Are you looking for a way to add Google Maps on your WordPress website? There are lots of free Google Maps plugins available for WordPress which makes it difficult to know which is the best.
In this small article, we are sharing 7 best free Google Maps plugins for the WordPress website.
Adding Google Map plugins in WordPress
Before we consider the Google Maps plugin, it’s necessary to emphasize that Google Maps offer an embed code that you can edit and paste in your WordPress posts or pages without using any other plugins.
However, you will have to switch to the “text editor” to add it to your posts or pages.
Also, there are not various customization options available for the default embed code. You cannot add custom information and data to the map.
This is where Google Maps plugin comes in helpful. Using a plugin will enable you to add locations, directions, markers, routes, etc. Your map will be interactive and more beneficial to the users.
Here is our unique list of the 7 best free Google Maps plugins for the WordPress website.
1. MapPress Easy Google Maps
MapPress Easy Google Maps is one of the most common free Google maps plugin. It enables you to simply add a Google map to any WordPress page, post or custom post type by just typing the address.
You can embed the map automatically before & after a page or post. You can also use a shortcode to embed the map within the post.
2. Google Maps Builder
Maps Builder comes with a lovely map customization experience with lots of options. You can simply add locations, controls, choose map size, map types, and even select a map theme. All of this can be done in a simple visual customizer.
Adding a map to a post or page is easy. All you need to do is click a button on the post or page editor and select your map. Maps builder also allows you to add own custom markers, and you can even show nearby areas with Google places.
3. WP Google Maps
WP Google Maps is another easy and free Google maps plugin. You can quickly create maps by entering an address, set markers, get directions, etc.
It comes with a map widget that you can attach to your WordPress website’s sidebar or any widget area. Your users can also shift to street-view without leaving your site.
4. WP Google Map Plugin
Another excellent option for extremely interactive Google maps is WP Google Map Plugin. It comes with a large set of features allowing you to build beautiful maps with lots of custom information.
You can add information windows, colorful markers, redirect users when they click on a map, and simply embed maps with the shortcode. You can save various locations and then create a map showing these locations with the use of custom markers.
5. Google Maps Widget
Want to instantly display a map in a sidebar widget? Google Maps Widget provides you to easily add a Google Map in your sidebars or any other widget areas. Clicking on a map will open the map in a lightbox popup with a wider view. You can also choose pin colors and also use your own image as a pin.
6. Basic Google Maps Placemarks
Want to add a Google map to your website with your individual custom placemarks? Basic Google Maps Placemarks provides you to add placemarks with address, assign them categories, add custom marker if you want.
You can produce as many placemarks as you need and then display them all together on a map using plugin shortcodes. You can also make categories to create different maps displaying different locations and placemarks.
7. CP Google Maps
CP Google Maps plugin provides you to quickly associate geolocation data to a post and display map with your custom images. You can choose a custom pin or marker to be placed on the map for a location. Most of the plugin’s other excellent features are locked and require the premium version of the plugin.
Final Thoughts
I did not find that one particular Google Maps WordPress plugin was ‘the most beneficial’, so it surely does come down to what your requirements are, as most maximum solutions offer some features that are not found elsewhere.
You should, therefore, analyze as many solutions as you can to see which one fits you and your website.
With more than 400,000+ active installations, WP Google Maps is a good starting point to see what’s possible with Google Maps.
However, if you are not looking for superior features, you should surely give basic solutions such as Simple Google Maps Shortcode and Google Maps Widget a try.
We hope this article helped you find the best free Google Maps plugin for your WordPress website.
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