The best local SEO directories for US and Canadian businesses are Google Business Profile, Apple Business Connect, Bing Places and Yelp. Facebook and the Better Business Bureau come right after. Next come the data suppliers Data Axle, Neustar Localeze and Foursquare, because they pass your details to many smaller sites. After that, add Yellow Pages in the US or YellowPages.ca in Canada, plus the top two or three directories in your trade.
We compiled 100 directories that US and Canadian firms can join today. Each one links to its own site. Also, we grouped them by type, so a plumber, a dentist and a lawyer can each find their own short list fast. Then we built a tiering method that picks the first 20 to do, since nobody should build 100 listings in one week.
In our original research, we cross-checked several directory lists published this year against each other. Then we kept only sites that showed up as active in more than one place, or on the site’s own pages. We dropped sites that had closed, stopped taking listings or now redirect elsewhere. For example, some older lists still carry sites that now forward to other brands.
How the 100 Directories Break Down
- 10 maps apps and data suppliers, which shape what other sites show about you.
- 13 general US directories and 13 Canadian directories.
- 46 trade directories across legal, medical, home services, hospitality, auto, real estate, beauty and B2B.
- 6 review sites, 4 chamber and government registries, and 8 social profiles that count as citations.
- Our Tiering Method for Picking the First 20 Listings
- Maps Apps and Data Suppliers That Feed Other Sites
- General US Business Directories Worth Claiming
- Canadian Directories for Firms North of the Border
- Trade Directories by Industry
- Review Sites Customers Check Before They Call
- Chambers, the BBB and Government Registries
- Social Profiles That Count as Citations
- Keep One Version of Your Name, Address and Phone
- Claim Each Listing in the Same Order
- When a Paid Directory Upgrade Pays Off
- Questions Owners Ask About Local Directories in the US and Canada
Our Tiering Method for Picking the First 20 Listings
We scored each directory on four plain questions. First, does it feed other platforms, such as maps apps or data buyers? Second, do customers read reviews there before they call? Third, can you get a basic listing for free? Fourth, does it match your trade? A directory earns one point per yes, so the top score is 4.
Next, we sorted the 100 by score. Google Business Profile, Apple Business Connect, Bing Places and Yelp all score 4 for most local firms. Data suppliers score lower on reviews, but they push your details to dozens of sites at once, so we still rank them high. In fact, one wrong phone number at a data supplier can copy itself across many smaller directories.
Then we cut the list to 20. Ten core listings apply to almost every business. Seven more are general or social listings. The last three come from your own trade section. As a result, a roofer and a dentist share the first 17 and differ on the last 3.
| Order | Listing | Why it makes the first 20 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Google Business Profile | Shows in Google Search and Maps; reviews appear in the local pack |
| 2 | Apple Business Connect | Controls your place card on iPhone maps and Siri |
| 3 | Bing Places for Business | Covers Bing and Bing Maps; free |
| 4 | Yelp | Free page with reviews; widely used for restaurants and shops |
| 5 | Facebook Page | Free; shows hours, reviews and messages |
| 6 | Better Business Bureau | Free profile; a trust check for service firms |
| 7 | Data Axle | Passes your record to other sites |
| 8 | Neustar Localeze | Passes your record to partner sites |
| 9 | Foursquare | Place data licensed by many apps |
| 10 | Yellow Pages (US) or YellowPages.ca | The national directory in each country |
| 11 | Nextdoor Business Page | Neighbor tips; free page |
| 12 | LinkedIn Company Page | Free; confirms the firm and its staff |
| 13 | Instagram professional account | Free; contact buttons and location |
| 14 | Dun & Bradstreet | Free D-U-N-S number; used by lenders and suppliers |
| 15 | Manta (US) or 411.ca (Canada) | Free basic small business profile |
| 16 | Hotfrog or Hotfrog Canada | Free profile in your country |
| 17 | Cylex USA or Cylex Canada | Free basic listing in your country |
| 18 to 20 | Top three in your trade section | For example Avvo, Justia and FindLaw for a law firm |
After the first 20, add the rest of your trade section and the review sites your customers use. Then fill in the general directories over the next month. Still, stop when a site asks for money and gives no clear reason to pay. Our guide to local SEO ranking factors explains where citations sit next to reviews, proximity and your website.
