Updated 
Quick answers
Global platforms and national directories
Every country on this page shares one layer: the map and search platforms. Google Business Profile, Apple Business Connect and Bing Places feed the maps built into phones, cars and search engines, and they are free. Facebook Pages and LinkedIn Company Pages add a social or company identity that customers and buyers check, and Foursquare supplies location data to other apps.
The second layer is national, and it varies more than most lists admit. A plumber in Leeds, a supplier in Ahmedabad and a café in Toronto need different sites:
- USA: review sites, the BBB, general directories and home-service marketplaces
- India: local service directories such as Justdial for consumers, and B2B portals such as IndiaMART for suppliers
- UK: Yell and other general directories, plus trade and sector sites
- Australia: national directories with suburb and regional search, and quote marketplaces
- UAE: global platforms first, with Dubai and UAE directories still under research
- Canada: national directories, the BBB, contractor review sites and bilingual listings
A directory listed here isn’t right for every business. A global brand name doesn’t mean a platform accepts businesses from every country, and a service marketplace is no use to a shop that only sells in person.
Free business listing sites vs paid listings
Most platforms on this list offer a basic listing at no cost and sell advertising or upgrades on top. Where we couldn’t confirm the pricing, the table says Check plans rather than calling it free: a site that is free to browse isn’t necessarily free to list on.
A free listing usually covers the basics: name, address, phone, website, category and often hours and photos. Paid options tend to change where you appear (sponsored placement, more categories, ads) rather than whether your details are correct. Pay for an upgrade only once the free listing is accurate and you can see enquiries coming from that site.
Why this isn’t a list of 500 directory submission sites
Many “business directory submission sites” lists run to hundreds of entries. Most of those sites get few visitors, don’t check who adds a business, and are rarely kept up to date. Listing on them takes time, creates more records to maintain, and can leave old details online for years.
This list is deliberately smaller. It holds 43 candidates chosen for real-world use in six countries, each with a stated priority: Essential (most businesses should have it), Recommended (worth it for the businesses it suits), Optional (only if you have time) and Research (not yet checked enough to recommend). It isn’t exhaustive, and we add sites only when there is a reason to.
Directory profiles
One profile for each directory in the table, grouped by where it is used. The global platforms have their full profile here; each national directory has a short one that links to its full profile in the country guide.
Global platforms
Google Business Profile
EssentialFreeDocs reviewed
Google’s own business listing, shown in Google Search and Google Maps when someone searches for a business by name or looks for something nearby. For most local businesses it is the listing that customers see first.
Worldwide: Available in most countries, but the verification options, categories and features offered can differ by country and by type of business.
Why list here
Customers can call, get directions, open your website, read reviews and check hours without leaving Google. A service-area business can show the area it covers instead of a street address.
Claim or add
Search Google Maps for your business before adding anything. If a profile already exists, request ownership of it; otherwise add the business and complete verification. Google decides which verification method to offer, and it can differ between businesses. Our guides cover creating a profile, claiming one and verification.
Watch out for
Google’s guidelines ask for your real-world business name with no added keywords, and a location you genuinely serve customers from. A business has to meet customers in person, at its premises or theirs, to qualify; virtual offices and mailbox addresses aren’t eligible, and one location should have one profile.
Apple Business Connect
EssentialFreeDocs reviewed
Apple’s free tool for managing how a business appears in Apple Maps and other Apple services, through a “place card” with hours, photos, a website and action buttons.
Worldwide: Claim it even where Android phones dominate: iPhone users there still see Apple’s card, and nobody corrects it for you.
Why list here
People who search in Apple Maps on an iPhone, iPad or Mac see the place card, not your Google profile. If you only manage Google, wrong hours or an old phone number on Apple can go unnoticed for months.
Claim or add
Sign in at business.apple.com with an Apple Account, search for your location and claim it, or add it if it isn’t on the map. Apple may ask you to confirm that you are allowed to manage the business before your changes go live.
Watch out for
Photos and showcases are checked against Apple’s policies, and not every feature is offered in every country. Look at what your place card supports before planning around it.
Bing Places for Business
EssentialFreeDocs reviewed
Microsoft’s free business listing for Bing search and Bing Maps.
Why list here
Bing has fewer searchers than Google in most countries, but a free, accurate listing takes little time and stops an outdated record showing to people who use it, including those with Bing as their computer’s default search engine.
Claim or add
Search for your business in Bing Places, then claim it if it exists or add a new listing. Ownership is checked by phone, email or post depending on the business. If Bing offers to import your details from Google Business Profile, it saves retyping, but check every field afterwards.
