Plugin Suggestion: Fluent Directory
What is Fluent Directory?
Fluent Directory would be a native WordPress directory plugin designed to seamlessly extend the Fluent ecosystem — particularly Fluent Community — enabling users to build dynamic, scalable, and monetizable directory websites with no-code ease.
Think of it as the Fluent alternative to tools like Voxel, GeoDirectory, or Brilliant Directories, but lightweight, intuitive, and fully integrated with Fluent Forms, FluentCRM, FluentSupport, Paymattic, FluentBooking, and FluentCart.
Why It Makes Sense
- Fluent Community already covers 50% of the use case — user profiles, interactions, and content sharing.
- Adding a native directory component would eliminate the need for clunky third-party plugins that duplicate CRM, forms, automation, etc. I"m currently running a mix of diff directory plugins, none of them perfect, and very cumbersome to maintain.
- Keeps users within the Fluent stack for everything — CRM, forms, payments, booking, and support.
Suggested Core Features
- Custom Post Types & Relationships
Create directory listings for Businesses, Restaurants, Doctors, Events, etc., and relate them to users or other post types. Voxel handles this really well with conditional displays, etc. - Tiered Membership Management
Free & paid listings, upsells (e.g., featured placement), access to premium content, marketplace capabilities, and more. - Drip Content + Content Restriction
Schedule and restrict access to listings, content, or resources by tag, post, page, category, location, language, etc. - Member Dashboards
Personalized member dashboards for listing management, messages, support tickets, orders, and more. - FluentCRM Integration
Trigger automations, campaigns, and segmentation based on listing activity, tier, or engagement. - FluentForms Integration
Frontend submissions, registration, listing updates, and onboarding flows — all form-based and flexible. - Payments & Invoicing
Integration with multiple payment providers via Paymattic for memberships, upsells, and renewals. - 3rd-party integration support - n8n, flowmattic, make, etc.
- Performance Focused
Like the rest of the Fluent suite — optimized, bloat-free, and made for speed.
Integration Opportunities
| Integration | Use Case |
|---|---|
| Fluent Community | Member directory profiles, discussions, and content sharing. Plus, have listing owners open thier own micro-communities |
| FluentCRM | Tag-based access, listing notifications, automations |
| FluentForms | Directory submission forms, onboarding, upgrades, plus forms to have visitors contact directory owners. |
| FluentSupport | Ticket-based member support |
| FluentBooking | Allow booking from directory profiles. Plus integration with google calendar and third party services. |
| Paymattic | Handle tiered payments and invoicing |
| FluentCart | Sell products or services directly from listing pages. This would be a winner for many listing owners withouth the website. i.e. I have home bakers on one of my directories that do not have websites and sell only ocassionally. Think about retired grandma that bakes and sells cupcakes from time to time. |
| AzonPress | Enable affiliate monetization inside directory profiles |
Use Case Scenarios
- Local Business Directory
- Medical/Legal/Service Provider Listing.
- Sotware LTD Listing (alternative to AppSumo)
- Niche Community Directory + Marketplace
- Event Organizer & Vendor Directory
- Tourism & Attraction Listing with Booking Support (hello Fluent Booking)
- Freelancer or Local Trades that speak specific language
Fluent Directory: The Next Logical Step
Fluent ecosystem is already one of the most loved WP ecosystems and Fluent Directory increasingly looks to be the missing piece to offer a true all-in-one platform for online community builders, directory creators, and niche entrepreneurs.
Heck, WPManageninja could even charge a commission for every transaction faciliated through the directory, I'd be fine with that.
Community, what are your thoughts?
My thoughts? I am starting to be irritated by the AI composed plugin suggestions. A Directory certainly isn't a missing piece for me. But hey, maybe it will make some others happy. 🤷♂️
J V Hi JV,
It is a missing piece for me. I am running a bunch of directories mostly using GeoDirectory, and some Directoriest sites (which is a garbage product) and am exploring Voxel now. None of them is perfect:
- Diretorist - way too unstable and updates breaking everything
- GeoDirectorist - feels dated and requires a bunch of their extensions to make it work
- Voxel is gaining ground, though i am not a fan of their reliance on Elementor
- Brilliant Directories - dated and complex and users are complaining about the lack of customizability and the seo issues
Large part of my business in centered around directories, with some of my sites ranking on the 1st page of google search results and since I rely a lot on Fluent products, I'd love to have this one added to the portfolio.
This may not be required for your business model but there are many business owners out there that would be embrace this plugin. Check the directory discussions on facebook for evidence.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Drag Ivko Yes, our business relies on directory to monetize. I use nearly all Fluent products (community, forms, CRM, etc), then have to integrate with an outdated but heavily customized plugin as our centerpiece (GeoD). It's like the tail wagging the dog. We would benefit greatly by having this, and have been asking for it for months.
Drag Ivko Important for me too
J V Shahjahan Jewel this is a great feature for those who build professional Fluent Communities. This is the number 1 feature i am asked for from the business clubs, university, car clubs and more. they want to display their businesses to their community. Right now I have to us community and then a link outside to get to the directory and a link on the directory pages to go back in the community. not to mention that you just added another plugin you hope plays well with the other vibes. I try to keep a Site Fluent Happy. use as many Fluent products and a few others. The plugins vibe with each other easily and present less issues for a server.