Maps Apps and Data Suppliers That Feed Other Sites
These ten listings decide what maps and many other apps show about you. So build them first, and keep them in sync. Google, Apple and Bing all offer free business listings. Each one asks you to prove that you own the business before your edits go live.
| # | Directory | Basic listing | Coverage | What a listing gives you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Google Business Profile | Free | US, Canada and other countries | Your profile in Google Search and Google Maps, with reviews, photos and posts |
| 2 | Apple Business Connect | Free | US, Canada and other countries | Your place card in Apple Maps, Siri and Wallet |
| 3 | Bing Places for Business | Free | US, Canada and other countries | Your listing in Bing Search and Bing Maps |
| 4 | Data Axle | Not stated | US and Canada | A business data supplier (formerly Infogroup) that passes records on to other sites |
| 5 | Neustar Localeze | Not stated | US | A listings data service, now part of TransUnion, that sends records to partner sites |
| 6 | Foursquare | Not stated | US, Canada and other countries | Place data that many apps and map products license |
| 7 | Dun & Bradstreet | Free D-U-N-S number, paid products | US, Canada and other countries | A company record used by lenders, suppliers and data buyers |
| 8 | MapQuest | Not stated | US and Canada | A web map with business pages and directions |
| 9 | Waze | Not stated | US, Canada and other countries | Your place pin for drivers using the Waze app |
| 10 | OpenStreetMap | Free, open project | US, Canada and other countries | An open map that many apps and websites reuse |
Data suppliers work in a different way. You do not get customers from Data Axle or Neustar Localeze directly. Instead, they sell or share business records with other directories, maps and apps. For instance, Foursquare’s place data sits behind many apps, and it absorbed the old Factual data set. That is why a mistake there spreads.
Also, Dun & Bradstreet gives US firms a free D-U-N-S number. Lenders, large buyers and some government portals use it to confirm who you are. On the other hand, OpenStreetMap is a volunteer map. Anyone can add a shop, so check that your pin, name and hours are right.
General US Business Directories Worth Claiming
General directories list every kind of business. Most give you a basic page with your name, address, phone, hours and a link. So their value is consistency. When the same details appear on many trusted sites, search engines and AI tools have more proof that your business is real.
| # | Directory | Basic listing | Coverage | What a listing gives you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Yellow Pages (YP.com) | Free basic, paid upgrades | US | A national listing with category and city pages |
| 12 | Superpages | Not stated | US | A sister directory to YP.com under the same parent, Thryv |
| 13 | DexKnows | Not stated | US | Another Thryv directory with local category pages |
| 14 | Manta | Free basic, paid plans | US | A small business profile with services, hours and reviews |
| 15 | Hotfrog | Free, paid options | US and 30+ other countries | A free profile with a description, photos and links |
| 16 | MerchantCircle | Not stated | US | A local business listing with reviews |
| 17 | Brownbook | Free, paid options | US, Canada and other countries | An open listing anyone can add or edit |
| 18 | EZlocal | Not stated | US | A US local listing with category and city pages |
| 19 | ShowMeLocal | Free | US and Canada | A listing grouped by industry and region |
| 20 | Cylex USA | Free basic listing | US | A city-by-city directory with hours and categories |
| 21 | ChamberofCommerce.com | Not stated | US | A private directory (not a real chamber) with local business pages |
| 22 | CitySquares | Not stated | US | A local listing with city and category pages |
| 23 | LocalStack | Not stated | US | A local listing you can claim and update |
Several of these share an owner. For example, YP.com, Superpages and DexKnows all belong to Thryv. So fix your details on one, then check the others a week later. Also, ChamberofCommerce.com is a private website. It has no tie to your local chamber, and a listing there gives you no chamber membership.
However, not every general directory earns a spot. We left out sites that only sell paid listings with no free option, and sites with no sign of recent activity. If you want more choices, our list of high authority business listing sites covers extra options for wider reach.
