Closeby takes a design-first approach to store locators, and it shows. The interface is clean, the branding controls are solid, and the pricing is competitive, especially for merchants who need high location counts on a budget.
But once you move past the aesthetics, there are gaps. No native analytics. No smart filters. No multi-language support. And a setup requirement that trips up a surprising number of merchants: you need to bring your own Mapbox access token.
For many Shopify brands, those gaps matter. This guide compares the best Closeby alternatives based on real product capabilities, not marketing copy.
Why Merchants Look for Closeby Alternatives
Four reasons come up consistently:
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No native analytics. Closeby doesn't track how customers use your locator. No search data, no click tracking, no filter usage. The only option is connecting Google Analytics externally, which means extra setup and limited locator-specific insights. For brands trying to understand where customer demand exists, this is a significant blind spot.
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Requires your own Mapbox token. Unlike most store locators that bundle map rendering into the subscription, Closeby requires merchants to create a Mapbox account, generate an access token, and manage that separately. It's not hard, but it's friction during setup, and it means a separate billing relationship for map usage.
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No smart filters. Customers can search by location and distance, but they can't filter by hours, services, products, or custom attributes. For retailers with different store types or varying service offerings, this limits how useful the locator actually is.
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No multi-language support. If you sell in multiple markets or languages, Closeby doesn't offer built-in localization. For international brands, this can be a dealbreaker.
None of this makes Closeby a bad product. The design focus and generous location limits (10,000 on Enterprise at $19.99) are genuinely strong. But if any of these points matter to you, it's worth looking at what else is available.
What to Look For in a Store Locator
Before comparing specific apps, here's what matters most:
- Analytics: Does it track how customers use the locator (searches, clicks, filter usage)? Or does it rely on external tools?
- Smart filters: Can customers filter by hours, services, products, or other attributes? Or just search by location?
- Customization: Can you match your brand (colors, fonts, map styles, pin icons)? Or does it look like a third-party widget?
- Setup friction: How long does it take to go live? Does it require external accounts or API tokens?
- Pricing value: What do you actually get at each price point? Where are features gated?
- Mobile experience: Does it work well on phones? Most "near me" searches happen on mobile.
The Best Closeby Alternatives
1. Mapular Store Locator
Best for: Brands that want native analytics, smart filters, and zero setup friction, without managing a Mapbox token.
Mapular is a native Shopify app built specifically for the platform. Where Closeby spreads across Shopify, Squarespace, and WordPress, Mapular focuses entirely on Shopify, which means deeper integration and a setup experience designed around how Shopify merchants actually work. No external tokens, no third-party map accounts.
What stands out:
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Built-in behavioral analytics from the Advanced plan ($19.99/month). This is the biggest difference from Closeby. Mapular tracks searches, location clicks, filter usage, and trends over time. This is the kind of data that helps you understand where customer demand exists and which locations perform. Closeby offers none of this natively.
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Smart filters for hours, services, products, geolocation, and custom fields. Available on all paid plans. Customers can filter your locations by what matters to them, not just proximity. On Closeby, filtering is limited to distance-based search with auto-sorting.
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Full brand control on all paid plans. Colors, fonts, map styles, pin icons, and three layout modes (sidebar, full-width, compact grid), starting at $9.99/month. Closeby offers good branding controls too, but Mapular adds layout flexibility that Closeby doesn't have.
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No API key required. Maps work out of the box with a free OpenStreetMap basemap. Install, add locations, publish. You can optionally connect your own Mapbox or Google Maps API key for additional map styles, but it's not required. No external accounts or separate billing to get started.
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Live support chat inside the Shopify admin, even on the free plan. This is rare. Closeby doesn't offer live support.
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Free plan with 5 locations, full appearance control, and live chat. Same free tier as Closeby, but with support included.
| Plan | Price | Locations | Analytics | Product Filters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 5 | - | - |
| Starter | $9.99 | 50 | - | - |
| Advanced | $19.99 | 500 | Full behavioral | - |
| Pro | $44.99 | 5,000 | Full behavioral | Yes |
Honest limitations: Mapular is newer with fewer reviews. It maxes out at 5,000 locations, well below Closeby's 10,000 on Enterprise. No multi-platform support (Shopify only). No Google Sheets sync.
