Directory websites have plenty of potential for high traffic as well as monetization opportunities since many local and online businesses are always looking for ways to promote themselves.
From creating listings of local businesses, tourist attractions, events, and classifieds to creating job boards and coupon sites, WordPress directory themes have everything you need to create a directory website.
What Features to Look for in the Best WP Directory Themes
Aside from the obligatory responsiveness and fast loading times, the following features are quintessential for directory WordPress themes:
Ease of Use - A good directory theme will be easy to use and navigate. Use of search function and the ability to filter the listings is included in quality directory themes.
Integration with Google Maps - Allowing for users to readily find listing locations, such as apartments, tourist attractions, or other featured locations.
Monetization - Easy integration with payment gateways so you can accept payments or ad networks to display ads on your site.
Front-End User Submission - Allowing visitors to add their own business or attraction from the front-end.
Any theme you choose must have these features if you want to have a successful directory site. There just aren't compromises allowed here.
Featured WordPress Directory Themes
The following options are the best WordPress directory themes for local and global business listing websites. Use one with these themes with the design and features you're looking for. You can quickly build a quality listing website for yourself or your client.
1. Listify - WordPress Business Directory Theme
Listify is a multi-purpose, responsive directory theme that not only looks good but has plenty of features to boot. This is one of the best directory WordPress themes featured in this curated list.
The theme comes with pre-defined style kits and a drag-and-drop editor which allow you to brand your website fast and create completely custom layouts for your website. On top of that, Listify works with a geolocation feature so users will only get relevant listings.
Some of the monetization methods include the ability to charge when a user claims an existing listing, submits a new listing, or when a visitor makes a reservation from your website.
Other features include fast loading times, SEO optimization, integration with many popular plugins such as WooCommerce, FacetWP, WP Job Manager and others, listing filtering by location or zip code, and the ability to submit listings from the front-end.
2. Motors - Directory WP Theme for Vehicle Listings & Classifieds
Motors is a WordPress directory theme created with automotive and boat selling businesses in mind. The theme comes with four stunning premade demos ready to fuel your success. Out of the four layouts, the Classified Listing layout comes with several additional features like Seller and Dealer registration, XML/CSV inventory import, Dealer Profile with user reviews and much more.
Thanks to the theme’s enhanced Inventory Manager, you can easily input all the relevant information about a vehicle—an overview, photos, videos, technical details, and you can even include a loan calculator and a PDF brochure.
Motors is easy to use and customize thanks to the Visual Composer Builder and Theme Options panel which allow you to customize any aspect of your website.
3. Superlist - Directory WordPress Theme
Superlist is another WP multi-purpose directory theme that features responsive design and a plethora of options under the hood.
Superlist comes with 12 predefined listing types and allows you to create your own custom listing via their unique Listing Manager which has an intuitive interface. Users can publish their own listings straight from the front-end and you can take advantage of the theme’s Package functionality to create different paid packages for user submissions.
This business directory template integrates well with Stripe and Paypal which makes accepting payments easy. Additional features include responsive design and plenty of customization options.
Finally, Superlist allows you to publish coupons, gather statistics by tracking all search queries in filters, manage invoices, include Google Maps, and more.
4. Workscout - Job Board WordPress Theme
Workscout is a fully functioning job board theme for WordPress that makes use of the free WP Job Manager plugin to create a visually appealing website. Use it to build your new job board site!
Thanks to the integration with Resume Manager your users can signup and upload their resume, or complete their own using our predefined resume submission form. Additionally, you can further extend the theme with the Application Deadline that gives your users the tools to apply, review, and manage job applications from your job dashboard.
Other features include responsive design, bookmarking ability, integration with Visual Composer Builder, and advanced filtering and search functionality.
5. Listable - Friendly Directory WordPress Theme
Listable is a user-friendly, listing directory WordPress theme that will help you create, manage and monetize a local or global directory site.
Thanks to its unique listing cards system you can create listings for events, places, activities, services, and all the listings can be easily filtered.
