eDirectory Review (2026): Pricing, Alternatives and vs Brilliant Directories

eDirectory is one of the few directory platforms that will sell you its source code.

For $1,499, once, you get the PHP code and can host the whole thing on your own server. Almost nothing else in this category offers that. Brilliant Directories doesn't. Directify doesn't. Most no-code builders don't.

That one fact is the main reason to look at eDirectory, and it's where this review starts. It also covers the cloud plans, what you get, the terms you should read before you pay, what users say, and how it stacks up against the platforms people usually compare it with.

The short version

What it is: a directory platform from Arca Solutions, available as a hosted cloud service or as self-hosted source code. Listings, events, classifieds, deals, a blog, memberships and native mobile apps, all in one.

Best for: people who want to own and host their directory, or who need a real mobile app for their members.

Watch out for: the cheapest plan carries eDirectory branding, refunds are only possible within 48 hours, plans renew automatically with 30 days' notice required to cancel, and its review scores trail Brilliant Directories'.

Verdict: the strongest choice if ownership or a native app matters to you. If neither does, Brilliant Directories is cheaper and better reviewed.

What eDirectory is

eDirectory is made by Arca Solutions, which has offices in Annandale, Virginia, and Bauru, Brazil. The company says it has been helping customers "since 2003" and has served more than 3,500 customers in 68 countries.

It's a full directory platform rather than a site builder with a directory template. Out of the box you get modules for:

• Listings, with reviews and replies to reviews
• Events, classifieds, deals and banner ads
• A blog and articles
• Memberships: sign-up plans, a member dashboard, recurring payments, coupons and invoices
• Lead forms and claimable listings

All plans include unlimited listings and members, an Open API, and the mobile app builder.

Pricing

eDirectory's pricing page (edirectory.com/orders) lists three plans:

Yearly billing takes 25% off the cloud plans, which works out to about $891 a year for Professional and $1,791 for Enterprise. No setup fee is listed.

The plans also differ on training and support. Professional includes one training session and chat or email support. Enterprise cloud includes three sessions and phone support. The source licence includes three sessions and 30 days of support.

Yes, two of the plans are both called "Enterprise". It's confusing, but the difference is simple: one is hosted for you, the other is code you run yourself.

What the source licence actually includes

This is eDirectory's real differentiator, so it's worth being precise about it.

You get the PHP source code and can host it wherever you like. A small part of the code stays protected to enforce the licence, and you don't get the source code for the mobile apps. Version upgrades require a separate support package, and eDirectory doesn't publish its price.

Check the server requirements before you buy. eDirectory's requirements page lists PHP 7.4 and an old version of Elasticsearch, both well past their supported life. The page may simply be out of date, but ask which versions the current release needs, because running unsupported software on a public server is a security risk.

What you get

Native mobile apps. This is the other thing that sets eDirectory apart. Its app builder produces real Android and iOS apps (built with Flutter, it says, not a website wrapped as an app) that pull data from your directory. You publish them under your own Apple and Google developer accounts, or pay eDirectory to submit them for you. If your members want an app, this is the platform that genuinely offers one.

Payments. eDirectory's support docs list Stripe, PayPal Standard, Authorize.Net and Mercado Pago (for Latin America). Free trials for paid plans work with Stripe.

SEO tools. An SEO centre for each module and each item, editable URLs and meta tags, a sitemap generator, structured data, and Google Search Console, Analytics and Tag Manager integrations.

Themes and pages. Four included themes (directory, wedding, dining guide and medical), a widget-based page editor with 51 widgets, 30 pre-built pages and a CSS editor.

Import and API. Import and export for listings and events, image import, and an Open API that can read and write data such as accounts and reviews.

Languages. eDirectory says the platform is available in seven languages.

Terms to read before you pay

None of these is a dealbreaker, but each is worth knowing up front. They come from eDirectory's terms and conditions.

Refunds only within 48 hours. Purchases are non-refundable unless you ask within 48 hours, and there are no partial-month refunds.

Automatic renewal. Plans renew for the same term, and you have to give 30 days' written notice if you don't want them to. Put a reminder in your calendar.

Cancelling a cloud plan. Your site stays up until the end of the billing period, then the hosted instance is deactivated. eDirectory says you can export listings and other key data before you cancel, so do that first.

