How to Add a Store Locator to Any Website
Adding a searchable store locator to a website is the same job on every platform, and it takes about ten minutes. The only thing that changes is which block you paste the snippet into. This guide covers the four universal steps, then the exact placement for each major platform.
The four steps, on any platform
- Create an account and add your locations. Type them in for a handful, or import a CSV for anything larger. A good locator geocodes addresses to map coordinates automatically, so you never look up latitude and longitude — you can dry run a file through the free CSV geocoder before you sign up for anything.
- Style it and choose the layout. Sidebar, full map, or list. Set brand colours, and decide which controls appear — search, category filters, hours, call and directions buttons. Fewer filters, chosen well, beat more filters.
- Copy the embed snippet. One script tag containing your locator ID. You can also generate one with the free embed code generator.
- Paste it into a code or HTML block on the page where the locator should appear, then publish and check the live page while logged out. On Shopify and Wix you install a native app instead of pasting anything.
The step that trips people up is almost always the block type. A paragraph or text block will silently strip a script tag. You need the block that is explicitly for code or HTML, and the platform table below names it for each CMS.
Where the snippet goes, per platform
| Platform | Method | Where it goes | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Native app | Install from Shopify admin, then add the locator as a theme block | Steps |
| Wix | Native app | Connect with Wix, then drag the Maptera element onto a page | Steps |
| Squarespace | Universal embed | A Code Block, set to HTML, on Business or Commerce plans | Steps |
| WordPress | Universal embed | A Custom HTML block, or the HTML widget in Elementor or Divi | Steps |
| WooCommerce | Universal embed | Same as WordPress — usually on a Stockists or Where to Buy page | Steps |
| BigCommerce | Universal embed | A web page in the control panel, or a theme template | Steps |
| Webflow | Universal embed | An Embed element in the Designer | Steps |
| Anything else | Universal embed | Anywhere HTML renders — hand-built sites, other builders, custom apps | Steps |
Open-source commerce platforms not in that table use the same embed — Shopware, Magento and PrestaShop each have their own guide.
Only Shopify and Wix have native Maptera apps. Everything else is the same universal embed, which is worth knowing because vendors in this category routinely describe an embed as a "plugin" or "extension" for platforms where no such thing exists. The full platform list is on the integrations page, and every route is on the install hub.
Embed, plugin, or API: which one you actually want
- Hosted embed — nothing installed on your site, nothing to update, no Google Maps API key, and content changes go live without republishing. The right default for almost everyone.
- Native app — on Shopify and Wix, a tighter integration with the platform's own editor. Same locator underneath.
- Self-hosted plugin — deepest integration with your CMS, at the cost of a dependency to patch and, usually, a Google Maps API key with billing attached.
- REST API — for headless sites, apps, and custom front ends where you are building the interface yourself. On Maptera this is a Scale-plan feature at $19/month.
Do not stop at the widget: the SEO half
A locator on its own contributes nothing to search. There is one URL, no per-location content, and nothing for Google to rank against a local query. If part of why you are adding a locator is to show up for "[brand] near me" searches, you need indexable pages per location — and, more importantly, internal links pointing at them.
Maptera generates a location page with structured data for every location on every plan. Getting them crawled is the part that fails, and the store locator SEO guide covers exactly why and what to do about it.
Common problems and fixes
- The map does not appear. Wrong block type, a caching plugin serving a stale page, or a security plugin stripping inline scripts. Check in that order.
- It shows in the editor but not live, or vice versa. Several builders deliberately do not execute third-party scripts in the editor preview. Always judge on the live page, logged out.
- Pins are in the wrong place. Ambiguous addresses. Add the country and postal code and re-geocode; the geocoder cannot resolve "Springfield" on its own.
- It looks cramped on mobile. Use a full-width container. On a phone the result list matters far more than the map — more on that in store finder software.
What it costs
You can do all of this for nothing on the free plan — 10 locations, no credit card, no expiry. Paid plans start at $9/month. Across the category, published self-serve pricing runs roughly $10 to $50 a month for small and mid-sized networks; the full table is in store locator software pricing compared, and best store locator software covers which tool suits which situation. Platform-specific guides also exist for Shopware, Magento and PrestaShop. Building against an API instead of embedding a widget? How store locator API endpoints work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I add a store locator to my website?
Four steps on any platform: create an account, add your locations (typing them in or importing a CSV that gets geocoded automatically), copy the embed snippet, and paste it into a code or HTML block on the page where you want the locator. On Shopify and Wix there are native apps that replace the copy-paste step with an install and a drag.
Do I need a developer?
No. The hardest step on most platforms is finding the right block type — a Code Block on Squarespace, a Custom HTML block on WordPress, an Embed element on Webflow. If you can add an image to a page, you can add the locator.
Do I need a Google Maps API key?
Not with a hosted locator. Map rendering and geocoding happen on the vendor side, so you never create a Google Cloud project, never enable billing there, and never receive a Maps bill. Self-hosted plugins usually do require a key, which is the most common hidden cost in this category.
Will a store locator slow my site down?
A hosted embed loads asynchronously and only on the page that contains it, so the rest of your site is unaffected. That compares well with plugins that load a mapping library plus their own assets across every page.
Can I put the locator on more than one page?
Yes. Paste the same snippet wherever you need it. All instances read from the same location list, so you maintain the data once.
How much does it cost to add a store locator?
Maptera is $0 for up to 10 locations with no credit card, $9/month for 100, and $19/month for 5,000 plus REST API access. Across the category, self-serve locators generally run $10 to $50 a month for small and mid-sized networks.