features like geolocation support, responsive design, and compatibility with popular plugins like Advanced Custom Fields and WooCommerce. Interactive layers will allow you to display additional route or region information.

• Data Import and Management: Import custom data from various sources like JSON, XML, and CSV files. Scheduling these imports ensures your maps stay up-to-date.

• Multilingual and Localization Support: Caters to a global audience with WP Go Maps’ multilingual capabilities and built-in localization features.

• Free and Paid Options: A free version offers a solid foundation for basic map integration. The Pro version has three plans at $39.99; $99.99, and the third at $199.99.

WPForms

WPForms is a popular and user-friendly option for map plugins for WordPress websites that boasts of over 5 million active installations. It prioritizes mobile responsiveness and ensures your map will look great on any device. While WPForms offers a wider range of form-building functionalities, its mapping capabilities are particularly noteworthy.

The Pro version of WPForms includes a Geolocation Addon, allowing you to effortlessly integrate a map into your website’s contact forms without needing custom code. This addon also features Single Line Text and Address fields, enabling address autocompletion and it places an interactive map pin for users.

For an extra layer of security, WPForms offers Georestriction, a valuable tool if you’re encountering high spam rates from specific regions. In terms of customization, WPForms allows you to define the initial map location, specify zoom levels and set markers to pinpoint your client’s business.

As a freemium plugin, WPForms offers a free version with basic features. Upgrading to the Pro version with advanced mapping functionalities starts at $49.50 per year.

WP Store Locator

If your client’s business has physical locations they want customers to find easily, WP Store Locator is a strong contender. This user-friendly plugin allows you to effortlessly add business locations directly from your WordPress dashboard after installation.

WP Store Locator goes beyond basic map displays, offering features like geolocation search, filters to help users narrow down results, and detailed information pop-ups for each location – including distance calculations. Customers can also get driving directions directly from the map for any location. Plus, the WP Store Locator allows searches by zip code for added convenience.

The beauty of WP Store Locator is that most of its functionalities are completely free. However, if your client needs advanced features, add-ons are available for purchase, ranging from $19 to $99.

Need Help Adding Maps to Your Client’s WordPress Site?

At White Label Agency, we’ve been building high-performing WordPress websites for over a decade. Our seasoned developers are experts in all aspects of WordPress development, including seamless plugin integration.

Whether you need dedicated developer services to handle map plugins for WordPress or a complete custom WordPress website built from scratch, we’re here to help your clients thrive online. Contact us today to discuss your project and see how we can take your client’s website to the next level.