Watch out for
Microsoft’s own guidance stresses keeping information consistent with your other listings. Some features and verification options are limited by region.
Facebook Pages
RecommendedFree + paid optionsNeeds verification
A business Page on Facebook. It isn’t a classic directory, but many people search Facebook for local businesses and check a Page for hours, photos, posts and recommendations.
Why list here
Useful for consumer-facing businesses that post updates, events and offers, and for customers who would rather message than call.
Claim or add
A Page is created from a personal Facebook account. Check first whether an old or unofficial Page already exists for your business; if it does, use Facebook’s options to claim or merge it rather than running two.
Watch out for
Pages are controlled through personal accounts, so add at least two trusted people with full access and keep a record of who they are. Advertising is optional and separate.
LinkedIn Company Pages
RecommendedFree + paid optionsNeeds verification
A company profile on LinkedIn, the professional network. It’s a B2B identity page rather than a local citation directory.
Why list here
Buyers, partners and job candidates check it to confirm a company is real. For B2B firms, consultancies and professional services it can matter more than consumer directories.
Claim or add
You need a personal LinkedIn account to create a Page. Search LinkedIn first in case one already exists for your company, created by an employee.
Watch out for
Use the same company name, website and head-office address as on your other listings. Paid upgrades are optional.
Foursquare
RecommendedCheck plansNeeds verification
A places database and city-guide app. Foursquare’s location data is also licensed to other apps and services, so its record of your business can show up well beyond Foursquare itself.
Why list here
An accurate Foursquare record helps stop wrong details spreading into the apps that use its data.
Claim or add
We could only confirm Foursquare’s homepage, not a business route. Visit the website and look for its option to claim a place or add a business, then follow its verification steps.
Watch out for
What a claimed listing includes, and what it costs, weren’t confirmed. Check before spending time on it.
Used in several countries
Yelp
A review and local discovery site, used most for restaurants, cafés, salons and local services. We list it for the USA, UK, Canada and Australia.
EssentialFree + paid optionsDocs reviewed
Create or claimFull profile: USA guide, UK guide, Australia guide, Canada guide
Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau, a non-profit organisation that publishes business profiles and complaint records in the US and Canada.
RecommendedFree + paid optionsNeeds verification
Create or claimFull profile: USA guide, Canada guide
Nextdoor
A neighbourhood social network where residents ask each other for recommendations and recommend local businesses.
RecommendedCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: USA guide, UK guide, Australia guide, Canada guide
Bark
A services marketplace running in several countries, where customers post what they need and professionals respond.
OptionalCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: USA guide, UK guide, Australia guide, Canada guide
USA directories
Angi
A US home-services marketplace (formerly Angie’s List) that connects homeowners with contractors and home-service professionals.
RecommendedCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: USA guide
Manta
A US directory of small businesses, organised by industry and location, with a company profile for each.
RecommendedCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: USA guide
Thumbtack
A US marketplace where customers describe a job and local professionals respond with quotes.
RecommendedCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: USA guide
Yellow Pages (USA)
The US Yellow Pages website, a long-running general directory of local businesses searchable by category and city.
RecommendedCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: USA guide
ChamberofCommerce.com
A US online business directory. Despite the name, a listing here isn’t membership of your local chamber of commerce.
OptionalCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: USA guide
MerchantCircle
A US local business network with profiles for local merchants and service businesses.
OptionalCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: USA guide
Superpages
A US general directory of local businesses, searchable by category and city.
OptionalCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: USA guide
India directories
IndiaMART
India’s large B2B marketplace, where manufacturers, wholesalers and suppliers list products and buyers send enquiries.
EssentialCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: India guide
Justdial
An Indian local search service that began as a phone enquiry line and now runs a website and app.
EssentialFree + paid optionsNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: India guide
Mappls
Mappls, the map and navigation app from MapmyIndia.
RecommendedCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: India guide
Sulekha
An Indian services marketplace where customers post requirements, for home services, tuition, events and more, and businesses receive leads.
RecommendedCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: India guide
TradeIndia
A B2B marketplace for Indian manufacturers, exporters and suppliers.
RecommendedCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: India guide
ExportersIndia
A B2B portal focused on Indian exporters and suppliers.
OptionalCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: India guide
UK directories
Checkatrade
A UK trades platform where tradespeople are checked before they join and customers leave reviews.
RecommendedCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: UK guide
FreeIndex
A UK directory focused on services and trades, with customer reviews on business profiles.
RecommendedCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: UK guide
Thomson Local
A UK local business directory that started as a printed local directory.
RecommendedCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: UK guide
Yell
A long-established UK business directory, from the company behind the UK’s printed Yellow Pages.
RecommendedFree + paid optionsDocs reviewed
Create or claimFull profile: UK guide
Cylex UK
The UK edition of Cylex, a business directory that runs sites in several countries.
OptionalCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: UK guide
Scoot
A UK local business directory.
OptionalCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: UK guide
Australia directories
Yellow Pages Australia
The online Yellow Pages directory for Australia. Business information is managed through Yellow Pages Connect, according to Yellow’s help pages.
EssentialCheck plansDocs reviewed
Official websiteFull profile: Australia guide
Localsearch
An Australian local directory, noted in our research for regional businesses.
RecommendedCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: Australia guide
Oneflare
An Australian marketplace where customers post jobs and local service providers send quotes.
RecommendedCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: Australia guide
True Local
An Australian local business directory with customer reviews.
RecommendedCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: Australia guide
AussieWeb
An Australian business directory.
OptionalCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: Australia guide
Hotfrog Australia
The Australian edition of Hotfrog, a business directory that runs sites in several countries.
OptionalCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: Australia guide
UAE directories
Connect.ae
A UAE online business directory.
ResearchCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: UAE guide
Dubai Chamber
The Dubai Chamber, a business organisation for companies in Dubai.
ResearchCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: UAE guide
Dubai Local
A Dubai-focused online business directory.
ResearchCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: UAE guide
Yellow Pages UAE
A UAE business directory covering local businesses and suppliers, with a strong B2B side.
ResearchCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: UAE guide
Canada directories
YellowPages.ca
The Canadian Yellow Pages directory online, with a French-language counterpart, PagesJaunes.ca.
EssentialCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: Canada guide
411.ca
A Canadian online directory for finding businesses and people.
RecommendedCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: Canada guide
HomeStars
A Canadian review site for contractors and home-improvement businesses.
RecommendedCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: Canada guide
Canada411
A Canadian people and business search directory.
OptionalCheck plansNeeds verification
Official websiteFull profile: Canada guide
How to claim or add a business listing
The same six steps work on almost every platform. Doing them in this order avoids the two most common problems: duplicate listings and details that don’t match.
Write your master record
Before touching any site, write down the exact name, address, phone, website, hours, categories and a short description you’ll use everywhere. For example: Suite 210, 1450 Example Street, Springfield, IL 62701, +1 217 555 0134. If you trade under a DBA (“doing business as”) name rather than your LLC’s legal name, list the DBA your customers see on your sign and invoices.
Search before you add
Search each platform for your business name, phone number and address. Listings are often created by the platform, a customer or a former owner; if one exists, claim it rather than adding a second.
Claim or add through the official route
Use the link in the table. Where it says “Official website”, we haven’t confirmed a direct claim page: look for “Claim this business”, “Add a business” or “For business owners” on the site itself, and avoid third-party forms.
Verify ownership
Platforms check that you run the business, by phone, email, post, video or documents. Use details you control, and don’t change your name, address or category while verification is pending.
Complete every field you genuinely can
Fill in each supported field from your master record: categories, description, hours, photos, services, website and booking links. Leave out anything that isn’t true for your business.
Record it
Note the listing URL, the login used, who owns it and the date. That list is what makes the review schedule below possible.
What to fill in on every listing
Directories accept different fields, but most ask for the same core details. Complete every field a platform supports that is genuinely true for your business, from one master record, and skip the ones that aren’t. The table below is our completion guide; “Typical availability” describes how often directories offer the field, not a rule from any one platform.
