Store locator tools all do the same visible job: search box, nearest locations, directions. The differences that matter are where your data lives, what happens when you stop paying, and whether there is a real free tier. This comparison is honest about when each option wins, because a fair page is more useful to you and, frankly, ranks better than a shill page.
We build InstaMaps, one of the options below. The others are good products; the differences are structural, not quality.
- →Storepoint ($25-79/mo) and Storemapper (from $19/mo) are solid hosted locators, but neither has a permanent free tier and both hold your location data in their dashboard.
- →Stockist (from $10/mo) is Shopify-focused; WordPress plugins are free but need a Google Maps API key with billing enabled.
- →InstaMaps is the spreadsheet-driven alternative: the locator reads from a Google Sheet you own, embeds with one line, and the full feature set (search, nearest, directions) is free with a badge.
- →Pick hosted tools if you want a locations dashboard; pick the sheet route if your team already lives in spreadsheets.
The Hosted Tools: Storepoint, Storemapper, Stockist
Storepoint ($25 to $79 a month) is the polished incumbent: dashboard location management, CSV import, integrations. Storemapper (from $19) is similar with a longer history. Stockist (from $10) is the Shopify-native pick. All three work well.
The structural trade: your locations live in their dashboard. Updating means logging into another tool, imports drift out of date, and the page stops working when the subscription does. For teams that want a dedicated locations admin, that is fine. For teams whose source of truth is already a spreadsheet, it is duplicate bookkeeping.
The WordPress Plugin Route
WP Store Locator and similar plugins are free and self-hosted, which sounds ideal until setup: nearly all require a Google Maps API key, which means a Google Cloud project with a billing account attached, plus plugin updates to maintain and shortcodes to place. If you have a developer on hand and want full control, it is a legitimate route. If you do not, it is the route that produces broken locator pages two theme-updates later.
The Spreadsheet Route: InstaMaps
InstaMaps inverts the data model: your Google Sheet IS the database. The locator (search box, find-my-nearest sorting, directions buttons, mobile-first layout) is generated from the sheet and embedded with one iframe line on any platform. Edit the sheet, the locator updates. Dealers and stockists can even submit themselves via a Collect Link.
The free tier is the actual product with a small badge, not a trial. Pro ($19/month) removes the badge and adds branding and search analytics. There is a live demo with a working search box and per-platform guides for Shopify, Wix, Squarespace and WooCommerce.
Which One Should You Pick?
Choose Storepoint or Storemapper if you want a standalone locations dashboard and budget is not the constraint. Choose Stockist if you are all-in on Shopify and like app-store management. Choose a WordPress plugin if you have a developer and want everything self-hosted. Choose InstaMaps if your locations already live in a spreadsheet, you want a real free tier, or you want dealers to self-submit.
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Common Questions
InstaMaps' free tier is the full locator (search, nearest, directions, unlimited views) with a small badge. Plugins are free software but need a paid-billing Google API key. Hosted tools offer trials rather than free tiers.
Export your locations to CSV, paste them into a Google Sheet (or the free InstaMaps geocoder), create the map, and swap the embed code on your site. Most migrations are under 30 minutes.
Google My Maps can show pins but has no search-my-nearest locator behaviour and its embeds are clunky on mobile. It is fine for a one-off map, not for a locator page.
Your locations sheet becomes a live locator with search, nearest, and directions. One line of embed code, free with a badge.
Install InstaMaps free