Canadian Directories for Firms North of the Border
Canadian businesses need Canadian directories, because customers in Toronto or Calgary search on .ca sites. YellowPages.ca is the main one. Its French edition, PagesJaunes.ca, matters for Quebec and for bilingual firms. Also, Canada411 belongs to the same company as Yellow Pages Canada, while 411.ca is a separate directory.
| # | Directory | Basic listing | Coverage | What a listing gives you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | YellowPages.ca | Free basic, paid upgrades | Canada | Canada’s best-known business directory |
| 25 | PagesJaunes.ca | Not stated | Canada | The French-language version of Yellow Pages Canada |
| 26 | Canada411 | Free listing, paid ads | Canada | A phone and business lookup run by Yellow Pages |
| 27 | 411.ca | Free | Canada | A separate Canadian phone and business directory |
| 28 | n49 | Not stated | Canada | A Canadian review and listing site for local trades and shops |
| 29 | Cylex Canada | Free basic listing | Canada | The Canadian edition of the Cylex directory |
| 30 | Hotfrog Canada | Free, paid options | Canada | The Canadian edition of Hotfrog |
| 31 | Canadian Business Directory | Not stated | Canada | A national directory sorted by province and category |
| 32 | Find Open | Not stated | Canada | A directory built around opening hours |
| 33 | Opendi Canada | Not stated | Canada | The Canadian edition of the Opendi directory |
| 34 | Profile Canada | Not stated | Canada | A B2B directory of Canadian companies and suppliers |
| 35 | Indigenous Business Directory | Not stated | Canada | A federal list of Indigenous-owned firms that buyers search for contracts |
| 36 | Bonjour Québec | Not stated | Quebec | The provincial tourism site, for hotels, attractions and tour firms |
Next, check the trade sections for Canadian options. HomeStars and TrustedPros serve home pros. Realtor.ca lists member agents through their brokerage. AutoTrader.ca serves dealers, and RateMDs covers doctors and dentists in both countries.
Also, the Indigenous Business Directory has strict rules. A firm must be at least 51% owned and controlled by First Nations, Inuit or Métis people who live in Canada. Federal buyers use it as their main source when they look for Indigenous suppliers. So eligible firms should register, since it can lead to contract work.
Finally, use the national editions of global sites. Hotfrog Canada and Cylex Canada run apart from their US sites. For instance, Cylex says its basic listing is free for owners. So a firm with offices in both countries should claim both editions.
Trade Directories by Industry
Trade directories bring the most qualified visitors, because people who browse them already want your service. Also, they tend to rank for searches such as “divorce lawyer near me” or “best roofer in Denver”. So pick the top two or three in your trade before you touch the long tail of general sites.
Lawyers and Law Firms
Legal directories carry weight with both clients and search engines. Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell and Lawyers.com belong to the same group, so one update session can cover all three. Justia offers a free basic profile, and FindLaw is run by Thomson Reuters.
| # | Directory | Basic listing | Coverage | What a listing gives you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | Avvo | Free profile, paid options | US | A lawyer profile with ratings, reviews and Q&A answers |
| 38 | Justia | Free basic profile | US | A free lawyer profile on a large US legal site |
| 39 | FindLaw | Not stated | US | A Thomson Reuters lawyer directory with practice-area pages |
| 40 | Martindale-Hubbell | Free basic, paid options | US, Canada and other countries | A long-running lawyer directory with peer ratings |
| 41 | Lawyers.com | Not stated | US | A lawyer directory in the same group as Avvo and Martindale |
| 42 | HG.org | Not stated | US, Canada and other countries | A legal directory with firm and lawyer listings worldwide |
Doctors, Dentists and Therapists
Health directories hold your license data, so details must match your state board record. First, check your entry in the NPI Registry, because many health sites copy names and addresses from it. Then claim Healthgrades, Vitals and WebMD Care. Zocdoc and Psychology Today both charge, but each one brings patients who want to book.