Drag Ivko you should create a roadmap for Fluent Directory, I would vote for it.
I think this is a great idea and would fit in perfectly in the fluent ecosystem, we have a large community in FC that could very much benefit from this. +1
I second this idea! Please do keep us posted if anything is considered here! I would looooove this... as I use DIrectorist and it has continuously broken my site... lol
I am also very interested in this for the private member association. Thanks
100% YES.
Shahjahan Jewel what are your thoughts?
Yes please!
I build a lot of local directories (87 built to date) for companies, organizations and groups. this is a money maker. I would buy a lifetime subscription and place it on my client pages!!! Shahjahan Jewel I would love to buy an all inclusive plugin and then add the pro fluent versions for expanded features like forms, community, paymattic, etc.
William Dickson do you custom build the directories or use some packaged solution?
Drag Ivko directorist and listeo. your comments above about directorist is so true!!
Guys, I've also be asking about this capability since 9 months https://community.wpmanageninja.com/portal/space/community-meta/post/is-there-a-way-to-create
I think a business directory section is vital.. think also Facebook Pages directory for business pages, brand pages, etc. If anyone can figure out how to make this WBCOM plugin work with FC please share with us. Thanks
Insta Net Thanks for sharing an example of a comparative product offering, to give Shahjahan Jewel a clearer picture of what we're asking, should they choose to move forward.
John Coonen I agree.. hopefull the ninjas get inspired and make this happen #Directory #BusinessPages
Insta Net good idea
That'd be AWESOME!
is it like jet engine plugin?
The members in my FluentCommunity are asking if I can add a directory for them to post their services/businesses. I would want this capability
I tried GeoDirectory and it just felt so old, so I got Directorist LTD. It works but is a pain to do anything. I would have gone back to Geo but they got rid of LTD so I am stuck with Directorist until FluentDirectory comes out. I'm super excited at the thought of finally having a full Fluent suite for WP. I already have LTDs for Community, Forms, Boards, and Booking. Imagine having FluentCRM drive the FluentDirectory backend :-) I would probably add FluentSupport as well at that point.
Terry M Directorist is terrible. I actually moved 2 sites to GeoDirectory, and once you get hang of it, it works really well. Overally it does feel a bit dated and to make it really work well, you gotta integrate with their other solutions, such as userswp and getpaid, and that becomes pricey, you are looking at $630/year.
I would love this 😍
That would be a amazing :) would buy it instantly please Shahjahan Jewel make it happen 😍
Well, Jewel just said in the fluentAffiliate launch that there is currently no plan to create fluentDirectory. He stated each product line requires a dedicated team and they don't have a directory team at this time. He did mention something about 4x, I think he meant increasing his teams size, but I am not sure. Anyway, just wanted to give an update to how he answered my question about wanting a fluentDirectory plugin.
Ross FCA Sure would hope so. look at directorist as it is one of the premier plugins... DM, pm whatever the hip saying is, i will add you as a user and let you peek under the hood... Heck I own a hosting company. I will build you a whole freaking sandbox if you like!
or I can let you borrow the tools. and u take them to you sandbox....
William Dickson would you say directorist is better than GeoDirectory, if so why?
Any update on this topic of a lightweight business directory solution for FC?
Insta Net i feel that any fluent directory be independent but at the same time support all of fluent products. I have been planning my directory for about a month and will take 2-3 months to build out, it also appears my directory ecosystem will include GeoDirectory, and a ton of other plugins and addons, so unless I find something better, then I will stick to GeoDirectory, even if others say it is outdated.
David Scurlock Same. GeoDirectory FTW. Its databased structure is the clincher. FAST even with 1M+ listings. Create the same thing in ACF, and it chokes.
David Scurlock they brought the domain and probably selling it for a grip!!!
Well, I contacted FluentWiz to get a quote on building this major feature out with basic requirements. If anyone here has another development company to recommend, I'd appreciate that. If it makes economic sense for me (or even if it doesn't), I'll post here, and perhaps we can firm up a plan as a collective of sorts?
That would be amazing and would fit so many business needs out there, any thought Fluent team ? 🙃👍
Two thumbs up very high on this one!! I suffer with Directorist and am a huge FluentCommunity fan, and Fluent network promoter.
June Wilson I agree 👍 however, I dont think anything will come of this, so far nothing has come of this, but i would buy it immediately, even pre-order the LTD.
Maybe with little development, we could leverage the "members" feature from Fluent Community for a lightweight directory, ie adding custom fields, geographic data, search with filter and a display in directory enable-disable switch
but...
I'm not a dev :D
Patricia BT the entire focus of my site is a directory on the homepage and this is where the income will come from, so if there are directory options for FC which is in sub directory then that will not be helpful, the price has to be reduced or free as people do not want to promote their site on a sub directory, even more so if their backlinks are no follow. I just can not vision a directory being on FC. I think the business directory should be the main product that would work on the homepage and or in its own directory.
Any news about this ? :)