Directory Software for Every Kind of Directory
Businesses, members, staff, events, jobs, tools or products for sale: describe what you list and the AI sets up the categories, fields, design and SEO. Then take submissions, let owners claim their listings, and charge for placement. No code, no servers, no commission.
Free plan available · Paid plans from $12/month · 0% commission on your revenue
What is directory software?
Directory software creates a searchable website of listings — businesses, members, staff, tools, events, or anything else — with categories, filters, maps, and a page per listing. Hosted directory software also handles submissions, claims, payments, and SEO, so you run the directory without code or servers. On Directify it starts free, with paid plans from $12/month.
One directory software, every kind of directory
A business directory needs maps and opening hours, a member directory needs profiles and privacy, a job board needs roles and companies. Each Directify template is built around how its directory actually works.
Business directories
Local guides with what-and-where search, maps, reviews, and claimable listings.
Business directory software →Member directories
Associations, chambers, and alumni networks with member profiles and private access.
Membership directory software →Staff directories
Searchable employee profiles by team, role, and location, behind a password.
Staff directory software →Church directories
Congregation and ministry directories that stay private to your members.
Church directory software →Marketplaces
Buy-and-sell marketplaces with price-first listings and seller profiles.
Marketplace builder →Classifieds
Classified ad sites where people post, browse, and contact sellers.
Classifieds website builder →Events, tools & more
Event calendars, SaaS and AI tool lists, restaurants, real estate, weddings, and coupons.
All directory templates →What to look for in directory software
A grid of cards is easy. These are the features that separate directory software from a website with a list on it, and how Directify covers each one.
Search and filters
Typo-tolerant keyword search, category browsing, and filters on your own custom fields, with what-and-where search and an interactive map for local directories.
Custom fields per directory
Phone, opening hours, price, rating, file uploads, or any field your niche needs, shown on cards, listing pages, and filters.
Submissions with approval
Visitors submit their own listings through a public form, free or paid. Nothing goes live until you approve it.
Claimable listings
Seed the directory yourself, invite owners to claim their listing, and let them keep hours, photos, and details current.
Paid listings and ads
One-time or recurring listing plans, featured placements, banner ads, and pay-per-lead credits, paid into your own Stripe, PayPal, Lemon Squeezy, or Creem account.
Reviews and ratings
Star ratings on cards and listing pages, moderated by you, with structured data so ratings can show in search results.
SEO built in
Clean URLs, XML sitemaps, schema markup, editable meta tags, and indexable category and location pages.
Import at scale
CSV import, two-way Google Sheets sync, Google Maps import, listings from URLs with AI, and a REST API.
Multilingual directories
Run one directory in several languages, each at its own address with hreflang tags and translated pages.
Hosted directory software or a WordPress plugin?
The first choice is not which product, but who runs the server.
WordPress + a directory plugin
- You choose the hosting and control the server.
- You install, update, and patch WordPress, the plugin, and its add-ons.
- Paid add-ons, hosting, and maintenance hours add to the license price.
- Best when you already run WordPress and want to manage it.
Hosted directory software (Directify)
- Hosting, updates, SSL, and security are handled for you.
- AI sets up the directory in about a minute, and you edit everything after.
- Your own domain on every paid plan, and listings export to CSV whenever you want.
- Best when you want to spend your time on listings and revenue, not servers.
See the full comparisons: Directify vs WordPress and Directify vs GeoDirectory.
Directify vs. other directory software
How the platforms people compare most often line up on price, hosting, and setup.
| Software | Type | Starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Directify | Hosted, no-code, AI setup | Free plan; paid from $12/month, 0% commission | Launching any kind of directory fast and monetizing it |
| Brilliant Directories | Hosted | From $40/month | Membership and association sites |
| eDirectory | Hosted | From $99/month | Established directory businesses |
| GeoDirectory | WordPress plugin, self-hosted | Free core; add-ons from $139/year, plus hosting | Teams that run their own WordPress |
| Wild Apricot | Hosted membership software | Priced by contact count | Membership organizations with a member directory |
Competitor pricing as listed on the vendor websites, 2026.
Your directory in three steps
Describe your directory
"A directory of wedding vendors in Texas" — the AI picks the template and builds the categories, custom fields, and sample listings in about 60 seconds.
Add your listings
Import a spreadsheet, sync Google Sheets, pull businesses from Google Maps, or open submissions to the public.
Launch and earn
Connect your domain, shape the design in the Theme Editor, and switch on paid listings, featured spots, and ads.
Directory software questions
What is directory software?
Directory software creates a searchable website of listings — businesses, members, staff, tools, events, or anything else — with categories, filters, maps, and a page per listing. Hosted directory software like Directify also handles submissions, claims, payments, and SEO, so you run the directory without code or servers.
What is the best directory software?
It depends on what you list and who runs it. Hosted, no-code tools like Directify suit most new directories: AI sets up categories and fields, and hosting, updates, and SSL are handled for you. WordPress plugins such as GeoDirectory suit teams that want to self-host and maintain their own server. Membership platforms suit associations whose directory is a side feature of member management.
How much does directory software cost?
Directify has a free plan for one directory with up to 10 listings, and paid plans from $12/month (billed yearly: $10/month) with a 7-day free trial. Hosted competitors such as Brilliant Directories and eDirectory start higher, and self-hosted WordPress plugins add hosting and maintenance to the license price. Directify takes no commission on what your directory earns.
Can I build a member, staff, or church directory with it?
Yes. Directory software is not only for businesses. Directify has templates for member directories, staff directories, churches, events, job boards, marketplaces, and SaaS tools, and you can password-protect a directory so only your members or staff can see it.
Is hosted directory software better than a WordPress directory plugin?
Hosted software trades server control for zero maintenance: no hosting, plugin updates, security patches, or plugin conflicts to manage. A WordPress plugin gives you the server, and the upkeep that comes with it. With Directify you can still export your listings to CSV and use your own domain, so your directory stays yours.
Can I import my existing listings?
Yes. Import listings from a CSV file, keep a two-way sync with Google Sheets, import businesses from Google Maps, create listings from URLs with AI, or use the REST API. Custom fields map during import, so a spreadsheet becomes a live directory in minutes.
How do I make money with directory software?
Charge for listings (one-time or subscriptions), sell featured placements and banner ads, let owners claim and upgrade their listing, or sell leads with pay-per-lead credits. On Directify, payments go straight to your own Stripe, PayPal, Lemon Squeezy, or Creem account, and Directify takes no cut.
Pick your niche. The software is ready.
Describe your directory in one sentence and see it live in minutes. Start on the free plan, upgrade from $12/month when it's time to monetize.