| # | Directory | Basic listing | Coverage | What a listing gives you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | Healthgrades | Free basic profile | US | A doctor profile with patient ratings |
| 44 | Zocdoc | Paid | US | Online booking and a provider profile |
| 45 | Vitals | Not stated | US | A doctor profile with patient reviews |
| 46 | WebMD Care | Not stated | US | A doctor profile inside the WebMD care finder |
| 47 | RateMDs | Not stated | US and Canada | Patient reviews of doctors and dentists |
| 48 | Psychology Today | Paid subscription | US, Canada and other countries | A therapist profile in a large therapist finder |
| 49 | NPI Registry | Free | US | The federal record of your National Provider Identifier |
| 50 | Doximity | Free for verified clinicians | US | A clinician profile that also feeds a doctor finder |
Home Services and Contractors
Home service sites mix profiles with paid leads. Thumbtack, for example, lets you build a free profile, then charges when you reach out to leads. Angi and HomeAdvisor are part of the same company. In Canada, HomeStars is the name most homeowners know.
| # | Directory | Basic listing | Coverage | What a listing gives you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | Angi | Not stated | US | A pro profile with reviews; formerly Angie’s List |
| 52 | HomeAdvisor | Not stated | US | An Angi brand that matches homeowners with pros |
| 53 | Thumbtack | Free profile, paid leads | US | A pro profile; you pay to contact leads |
| 54 | Houzz | Free profile, paid options | US, Canada and other countries | A portfolio profile for design and remodeling pros |
| 55 | Porch | Not stated | US | A home pro profile with project photos |
| 56 | Bark | Not stated | US, Canada and other countries | A lead marketplace where you buy credits to respond |
| 57 | HomeStars | Free profile, paid plans | Canada | Canada’s home improvement review site |
| 58 | TrustedPros | Not stated | Canada | A Canadian contractor directory with reviews |
Still, read the lead terms before you pay. Some sites send the same lead to several pros. So track your cost per job, and drop a site that does not pay back within two or three months.
Restaurants, Hotels, Weddings and Events
Tripadvisor lets you claim your page for free. OpenTable charges restaurants, yet it gives you a public page that ranks for your name. The Knot and WeddingWire belong to the same group, so wedding vendors can manage both with one routine.
| # | Directory | Basic listing | Coverage | What a listing gives you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59 | Tripadvisor | Free to claim, paid options | US, Canada and other countries | Reviews for hotels, restaurants and attractions |
| 60 | OpenTable | Paid | US, Canada and other countries | Restaurant booking with a public restaurant page |
| 61 | The Knot | Free basic, paid upgrades | US | A wedding vendor storefront with reviews |
| 62 | WeddingWire | Free basic, paid upgrades | US | A wedding vendor storefront in the same group as The Knot |
| 63 | Eventbrite | Free to list, fees on paid tickets | US, Canada and other countries | An organizer page that lists your events |
| 64 | Groupon Merchant | Revenue share | US, Canada and other countries | A deal page for restaurants, spas and activities |
Car Dealers and Repair Shops
Car buyers use inventory sites such as Cars.com, CarGurus and Edmunds, which charge dealers. Also, DealerRater belongs to Cars.com and focuses on dealer and staff reviews. Repair shops have a different path. RepairPal is a free-to-browse finder for drivers, and AutoTrader.ca covers Canadian dealers.
| # | Directory | Basic listing | Coverage | What a listing gives you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65 | Cars.com | Paid for dealers | US | Dealer inventory and dealer reviews |
| 66 | CarGurus | Paid for dealers | US and Canada | Dealer listings with deal ratings |
| 67 | Edmunds | Paid for dealers | US | Dealer pages beside car reviews |
| 68 | DealerRater | Not stated | US | Dealer and staff reviews, owned by Cars.com |
| 69 | RepairPal | Not stated | US | A repair shop finder with certified shops |
| 70 | AutoTrader.ca | Paid for dealers | Canada | Canada’s large car listing site for dealers |
Real Estate Agents
Zillow offers agents a free profile with reviews and past sales. Realtor.com shows agents beside home listings. In Canada, Realtor.ca lists agents through their member brokerage, so you update it through your broker.
| # | Directory | Basic listing | Coverage | What a listing gives you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71 | Zillow | Free agent profile, paid options | US | An agent profile with reviews and past sales |
| 72 | Realtor.com | Not stated | US | An agent profile beside home listings |
| 73 | Realtor.ca | Through your brokerage | Canada | The CREA listing site where member agents appear |
Salons, Barbers and Spas
Beauty pros win bookings through apps. So pick one booking platform and use it well. StyleSeat, Fresha and Booksy each give you a public profile that ranks for your name and city.