| Field | Typical availability | When to complete | How to fill it in | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal/public-facing business name | Very common | Always | Real-world trading name; no keyword stuffing | Mismatch creates customer confusion and weaker citation reliability |
| Street address and unit number | Common for storefronts | If eligible | Use exact physical address; consistent suite formatting | Wrong directions; duplicate or contradictory business entities |
| Service area / hidden address | Platform dependent | When relevant | Service-area businesses should follow site eligibility; hide address if required | Risk of misleading customers or policy issues |
| Primary phone number | Very common | Always | Use stable business-controlled location number; international format where accepted | Missed calls and incorrect contact paths |
| Website / location landing page | Very common | Whenever allowed | Use official website; specific location page for branches; avoid redirects | Incorrect traffic/referrals |
| Main business category | Very common | Always | Choose the most specific truthful category | Irrelevant enquiries and potential moderation |
| Secondary categories | Platform dependent | If available | Only genuine offered categories, not keywords | Category dilution or rejection |
| Business description | Common | Whenever available | Unique concise human text explaining offer, service area, differentiation; respect policies | Low clarity; keyword-stuffed descriptions may be rejected |
| Standard hours | Common | If meaningful | Accurate customer-facing hours; match service reality | Customers arrive when closed |
| Holiday/special hours | Platform dependent | If available | Update ahead of public holidays/events | Bad customer experience |
| Business email | Platform dependent | If available | Published monitored inbox, avoid personal email | Missed leads |
| Logo | Common | If available | Current brand logo, clean proportions | Brand inconsistency |
| Exterior/interior photos | Common | If available | Original accurate recent photos; exterior helps identification | Reduced confidence and navigation |
| Team/service/product photos | Platform dependent | If available | Genuine contextual photos, no fabricated claims | Misrepresentation |
| Products and services | Platform dependent | If available | Specific relevant services and accurate pricing where supported | Wrong expectations |
| Booking or appointment link | Platform dependent | If available | Direct official action URL to active booking system | Broken conversions |
| Reviews and business responses | Platform dependent | Where enabled | Respond constructively; do not fabricate reviews or incentivise against policy | Poor trust / reputation |
| Social profile links | Platform dependent | If available | Official active accounts only | Confusing identity |
| Business registration / licence | Platform dependent | Only if requested | Provide authentic evidence securely; avoid publishing sensitive IDs unnecessarily | Failed verification |
| Attributes, accessibility and amenities | Platform dependent | If available | Truthful wheelchair, parking, delivery, payment attributes | Inaccurate filters |
| Multiple locations / branches | Platform dependent | If appropriate | One eligible listing per genuine qualifying location | Duplicates; location confusion |
| Ownership and login access | Very common | Always | Business owns login; use delegated access where possible | Lost control or takeover |
Write your description for people first: what you do, for whom and where, in two or three plain sentences, and vary it between the major platforms rather than pasting the same paragraph everywhere. For Google specifically, see our guides to writing a business description and choosing categories.
NAP consistency: name, address and phone
NAP stands for name, address and phone number, the three details that identify a business on every listing. When they differ from one site to another, the problems are practical: customers ring an old number, drive to a previous address, or find two listings and can’t tell which is real. Platforms that compare data from several sources may struggle to match your records, which can complicate verification or moderation, and an old duplicate can keep showing out-of-date details.
Nobody can honestly put a number on what an inconsistency does to your ranking, and not every difference matters. “St” and “Street”, or a missing comma, describe the same place. What matters is that a customer, and a platform, can tell that every listing belongs to one business at one location. Pick one written form of your details, such as Suite 210, 1450 Example Street, Springfield, IL 62701 and +1 217 555 0134, and use it everywhere.
| Element | Best practice | Acceptable nuance | Risk if inconsistent | When to check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public business name | Use the real name customers see, without extra city keywords or slogans | Different legal name vs brand only when allowed; document approved display name | Confusing entity signals, rejection on some platforms, customer doubt | Check monthly and after rebrand |
| Address | Same physical location and unit; format local postcode/ZIP consistently | Accept cosmetic formatting variations if same address; do not invent premises | Misdirected visits, duplicate locations, possible verification issues | After move immediately; otherwise monthly |
| Telephone | Consistent primary line controlled by business | Tracked numbers only where directory guidelines permit and core number stays accessible | Missed calls, fragmented citations, mismatched contact data | After phone change immediately |
| Website URL | Use business-owned canonical HTTPS link; preferably branch page for branches | UTM parameters allowed only when platform supports; canonical remains same site | Wrong referrals, duplicate tracking, broken links | Quarterly and after migration |
| Hours | Regular & special hours align with real operations | Directory-specific opening hours fields may differ | Customer frustration / failed visits | Before holidays and whenever changed |
| Category | Most specific genuinely fitting category per directory taxonomy | Exact wording can differ among platforms | Incorrect discovery; poor enquiry quality | Quarterly and after service changes |
| Duplicates | Claim/edit old listings, merge/remove duplicates using platform rules | Never mass delete without ownership and data checks | Conflicting stale information and control | Quarterly and during audits |
Legitimate differences
- Trading name and legal name. If you trade under a DBA (“doing business as”) name rather than your LLC’s legal name, list the DBA your customers see on your sign and invoices.
- Branches. Each genuine location has its own address, local phone number and branch page; the brand name stays the same.
- Tracking numbers. Use one only where the platform allows it and your main number is still shown; otherwise keep the main number.
