Google My Maps or My Store Locator?
With Google My Maps you can build a free map with lots of pins. For an overview that is often enough. If visitors should find their nearest store, search, opening hours and privacy start to matter.
Note: Checked on 25 Oct 2026. Details about Google My Maps are taken from Google's help pages (layers (external link), import (external link)); no guarantee - please check them yourself before you decide.
What Google My Maps does well
- Free with a Google account.
- Quick to fill: look up locations one by one or import a spreadsheet (CSV or XLSX among others), up to 2,000 rows per file according to Google.
- Layers: up to 10 layers per map, for example one per region or brand, with their own colours and icons.
- A familiar map: almost every visitor knows Google Maps.
- Embedding a public map as an iframe via "Embed on my site".
If visitors should only see where you are present, My Maps is a simple, free solution. A step-by-step guide is in Create a map with multiple locations.
Side by side
| Criterion | Google My Maps | My Store Locator |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free plan at no cost (25 locations); Starter $20, Pro $50 per month excl. VAT |
| Made for | Overview maps with pins, routes, travel maps | Location search on your own website |
| Search by town or postcode with a result list by distance | Not found in Google's help pages | Yes, with suggestions while typing and "use my location" |
| Filters (category, "open now", custom fields) | None found; layers can be shown or hidden | Yes |
| Opening hours | Free text in the description | Dedicated fields with two time slots and special days |
| Import | Up to 2,000 rows per file | CSV from Starter, up to 5,000 rows per run |
| Statistics | None found | Views, searches, searches without result, clicks - no cookies |
| Look | Google map style, pin colours and icons | 10 templates, own colours, font and CSS |
| Privacy | The map is loaded from Google | Map tiles and search through our server in Germany, two-click mode, DPA |
Where the differences are
Overview or search. My Maps shows your locations as pins. Visitors zoom and click their way to the nearest store. My Store Locator is built for the question "where is the nearest store?": visitors enter a town or postcode and get a list sorted by distance, with opening hours, phone number and a directions link.
Privacy. An embedded Google map loads content from Google, which sends the visitor's IP address to Google. In Germany and the EU, consent is usually recommended for this, for example through a cookie banner or a placeholder. With us, the two-click mode is built in, and map tiles and address search run through our server in Germany. More in Building it yourself with Google Maps and the guide Store locator and GDPR. This is not legal advice.
Team upkeep. A My Maps map is edited by the Google accounts you share it with. We have our own roles from "Read only" to administrator; on the Business plan, store managers edit only their own location.
Which one should you choose?
Google My Maps is likely the better fit if
- you need a free overview without search,
- the map is mainly for internal use or a one-off event,
- you already handle consent through a cookie banner.
My Store Locator is likely the better fit if
- visitors should find the nearest store by town or postcode,
- opening hours, filters and "open now" matter,
- you want to see what people search for,
- the map should match your design and work without Google.
FAQ
Can I move my My Maps data?
Yes. If your locations come from a spreadsheet, import the same spreadsheet as CSV (from Starter). On the Free plan you enter up to 25 locations one by one. Our free switching service can do it for you.
Is My Store Locator free as well?
Yes, the Free plan costs nothing and has no expiry date: up to 25 locations, one map and 1,000 map views per month. All plans under Pricing.
Do I need a Google account for My Store Locator?
No. You only need a My Store Locator account - no Google key and no Google account.
Try it with your own locations.
Create an account, import your locations, embed the map. The Free plan stays free - and you can test Pro for 14 days.