| # | Directory | Basic listing | Coverage | What a listing gives you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 74 | StyleSeat | Not stated | US | A booking profile for stylists and barbers |
| 75 | Fresha | Free, fees on some services | US, Canada and other countries | A salon and spa booking profile |
| 76 | Booksy | Paid subscription | US, Canada and other countries | A booking profile for barbers and beauty pros |
Agencies, Software Firms and Industrial Suppliers
B2B buyers check review sites before a sales call. For instance, Clutch gathers agency reviews through client interviews, and G2 and Capterra cover software. GoodFirms covers IT firms, while Thomasnet and Kompass serve makers, distributors and wholesale suppliers.
| # | Directory | Basic listing | Coverage | What a listing gives you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77 | Clutch | Free profile, paid options | US, Canada and other countries | Reviews of agencies and IT firms, gathered by interview |
| 78 | G2 | Free profile, paid options | US, Canada and other countries | Software reviews from verified users |
| 79 | Capterra | Free basic listing, paid options | US, Canada and other countries | A Gartner software directory with user reviews |
| 80 | GoodFirms | Not stated | US, Canada and other countries | A directory of IT, software and agency firms with client reviews |
| 81 | Kompass | Free basic, paid options | US, Canada and other countries | A global B2B company directory |
| 82 | Thomasnet | Not stated | US and Canada | A supplier directory for makers and distributors |
Review Sites Customers Check Before They Call
Review sites double as citations. So a claimed Yelp or Trustpilot page gives you a listing and a place to answer customers. Yelp lets you claim a free page, and ads cost extra. Trustpilot has a free basic plan with paid tiers on top.
| # | Directory | Basic listing | Coverage | What a listing gives you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 83 | Yelp | Free page, paid ads | US and Canada | Reviews, photos and a business page in Yelp |
| 84 | Trustpilot | Free basic, paid plans | US, Canada and other countries | Public company reviews and replies |
| 85 | ConsumerAffairs | Not stated | US | Consumer reviews of national brands and services |
| 86 | ProvenExpert | Not stated | US, Canada and other countries | A review profile you can link from your site |
| 87 | Glassdoor | Free employer profile | US, Canada and other countries | Employee reviews and a company page |
| 88 | Indeed Company Pages | Free profile | US, Canada and other countries | A company page beside your job posts |
Also, reply to every review, both good and bad. Keep each reply short and polite, and never offer gifts for reviews, since most platforms ban that. Our review statistics for local businesses show how much buyers lean on ratings.
Chambers, the BBB and Government Registries
These four add trust more than traffic. A BBB profile is free, while BBB accreditation is a paid program with its own standards. Local chambers charge dues, but a member page on a city chamber site is a real local link. So also check your own city or county chamber.
| # | Directory | Basic listing | Coverage | What a listing gives you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89 | Better Business Bureau | Free profile, paid accreditation | US and Canada | A BBB business profile with complaints and reviews |
| 90 | U.S. Chamber of Commerce | Membership | US | The national chamber, which points you to local chambers |
| 91 | Canadian Chamber of Commerce | Membership | Canada | The national chamber, linked to local chambers and boards of trade |
| 92 | SAM.gov | Free | US | Federal supplier registration that feeds the SBA’s Small Business Search |
For US firms that want federal work, SAM.gov registration is free. The SBA’s Small Business Search copies its records from SAM.gov, so keep that record current. In fact, a lapsed SAM record can remove you from the search.
Social Profiles That Count as Citations
Social profiles carry your name, address, phone and website, so they act as citations too. Also, AI tools often read them when they describe a business. Every platform here offers a free business profile.
| # | Directory | Basic listing | Coverage | What a listing gives you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93 | Facebook Page | Free | US, Canada and other countries | A page with hours, reviews and messages |
| 94 | Instagram professional account | Free | US, Canada and other countries | A business profile with contact buttons |
| 95 | LinkedIn Company Page | Free | US, Canada and other countries | A company page staff can link to |
| 96 | X business profile | Free | US, Canada and other countries | A profile with your site and location |
| 97 | Nextdoor Business Page | Free, paid ads | US and Canada | A page neighbors can recommend |
| 98 | YouTube channel | Free | US, Canada and other countries | A channel with your name, site and links |
| 99 | Pinterest Business | Free | US, Canada and other countries | A business account with a claimed website |
| 100 | Alignable | Free basic, paid plans | US and Canada | A small business network with local referral pages |
However, a dead profile looks worse than none. So only claim the ones you can update at least once a month. For a closer look at which sources AI tools quote, see our guide on citation sites for AI search.
