Here is a curated master list of business directories ranked by real SEO impact and grouped by category. These platforms help improve your online visibility, local search rankings, and customer trust by making your business easier to find across the web.
Most of the directories listed are completely free, while some offer optional paid tiers that provide added features such as enhanced profiles, priority placement, and advanced analytics. Setup effort is included to help you choose the fastest and most effective opportunities.
| Platform | What it does | Why it matters | Setup | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Google Business | Google Maps & local pack | #1 ranking and call driver | 10–15 min |
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Bing Places | Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo maps | Powers multiple search engines | 5–10 min |
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Apple Maps | iPhone/iPad map results | iOS user discovery | 5 min |
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Waze Local | GPS navigation listings | Drives foot traffic | 5 min |
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MapQuest | Navigation & data feed | Supplies mapping networks | 5 min |
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HERE WeGo | Car & GPS systems | Automotive discovery | 5–10 min |
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TomTom Places | GPS & navigation | Used by vehicles | 5–10 min |
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Foursquare | Location authority | Trust & data feeder | 5 min |
| Platform | What it does | Why it matters | Setup | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Yelp | Review platform | High authority backlinks | 10–15 min |
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Better Business Bureau | Trust verification | Massive ranking trust | 10 min |
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YellowPages | Phone + business DB | Data distributor | 5 min |
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Manta | B2B business network | Authority SEO backlinks | 5 min |
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ChamberOfCommerce.com | Business credibility | Google-trusted source | 5 min |
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Alignable | Business networking | Indexed business pages | 5 min |
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MerchantCircle | Business profiles | Local SEO trust | 5 min |
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CitySquares | City business listings | Geo-ranking support | 5 min |
| Platform | What it does | Why it matters | Setup | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
411.ca | Phone/business DB | Phone trust validation | 3–5 min |
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Canpages | Canadian YellowPages | Strong regional SEO | 5 min |
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ProfileCanada | Business database | Indexing authority | 5 min |
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n49 | Local business search | Local trust signal | 3 min |
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WebLocal.ca | Geo business index | Regional ranking boost | 5 min |
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CanadaOne | Canadian business DB | Domain authority | 5 min |
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Cylex Canada | Local business profiles | Google indexed | 5 min |
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ZipLeaf Canada | International citations | Global backlink SEO | 5 min |
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Fyple Canada | Local listings | Regional authority | 5 min |
| Platform | What it does | Why it matters | Setup | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Hotfrog | International directory | High DA backlink | 3 min |
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Brownbook | Open business DB | Indexing citations | 3 min |
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Cybo | City-based business pages | Local ranking signals | 5 min |
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Opendi | Country-specific listings | Geo authority | 5 min |
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FindOpen | Business locator | Data syndication | 5 min |
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iBegin | Business directories | Authority backlinks | 3 min |
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Tupalo | European listings | International SEO | 5 min |
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Kompass | B2B database | B2B authority | 10 min |
| Platform | What it does | Why it matters | Setup | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
HERE Data | Automotive mapping feed | Car GPS discovery | 5 min |
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Yellow.Place | Brand citation DB | Social citation boost | 3 min |
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EZLocal | Local business DB | Syndicated SEO citations | 5 min |
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ShowMeLocal | City directories | Geo-ranking support | 3 min |
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Anugo | City business indexes | Canadian geo SEO | 5 min |
 |
LiveBusiness.ca | Canadian DB | Regional trust | 5 min |
Free business directories are one of the simplest ways to strengthen your online presence, improve local SEO, and make it easier for clients to find and trust your business. By setting up and maintaining consistent listings across high-impact platforms, you build a solid visibility base that continues to work for you long-term.
To amplify your reach even further, you can pair these listings with social networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Google Posts. Sharing your work, updates, and promotions on these platforms adds another layer of exposure, helping you attract more traffic, engage your audience, and convert more prospects, all without increasing your marketing budget.
A free downloadable checklist is available below to help you set up your listings quickly and ensure you don’t miss any key platforms.