Who should switch: Merchants who need analytics their store locator doesn't provide, want smart filters for hours or services, or are tired of managing a separate Mapbox token. If you're outgrowing Closeby's feature set but not its pricing, Mapular is the closest match.
For a detailed head-to-head, see Mapular vs Closeby.
2. Stockist
Best for: Merchants who want the most-reviewed store locator with strong data management and SEO location pages.
Stockist has more reviews than any other store locator on Shopify (~250+) and a near-perfect 5.0 rating. It's well-built, straightforward, and particularly strong on data management: CSV import/export, Google Sheets sync on Premium, and SEO-friendly individual location pages.
What stands out:
- ~250 reviews with a 5.0-star rating, the strongest social proof in the category
- SEO-friendly individual location pages (great for local search)
- Good CSV import/export and Google Sheets sync (Premium)
- Heatmaps on Plus plan for basic search analytics
- Praised for responsive support
Limitations vs Closeby:
- No free plan (14-day trial only); Closeby's free tier is an advantage here
- Max 2,000 locations on the top tier vs Closeby's 10,000
- Analytics are heatmaps only, more than Closeby, but not behavioral
- No product availability filtering
| Plan | Price | Locations | Analytics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $10 | 100 | - |
| Plus | $20 | 500 | Heatmaps |
| Premium | $40 | 2,000 | Heatmaps + export |
Who it's for: Merchants who prioritize social proof, need solid data management, and want SEO location pages. Worth the trade-off of no free plan if you need a proven solution.
3. Amai ProMap Store Locator
Best for: Merchants who want an established, affordable locator with strong support and bulk upload capabilities.
Amai ProMap has nearly 600 reviews, the most of any store locator on Shopify. It's a solid, no-frills Google Maps-based locator with bulk upload support and good tag-based filtering.
What stands out:
- ~594 reviews with a 4.8-star rating, the largest user base
- Bulk location uploads with custom tags
- Filtering by location, radius, and custom tags
- 24/7 chat support
- Affordable entry at $9.99/month
Limitations vs Closeby:
- No analytics at all, same gap as Closeby
- Google Maps only (no custom map styling or themes)
- Less design control than Closeby's branding-focused approach
- No product availability filtering
Who it's for: Merchants who want the most proven option by install count, need bulk upload tools, and value 24/7 support availability. Not for brands that need analytics or deep design customization.
4. SC Store Locator
Best for: Merchants who want a free, reliable store locator with Google Autocomplete and custom filters.
SC Store Locator has ~446 reviews and offers a free plan, making it one of the most accessible options. It's straightforward: Google Maps, geolocation, custom filters, directions.
What stands out:
- Free plan available
- Google Autocomplete integration for better search UX
- Custom search filters (more than Closeby's distance-only search)
- Real-time directions
- Large install base
Limitations vs Closeby:
- Less design polish than Closeby's brand-focused approach
- Analytics are basic at best
- No behavioral tracking
- No product filtering
| Plan | Price | Locations | Analytics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Limited | - |
| Paid tiers | From $9.99 | Varies | Basic |
Who it's for: Budget-conscious merchants who want a free start with more filtering options than Closeby. Good for simple use cases where design polish isn't the top priority.
5. Storemapper
Best for: Multi-platform businesses that need unlimited locations and cross-platform consistency.
Storemapper has been around since 2013 and works across Shopify, WooCommerce, Squarespace, and others. It's the established choice for businesses that aren't Shopify-only.