Keep One Version of Your Name, Address and Phone
Consistent details matter more than the number of listings. So write one master record before you claim anything. Then copy from it every time.
- Name: use your real legal or trading name. Do not stuff keywords or city names into it.
- Address: pick one format, such as “Suite 200” or “#200”, and use it everywhere.
- Phone: use one local number. Call-tracking numbers can split your data, so list your main line in the main field.
- Website: use the same URL each time, with or without “www”, and the same trailing slash.
- Hours and categories: match Google’s categories as closely as each site allows.
- Description: write a 50-word and a 250-word version, then reuse them.
Next, keep a sheet with each directory, its login email, the date you claimed it and the date you last checked it. After that, review the top 20 every quarter. For instance, a move or a new phone number means you update all 100. Do the data suppliers first. Our list of business citation checkers covers tools that scan for mismatches.
Claim Each Listing in the Same Order
Most of these sites already hold a page about you, built from data suppliers or public records. So search for your business on each site first. Claiming an old page keeps its reviews and history, while a new page can leave a duplicate behind.
- Search by phone number and by name. Old pages often carry a past address, so the phone number finds them faster.
- Claim, then verify. Most sites send a code by phone, text, email or mail. Use a business email on your own domain where you can.
- Paste from your master record. Copy the name, address, phone, site and hours exactly. Then add photos and a short description.
- Report duplicates. If you find two pages, ask the site to merge or remove the extra one. Do not just leave it.
- Log the result. Note the login, the date and the live URL in your sheet, so the next update takes minutes.
Also, set aside time each week. For example, five listings a week clears the first 20 in a month. After that, the trade and country sites fit into two or three more months. In fact, a slow, steady pace leaves fewer typos than a rushed one-day sprint.
Finally, watch for upsell calls. Some directories phone soon after you claim a page. You can say no and keep the free listing on every site that offers one.
When a Paid Directory Upgrade Pays Off
Most directories sell upgrades, such as top placement, extra photos or ad slots. So ask one question first: do your customers actually search on that site? For a dentist, Zocdoc can bring booked visits. For an accountant, a paid slot on a general directory rarely brings calls.
Also, test one paid site at a time for three months. Track calls, forms and bookings that name the site as the source. Then cancel anything that costs more per customer than your other channels. In fact, many firms do fine with free listings plus one or two paid trade sites.
Finally, avoid buying listings only for the link. Google’s spam policies name low-quality directory links as an example of link spam. Paid placements that exist to pass ranking value should carry a rel=”sponsored” or rel=”nofollow” tag. So judge each directory by the customers it sends.
Questions Owners Ask About Local Directories in the US and Canada
How many directories does a local business need?
Most firms do well with the first 20 from our method, then 10 to 30 more from their trade and country. Beyond that, gains shrink. So spend extra time on reviews and your website instead.
Are free directory listings worth the time?
Yes, for the core and trade sites. Free listings on Google, Apple, Bing, Yelp and the BBB reach real customers. Also, small general directories add consistency, though each one adds little on its own.
Should a Canadian business list on US directories?
Only if it serves US customers. A Vancouver firm with Seattle clients should claim US directories too. Otherwise, the Canadian editions in our list cover you.
How long until directory changes show up on Google?
It varies by site. Your own Google profile updates fastest. However, data suppliers pass changes on in cycles, so smaller sites may lag for weeks.
Do directory listings help in AI search?
They can. AI tools pull facts about local firms from maps, review sites and directories. So the same consistent details on many trusted sites give them more to work with. Our local SEO guide covers the rest of the job, from reviews to service pages.
For firms in the UK as well, our UK citation directories for small businesses list the British sites to add.