The terms page is undated and still mentions a "Lite" plan that isn't on the current pricing page, so ask eDirectory to confirm which terms apply to your plan.

What users say

As with most directory platforms, the Trustpilot number needs context: only 8 of those reviews are from the last 12 months, and Trustpilot notes the company hasn't invited customers to review recently.

What people praise: helpful sales and onboarding staff, a broad feature set, and ease of use. One recent Trustpilot reviewer wrote that their directory was "perfect and very easy to use."

What people complain about: price compared with other directory tools, limited design customization without paying for custom work, and, in older reviews, bugs. Several of the harsher reviews date from 2020 or earlier, and one reviewer noted that customization had improved in newer versions.

eDirectory vs Brilliant Directories

These two come up together more than any other pair, and the review sites compare them directly. Here's how they differ:

Choose eDirectory if you want to own and host the software, or if a native member app is part of your plan.

Choose Brilliant Directories if you want a cheaper hosted plan, an unbranded site from day one, and the platform with the stronger review record. Our Brilliant Directories review covers its two price lists, add-ons and lock-in terms in detail.

eDirectory vs Unicorn Platform

These two are built for different jobs, so the comparison is short.

Unicorn Platform is a no-code website builder. Its directory feature is a component connected to a Google Sheet, and its own help docs suggest keeping that sheet to about 2,500 rows, because larger sheets slow the page down. Plans run from a free tier to $9–$14 a month for one site, depending on billing. It's quick for a simple, curated list.

eDirectory is a directory platform with memberships, payments, events, classifieds and apps built in. If you need business owners to sign up, pay and manage their own listings, Unicorn Platform isn't built for that and eDirectory is.

One more thing worth checking on Unicorn Platform: its Trustpilot score has dropped to 2.3 from 57 reviews, and the most recent review (October 19, 2026) reports a user's sites being taken down without notice. Read the latest reviews before you build on it. The Unicorn Platform listing has more on it.

eDirectory alternatives

If you want ownership for less: a WordPress plugin like GeoDirectory or Directorist costs a fraction of the source licence, and you own everything. You'll run the hosting and updates yourself. How to choose a directory tool covers that trade-off.

If you want a cheap, fast hosted directory: Directify starts free and Pro is $39 a month. It doesn't have eDirectory's memberships or apps, but it's much quicker to launch.

Who eDirectory is for

A good fit if:

• You want to own and host your directory software.
• Your members want a real mobile app.
• You need events, classifieds, deals and listings in one platform.

Look elsewhere if:

• You want the cheapest unbranded hosted plan (Brilliant Directories is cheaper).
• You'd rather not deal with server requirements and paid upgrades on a self-hosted licence.
• You want the most modern design without paying for custom work.

Frequently asked questions

How much does eDirectory cost? $99 a month for Professional (with eDirectory branding), $199 a month for white-labelled Enterprise cloud, or $1,499 one-time for the self-hosted source licence. Yearly billing takes 25% off the cloud plans.

Can I self-host eDirectory? Yes, with the $1,499 source licence. Check the current server requirements first, and budget for the support package that version upgrades require.

Does eDirectory have a mobile app? Yes. Every plan includes an app builder for native Android and iOS apps, which you publish under your own developer accounts.

What are eDirectory's main competitors? Brilliant Directories is the closest, with WordPress plugins such as GeoDirectory and Directorist, and hosted builders like Directify, as the main alternatives.

Is there a free trial? eDirectory offers a free demo and a guided demo from its site. Confirm what a trial includes when you book.

Can I get a refund? Only if you ask within 48 hours of purchase, according to its terms.

Verdict

eDirectory's selling points are real and rare: a self-hosted source licence, native member apps, and a full set of directory modules. If either ownership or an app is central to your plan, it should be at the top of your list.

If not, it's harder to recommend over Brilliant Directories, which is cheaper, unbranded on every plan and better reviewed. And if you mainly want to own your site, a WordPress plugin gets you there for much less.

Whichever you choose, book the demo, ask which terms and server requirements apply, and export your data regularly.

Book an eDirectory demo or compare it with the Brilliant Directories review.

Still deciding? The two questions that decide which directory tool you need will narrow it down. If you'd like a directory built for you, get in touch.