Updated Google Maps Plugins for WordPress in 2024
In the realm of WordPress plugins, several options stand out for creating and customising interactive maps. Here's a roundup of some of the best WordPress Google Maps plugins, their key features, ideal use cases, pricing, and distinctive differences.
WP Go Maps (formerly WP Google Maps)
- Key Features: Create multiple custom Google maps, high-quality markers with descriptions, images, categories, and links, visitor directions, store locator with category search, marker filters and mashups, export/import markers via CSV, import KML/KMZ files, multiple map blocks and widgets.
- Ideal Use Cases: Businesses needing detailed store locators or marker-rich maps with user directions.
- Pricing: Free + Pro version (starting price not specified).
- Distinctive Differences: Very user-friendly with extensive pro features for store locators and directions; multiple map support.
MapPress Maps for WordPress
- Key Features: Integrates Google Maps and OpenStreetMap, shortcode support, customizable markers and styles, integration with custom fields, multiple maps per post.
- Ideal Use Cases: Businesses with multiple locations or requiring advanced customization.
- Pricing: Starts at $39/year.
- Distinctive Differences: Supports both Google Maps and OpenStreetMap with customization; slightly steeper learning curve.
Maps Marker Pro
- Key Features: Supports Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Bing Maps, multi-layer map support, GPX tracks and heatmaps, marker listing and search, advanced customizations and APIs.
- Ideal Use Cases: Data-driven sites needing advanced visualization like real estate, sensor data.
- Pricing: Starts at $49/year.
- Distinctive Differences: Multi-layer and advanced data visualization; supports multiple map providers beyond Google Maps.
Mapster WP Maps
- Key Features: Integrates MapLibre (no API key), Mapbox, and Google Maps, map editor and creator with blocks, extensible by developers with custom code.
- Ideal Use Cases: Developers or users wanting flexible map editing with multiple providers.
- Pricing: Free, open source.
- Distinctive Differences: Unique for no-API MapLibre integration and developer extensibility; supports Mapbox and Google Maps.
WP Maps
- Key Features: Supports Google Maps and OpenStreetMap (no API key required for OSM), unlimited maps and locations, store locator with search and filters, custom markers (SVG), clustering, KML, KMZ, GeoJSON support, responsive design.
- Ideal Use Cases: Real estate listings, directories, multi-location businesses.
- Pricing: Free.
- Distinctive Differences: Easy multi-provider support with store locator, clustering, and vector marker (SVG) support.
Summary of Differences:
- WP Go Maps emphasises user-friendly map creation with advanced store locator features and multiple map support.
- MapPress combines Google Maps and OpenStreetMap integration with customisation for posts, ideal for complex location data display.
- Maps Marker Pro is the most feature-rich for advanced geospatial data, multi-layer maps, and multiple map providers including Bing.
- Mapster WP Maps stands out by offering MapLibre (which requires no API key) plus Mapbox and Google Maps with developer extensions.
- WP Maps offers strong support for both Google Maps and OpenStreetMap, featuring store locators, clustering, filterable listings, and vector markers, great for multiple location businesses.
When choosing a plugin, consider factors like provider flexibility, advanced features, ease of use, and cost considerations. For example, for developer extensibility and no API key usage, Mapster is ideal; for advanced multi-layer visualizations, Maps Marker Pro; and for simple store locators with Google Maps, WP Go Maps or WP Maps are solid choices. Many WordPress Google Maps plugins come with free templates for inserting Google Maps, and these plugins provide filter and search options for maps on a WordPress website. Google Maps Widget offers a dozen map types and styles for flexibility in map creation.
- These WordPress Google Maps plugins offer distinctive advantages for creating and customizing interactive maps, such as WP Go Maps with its user-friendly interface and advanced store locator features, and Mapster WP Maps for its flexibility in map editing with multiple providers and MapLibre integration.
- Each plugin caters to different needs, like MapPress Maps for complex location data display due to its Google Maps and OpenStreetMap integration, Maps Marker Pro for advanced geospatial data with multi-layer maps and multiple map providers beyond Google Maps, and WP Maps for its strong support for Google Maps, store locators, clustering, and vector markers, beneficial for multiple location businesses.