- Platform wording. Category names and hours fields differ between sites. Choose the closest true option on each.
Duplicates: find them before you add anything
Search each platform for your name, your phone number and your address separately: a duplicate often has an old name or number. Claim it, then use the platform’s own process to merge it, mark it as moved or closed, or remove it. Never delete a listing you don’t own, and don’t create a new one to escape an old one. For Google, see merging duplicate profiles.
Optimisation checklist and common mistakes
Do
- Use your real public business name, with no added keywords, cities or slogans
- Choose the most specific category that is genuinely true, and only add secondary categories for things you really do
- Write a unique description for each important platform, in plain words, explaining what you offer and where
- Add recent, original photos: the outside (so people recognise it), the inside, your team and your work
- Set regular hours and update special hours ahead of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day and the Fourth of July
- Link to your own website, and to the branch page for multi-location businesses
- Reply to reviews politely and promptly, following each platform’s rules
- Keep logins in the business’s name, with at least two people who can get in
Avoid
- Don’t list an address where you don’t meet customers: virtual offices, mailboxes and co-working desks you don’t staff
- Don’t create a second listing because the first is hard to claim; ask the platform to transfer it
- Don’t copy the same description to every site word for word, or stuff it with keywords
- Don’t buy, write or swap reviews, or offer customers anything in return for a review
- Don’t use a tracking number unless the platform allows it and your main number still appears
- Don’t pay for an upgrade before the free listing is complete and accurate
How often to review your listings
Listings drift: platforms accept suggested edits from the public, old data resurfaces, and your own details change. This schedule is our suggested practice, not a rule set by any directory; a change to your business always overrides it.
| When | What to review | What to do | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immediate | Name, address, phone, URL, closure, ownership change | Update master data; update priority directories; log changed date | Business changes override fixed cadence |
| Weekly | Google / high-visibility reviews, unanswered messages, suggested edits | Respond per platform policies; triage changed profile details | Operational recommendation, not directory requirement |
| Monthly | Core NAP, hours, links, fresh photos, duplicates, directory access | Spot-check high-priority directory listings and sample secondary entries | Editorial recommendation |
| Before holidays | Special hours, holiday closures and booking availability | Check Google/Bing/Apple and local high-traffic listings | Apply as soon as schedule known |
| Quarterly | Full audit of top directories, categories, descriptions, services, duplicates | Document URL, date, owner and before/after status | Editorial recommendation |
| Every 6 months | Lower-priority directories, paid-plan economics, sites closed or changed | Reassess listing usefulness and accuracy | Editorial recommendation |
| After website migration | All links, redirects, branch URLs, UTM tracking | Test outbound links on listings and update migrated URLs | Event-driven |
| Yearly | Reconsider directory inventory and ROI | Retire irrelevant platforms and check country/local eligibility | Editorial recommendation |
Before Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day and the Fourth of July, update special hours on Google, Apple and Bing first, then the directories customers in worldwide use most. Our guide to changing business hours covers Google’s holiday hours.
How we built this list
This page comes from our research into directory candidates for six countries. It lists 43 directories for businesses in any of the six countries. For 6 of them we reviewed the platform’s official documentation, most recently on 27 October 2026; the others are candidates whose details still need manual verification, and each profile says which is which.
- Not exhaustive. The list holds candidates chosen for real-world use, not every directory that exists.
- Not flow-tested. We haven’t completed a sign-up on every platform. “Create or claim” links are official entry points; “Official website” means only the homepage was confirmed.
- No guessed numbers. Moz DA, Ahrefs DR and traffic estimates appear only when measured with the named tool on a stated date. None are measured yet.
- No assumed link attributes. Whether a listing’s link is follow or nofollow is shown only after inspecting a live listing.
- Priority is editorial. Essential, Recommended, Optional and Research reflect usefulness and eligibility for typical businesses; the top picks are our ordering for worldwide.
- Independent. These directories don’t manage or endorse this page, and listing them isn’t a partnership.
Researched and written by the Ampli5 Pulse team. Page updated . Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we’ll check it.
Sources: Google: Google business representation guidelines; Google: Google profile editing fields; Bing: Bing Places supported business models and information; Apple: Place card specification; Yelp: General business information guidelines; Yelp: Add a business to Yelp; Yell: Official free listing form; Yell: Free and paid listing policies; Yellow Pages Australia: Profile completeness guide; BrightLocal: Optimising local citations (industry guidance); BrightLocal: Local SEO checklist (industry guidance). Directory-specific sources are listed in each profile.
