Adding a map is a common practice when someone is developing a website for a business that has a physical location such as a store, studio rental, fitness center, and so on. Being the most popular mapping service, many website developers use Google Maps when they have to add a map to the website they are developing. Unfortunately, WordPress has no default feature to add a map from Google Maps. There is no Gutenberg native block to add Google Maps.
To add Google Maps to the WordPress website you are developing, you can install a plugin. However, you need to selective enough since there are a bunch of Google Maps plugins for WordPress out there. Make sure to select a plugin according to your needs.
Prerequisite of Adding Google Maps in WordPress
In most cases, you need a Google Maps API key to create an advanced map on your website using Google Maps. Also, you need to enable your billing account although you can still use Google Maps for free. Otherwise, you will see a “For Development Purposes Only” message when trying to add a location.
Here are some of the best Google Maps plugin that you can use to create a map on your WordPress site.
Google Maps Plugins
1. Essential Addons
Essential Addons is a great option if you want to create a 360-degree panorama on your WordPress site using Google Maps. Essential Addons is especially a great plugin if you use Elementor as your page builder. It is an Elementor add-on so you need to install and activate Elementor before being able to use Essential Addons to create a map.
Not only you use Essential Addons to create a 360-degree panorama. You can also use it to create a map with multiple locations, a polyline map, a polygon map, and so on. There are 8 map types you can create with this plugin:
- Basic
- Multiple Marker
- Static
- Polyline
- Polygon
- Overlay
- With Routes
- Panorama
2. JetElements
Same as Essential Addons, JetElements is also an Elementor add-on so you need to install and activate Elementor on your WordPress site before being able to use it. JetElements is a premium Elementor add-on that costs $19 per year.
You can also get it with a one-time purchase option on the Jupiter X theme bundle. JetElements comes with a widget — the Advanced Map widget — that you can use to create a map with multiple locations. You can read this article for detailed instructions.
When creating a map with multiple locations using JetElements, you can use a custom pin icon to make your map looks unique. There are some options offered by this the plugin. You can, for instance, show/hide the street view control, enable/disable the scroll wheel zoon, and so on.
3. WP Google Maps
You can use WP Google Maps no matter the page builder plugin you use. You can even use it if you don’t use any page builder. WP Google Maps uses a shortcode to embed a map you have created so you can simply paste the shortcode of the map you want to embed. WP Google Maps is a freemium plugin.
The free version allows you to create a map with multiple locations while the pro version allows you to create more advanced maps. For instance, you can create a dynamic heatmap or add a video to your marker. WP Google Maps supports integrations with ACF and WooCommerce. WP Google Maps is a perfect plugin to create a real estate website.
4. Google Maps Locator
Google Maps Locator is a great plugin to create listing website. This plugin comes with a front-end dashboard to allow users on your website to submit a listing item and marker. You can customize the content fields on the submission form to tailor them with the needs of your website. Google Maps Locator is especially a great plugin for Visual Composer as it is fully compatible with the Visual Composer. Here are some key features offered by the Google Maps Locator plugin:
- Frontend dashboard
- Draw Area functionality
- Search by categories and locations
- Markers icons and colors by categories
- Locations search in radius
- Automatic geolocation
5. Google Maps Widget
Google Maps Widget is a freemium plugin that you can use to add a map from Google Maps. You can add the map to any page, whether a Gutenberg or a page you create with Elementor, Visual Composer, Divi Builder, or any page builder plugin.
Google Maps Widget uses a shortcode to make it easy for you to add a map you created. The Google Maps Widget supports all map types of Google Maps. From road map, satellite map, terrain map, or hybrid map. You can also use it to create a map with multiple locations.