What stands out:
- Multi-platform support (like Closeby, but more mature)
- Unlimited locations on Corporate ($199)
- Heatmaps on Premium ($69.99)
- Multi-language support on Premium, a feature Closeby lacks
- Long track record (~96 reviews)
Limitations vs Closeby:
- Much higher pricing ($24.99 entry vs Closeby's $9.99)
- No free plan (7-day trial only)
- Analytics (heatmaps) require the $69.99 Premium plan
- Smart filters gated behind Premium ($69.99)
| Plan | Price | Locations | Analytics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $24.99 | 500 | - |
| Pro | $49.99 | 2,000 | - |
| Premium | $69.99 | 5,000 | Heatmaps |
| Corporate | $199 | Unlimited | Heatmaps |
Who it's for: Businesses on multiple platforms that need cross-platform consistency and are willing to pay more for it. If you're Shopify-only, there are better-value options.
For more detail, see Best Storemapper Alternatives.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Mapular | Stockist | Amai ProMap | SC Store Locator | Storemapper | Closeby |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes (5 locs) | No | No | Yes | No | Yes (5 locs) |
| Starting price | $9.99 | $10 | $9.99 | Free | $24.99 | $9.99 |
| Analytics | Behavioral | Heatmaps | None | Basic | Heatmaps ($69.99) | None |
| Smart filters | Yes ($9.99) | No | Tags only | Custom filters | Yes ($69.99) | No |
| Layout options | 3 modes | Limited | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Max locations | 5,000 | 2,000 | Varies | Unlimited | Unlimited | 10,000 |
| Multi-language | No | No | No | No | Yes ($69.99) | No |
| Native Shopify | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Live support | Yes (all plans) | No | 24/7 chat | No | No | No |
| Reviews | Newer app | ~250 | ~594 | ~446 | ~96 | ~20 |
Which Alternative Is Right for You?
Choose Mapular if you want built-in analytics, smart filters, and no API key hassle (free OpenStreetMap basemap included, with optional Mapbox or Google Maps). Best for D2C brands that use locator data to inform retail decisions and want full customization at a competitive price.
Choose Stockist if you want the most-reviewed pure store locator with SEO location pages and strong data management. Best for merchants who prioritize social proof and need import/export flexibility.
Choose Amai ProMap if you want the largest user base, bulk upload tools, and 24/7 support. Best for merchants who need a proven, straightforward locator and don't need analytics.
Choose SC Store Locator if you want to start free with custom filters and Google Autocomplete. Best for budget-conscious merchants with simple locator needs.
Choose Storemapper if you need multi-platform support, multi-language, and are willing to pay premium pricing for mature features. Best for larger businesses not locked into Shopify.
Stay with Closeby if design-first aesthetics and high location counts at low prices are your priorities and you don't need analytics, smart filters, or multi-language support. Closeby does what it does well; it just doesn't do everything.
For a broader comparison of all Shopify store locator apps, see our complete guide to the best store locator apps for Shopify.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mapular better than Closeby?
It depends on what you need. Mapular offers native behavioral analytics, smart filters, and maps that work out of the box with OpenStreetMap (with optional Mapbox or Google Maps support for extra styles). Closeby offers a design-focused interface with higher location limits (10,000 vs 5,000) at a lower top-tier price. For merchants who need analytics and filters, Mapular delivers more. For merchants who want a clean, simple locator with high location counts, Closeby may still be the better fit.
What's the cheapest Closeby alternative?
Mapular and SC Store Locator both offer free plans. Mapular's free tier includes 5 locations with full appearance control and live support chat. SC Store Locator offers a free plan with basic functionality. Stockist ($10/month) and Amai ProMap ($9.99/month) are the most affordable paid-only options.
Which store locator has the best analytics?
Mapular is the only Shopify store locator with built-in behavioral analytics, tracking searches, clicks, filter usage, and trends over time. Stockist and Storemapper offer heatmaps. Closeby, Amai ProMap, and SC Store Locator offer no meaningful native analytics.
Can I migrate from Closeby to another app?
Yes. Most store locators support CSV import, so you can export your locations from Closeby and import them into any alternative. The main thing to watch for is location limits. If you're on Closeby's Enterprise plan with thousands of locations, make sure your new app's plan supports that count.



