When searching a map plugin to showcase and demonstrate your business location, specific area, point to a place it’s hard to pick up the one from a huge list of different plugins. In this topic, I decided to share the information I collected from testing many Google Map plugins in WordPress.
Here is our list of top 6 plugins you need to give a try.
Google Maps Widget
1. One of the best Google Maps plugins for WordPress is definitely Google Maps Widget. This free plugin has more than 100,000 active users who get to show their location on Google Maps with ease. And there’s the reason why this one has so many users – it’s the fastest plugin on the market. Instead of forcing you to load interactive maps for every user, Google Maps Widget lets you place a thumbnail image of your map. So, instead of forcing users to load about 2MB of data, you give them the option to open the map instead so those who don’t need the map will get to load your site much quickly!
Still, the plugin comes with the plethora of options and features. You can choose map types, sizes, zoom in or out, choose pin colors and much more!
If you want multiple pins on the map, clustering them and filtering pins, the premium version of Google Maps Widget will let you do that. You will be able to have as many maps with as many pins you need. You will also be able to choose pin icons or upload custom ones. Have hundreds of addresses stored in a file? No problem; simply upload them and the plugin will automatically handle the maps for you!
Take a look at some examples, and we are sure you will have Google Maps Widget installed on your site right away.
WordPress Google Maps
2. The top six best Google Maps plugins continue with the well-known WordPress Google Maps plugin from Huge-IT. This plugin has got a massive list of positive reviews and it proves to be a good one.
I really loved this Google Map plugin. And used for several clients of mine. It provides most useful and feature-rich tools for a map, plus it gives more ability of customization. With this plugin besides creating a map and pinning the markers, I also could highlight areas using polygons, polylines, and circles.
Main Features
- Select your map icon for markers
- Add Google Maps polygons link
- Add circle in your Maps plugin
- Google Map is pretty easy for using
- Maps support Street View
- Define your maps width, height and zoom level
Ank Google Map
3. I would give thrid place to Ank Google Map, which is a newcomer in WP and worth to be given a chance. The plugin uses a minimum of scripts. Simple, Fast and rather comfortable to use, written pure javascript, no jQuery at all and nicely responsive.
Notable Features
- Adjust map canvas height and width
- Responsive map, auto center map upon re-size
- Configure map canvas border color
- Disable/Enable map controls
Google Maps Bank – Easy Google Maps
4. Next one in the leaderboard is Google Maps Bank. This plugin seemed to be rather easy for me to use. Moving step by step I have created a wonderful map to use on my page. It gives the ability to edit the map as detailed as you want. The functionality is based on ajax, and the greatest thing for me is that the Google Maps Bank is multilingual.
Main Features
- Create Maps using a 7 Step Wizard
- User-Friendly Interface with AJAX Based Functionality
- Super Easy to Use, No Coding Required at all!
- Multilingual Plugin
Google Map with FancyBox Popup
5. Google Map With FancyBox Popup plugin allows you to add a Google Map into a popup window. This is a great plugin to display your business location in a Google map or, just your personal address in Google Map. This plugin uses the JQuery implementation of FancyBox to open a popup window. A popup window will open by clicking the location address. Check out the live demo for more information.
Plugin Features
- Lightweight JQuery (fancybox extension)
- Google map in a popup window
- Responsive
- Easily controllable back-end
- Support for localization
Google Maps Master
6. The last one is Google Maps Master made by TechGasp. I have liked this product because of nice mobile responsiveness, extensive back-end options to configure the map display, I also could include my logo picture on the map. But why I gave it the last place, there was a limitation with only 12 markers per map. But all in all the plugin should catch your attention as it worth to be used.
Plugin Features
- Display, Hide or Change any Widget Title
- Google Maps Master Viral Widget
- Perfect for increasing your Google Rank and searching Engine Presence with Google Plus Button
- Display, Hide or Change any Widget Title
- Google Maps Master Viral Widget
- Perfect for increasing your Google Rank and searching Engine Presence with Google Plus Button
In the end, I want to say that being quite experienced in WordPress plugins, I liked all of them. Based on the nature of your site and preferences, each of them can be useful for you. Give a try and let me know which of the plugins that you prefer?
Author Bio:
I am Mary Fletcher, 26. My main business activity is to build different websites for me and my clients. Besides this, for 3 years I have been making blog posts and became rather professional web-blogger. My blogs are mostly about web design and web development.