Listable integrates with several popular free and paid plugins such WP Job Manager, WooCommerce and others which allow you to further extend the functionality of your website and monetize it by charging for a listing or for a reservation fee.
The theme is fully responsive and can be customized either via the Style Presets or by changing colors and fonts and utilizing a page builder plugin such as Visual Composer or Beaver Builder.
6. Jobify - WP Job Board Directory Theme
Jobify is another job board listing theme that comes with pre-designed page templates, enhanced search function, and location filtering to get the most relevant results.
This theme makes use of the WP Job Manager plugin and integrates with Indeed, Facebook, Xing, and Woo Testimonials addon, all of which make creating a job board website incredibly easy.
Jobify features a clean design with beautiful typography which can be completely customized. This WordPress directory website template is sure to make your job board stand out from the competition.
7. Service Finder - WordPress Business Directory Listing Theme
The Service Finder WordPress listing theme is an advanced business and service directory theme. It's chock-full of useful features like profile management, time slots management for booking, unavailability settings, staff management, booking management, invoice generation and payment system, service areas and services, featured providers, and more.
The theme integrates with WP Job Manager plugin, supports Stripe and Paypal payment gateways and gives you the ability to restrict sign ups by countries and filter search by location. Furthermore, Service Finder comes with two different homepage variations and offers plenty of customization options via the Theme Options panel.
8. Point Finder - Business Directory WordPress Theme
Point Finder allows you to get your directory website up and running in a matter of minutes. The theme features a clean and responsive design. Main features include a customizable search area and item fields, front-end upload system, review system, and integration with multiple payment gateways.
This WordPress business directory theme is responsive and gives you plenty of control over the design and appearance of your website thanks to the integration with the Visual Composer Builder. Other features include social login, Google Map geolocation and styling, a mail template system, and custom widgets.
9. Classiads - Classified Ads WordPress Theme
Classiads is a responsive classified ads WordPress theme designed to create an impressive business directory website. The theme has a strong focus on usability and readability which makes it very user-friendly and easy to use.
The main features on the design side include two different layouts and three pre-made templates, and SEO optimization. When it comes to functionality, this theme makes use of custom fields and front-end user submission to create categorized listing layouts. On top of that, Classiads integrates with Paypal, MailChimp, and Google Maps.
10. Directory Portal - Directory WordPress Listing Theme
Directory Portal is a powerful, responsive WordPress listing theme suitable for creating various types of listing websites: from local businesses and companies to events and attractions.
Completely responsive, the theme features a fresh and modern design with the ability to display seven different headers which include a standard Google Map, 3D Google Map, and video header.
Main features of the theme include geolocation search and filtering, front-end registration and submission, guest administration of listings, advertising spaces, unlimited packages, premium listings, featured listings, and more.
11. MyCity - Geolocation Directory & Events WP Theme
MyCity is a gorgeous WordPress directory theme that has the potential to turn every visitor into a customer thanks to its promo widget, which encourages visitors to share interesting places on social media and thus boosts your rankings.
The theme offers integration with Stripe and Paypal, but also offers a unique integration with the Uber Service affiliate program as a way of monetizing your directory.
Users can quickly register for your site via email or a text message and the theme supports geolocation capabilities, user reviews, the ability to sell tickets with Tickera, as well as many additional features.
12. Price Compare - Price Comparison WordPress Listing Theme
If you want to build your very own price comparison website, look no further than Price Compare. On top of attractive and responsive design, Price Compare allows you to easily import affiliate links and take advantage of affiliate networks such as Shareasale, ClickBank, and others.
The theme is easy to use and navigate, which is extremely important for directory websites. Your users will be able to take advantage of user-friendly made categories, mega menu overview, and advanced ajax search.
Other features include front-end user and store registration, social login, MailChimp integration and five different payment gateways. This directory website template is packed with professional price comparison features and a great design.
13. Search & Go - Modern & Smart WP Directory Theme
Search & Go is another WordPress theme that allows you to discover all the interesting places in your city. The theme has a modern, sharp design and is fully responsive.
Users can easily log in via social networks and the theme has advanced search and filtering functionality. It also has the ability to book appointments straight from your website. What’s more, they can easily manage their profiles, create wish lists, and claim listings.
Each type of listing can have specifications and amenities added to it and all the relevant information is displayed in search results.
14. Javo Spot - Multipurpose Directory WordPress Theme
Javo Spot is a multi-purpose directory theme suitable for any type of directory website. The theme comes with advanced search functionality, front-end user registration and submission, featured listings shortcode, integration with WooCommerce, Google Maps, and complete social integration.
This business directory template is fully customizable thanks to the integration with Visual Composer Builder and unique Javo modules. Whether you need to create an online web directory with a global reach, feature local tourist attractions, create a classified website, or another type of listing site, this professional directory website template has you covered.
15. Business Finder - Directory Listing WordPress Theme
Business Finder is an elegant and customizable Wordpress directory theme which allows you to display categorized items of any type: companies, shops, institutions, websites, events, and more.
All pages and sections can be created easily thanks to the drag-and-drop AIT Page Builder, which features over 30 elements to build your website. The main features of this theme include megamenu, sidebar manager, advanced search and filter options, featured items listing, responsive design, seven different header options, search context, street view, among other powerful features.
16. Reviews - Products & Services Review WP Theme
Reviews is a complete system for reviewing products and services so users can find feedback on products and services they wish to purchase. You can create as many reviews as you want and once you publish the reviews, users are able to give their feedback separately as well as rate the product or service by the same criteria you have used.
The theme has a responsive and clean design, supports Google Rich Snippets and social login, has powerful search functionality, and integrates with MailChimp.
17. Coupon Hut - Coupons & Deals WordPress Theme
CouponHut is modern and clean Wordpress theme, featuring an easy page builder, two types of deals (coupons and discounts), one click install and multitude of custom widgets so you can customize your site just the way you want to. Combined with a rating system and a fantastic options panel, this business directory template is a great choice for coupons and deals websites.
It's main features include membership integrations, front-end user registrations and submissions, filtering options, and front-page search. It also has a versatile, modern design with excellent attention to detail so you can quickly customize your deals site and set it apart.
18. Medical WordPress - For Doctor Listings & Health Directories
Medical Wordpress is directory listing theme geared specifically towards doctors, health clinics, hospitals and medical organizations, and any health or beauty related business.
This flexible medical website template's main features include filtering options by distance and geolocation, grid and row view of the listings, countdown timer field. It also has booking and availability calendar, reviews with custom multi-ratings, integration with WooCommerce and multiple payment gateways.
It's packed with the features needed to make a quality medical listing directory site for a variety of health professionals and related businesses.
19. Classiera – Classified Ads Directory WordPress Theme
Classiera is a powerful classified ads directory WordPress theme with stunning design and bold typography that’s easy to use and offers plenty of customization and styling options in the admin panel.
Responsive design paired with features such as filterable search functionality, customized category listings, integration with WooCommerce, six different layout designs, and free and paid ads posting make Classiera a powerful solution for a classified ads website.
20. Alliance - Intranet & Extranet WordPress Directory Theme
Alliance is a very specialized theme geared towards corporate users and meant to be used as an intranet theme which allows you to list all the important events, notifications, calendars, graphs and more.
The theme integrates with BuddyPress allowing your employees to build fully functional community, organize in groups and departments, and communicate with ease and fun. Other features include file-sharing, polls, and user directory.
Launch a Directory Website Today
Directory websites have a number of different uses and can cater to almost any niche imaginable. And thanks to high-quality, premium WordPress Directory Themes available on on Envato Market's ThemeForest, you can quickly start building your very own business directory site. Take advantage of the unique monetization and design features of these themes to launch your listing site and start your path to leveling-up your earnings.