A local citation is any online mention of your business Name, Address and Phone number (NAP), usually on a directory, review site or map platform. This guide lists 50+ local citation sites with a verified Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR) for each one, checked in September 2026.
What Are Local Citations?
A local citation is a listing that shows your business name, address and phone number somewhere other than your own website. It does not have to link to your site to count. A citation on a directory page with no hyperlink is still a citation, and it still helps Google confirm that your business exists, where it is located, and what it does.
Citations fall into two groups. Structured citations live in business directories such as Yelp or Bing Places, where a form collects your details in fixed fields. Unstructured citations are mentions inside an article, a news story or a local blog post, where your name and address appear in the body text. Both matter, but structured directories are the ones you can build today without waiting for a journalist to write about you.
The term NAP stands for Name, Address, Phone number – the three fields every citation must show identically. NAP consistency is the entire point of citation building: Google cross-references those records against your Google Business Profile, and mismatched details reduce confidence in your location data.
Why Local Citations Matter for Local SEO
Citations are one of the few local ranking signals you fully control. You cannot force a customer to leave a review or make a competitor’s site slower, but you can decide how many authoritative directories list your business and how accurate those records are. According to BrightLocal’s annual local consumer research, the overwhelming majority of consumers search for local businesses online before buying, and they cross-check businesses across multiple sites rather than trusting a single listing. When your details appear consistently in many trusted places, both users and search engines treat that as proof the business is real and established.
There is a second, less obvious benefit. Directory pages already rank for local queries. When you appear on a high-DR citation site, you are borrowing that page’s authority: your listing can surface in search results even if your own website is new or has few backlinks. That is why a business with a thin website can still appear in map results when its citations are complete and consistent.
Top Local Citation Sites and Business Directories (2026)
The tables below use Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR), a 0-100 authority score, measured on 10 September 2026. Higher DR generally means the listing page carries more trust and is more likely to rank on its own. Start with the core group, then add the country-specific sites that match your market.
Core Universal Citations (Start Here)
| Site | Domain Rating | Country | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | 100 | Global | The single most important citation; feeds Google Maps and the local pack |
| Apple Business Connect | 97 | Global | Apple Maps and Siri results; essential for iPhone users |
| Yahoo Local | 94 | US | Legacy directory that still ranks and feeds Yahoo search results |
| Yelp | 94 | Global | Review-driven discovery in food, retail and services |
| Trustpilot | 94 | Global | Trust signals and consumer reviews across categories |
| Better Business Bureau | 93 | US | Legitimacy signal for service businesses and B2B |
| Cylex | 92 | Global | Fast approval; good coverage across many countries |
| Foursquare | 91 | Global | Feeds location data to many apps and mapping services |
| Nextdoor | 91 | Global | Neighbourhood-level discovery for local services |
| MapQuest | 91 | US | Mapping-based listings with strong brand trust |
| Thumbtack | 90 | US | Lead generation for home and personal services |
| Yellow Pages | 90 | US | High-authority legacy directory; ranks for category searches |
| Angi | 90 | US | Home improvement and contractor categories |
| Manta | 86 | US | Small business focused profile with category pages |
| Superpages | 85 | US | Classic directory value; accepts most business types |
| Chamber of Commerce | 84 | US | B2B credibility and industry categories |
| MerchantCircle | 84 | US | Small local businesses and trades |
| Hotfrog | 81 | Global | International coverage with country subdirectories |
| Brownbook | 80 | Global | Worldwide listings; useful outside the US |
| Citysearch | 80 | US | City-level browsing and discovery |
| Bing Places | 80 | Global | Bing and Microsoft Copilot local answers |
| ShowMeLocal | 78 | US | Simple free listings with quick approval |
| Local.com | 76 | US | Category and city search pages that rank |
| Storeboard | 76 | US | Business profiles with social features |
| eLocal | 74 | US | Service categories and local lead pages |
| Tupalo | 73 | Global | European and international coverage |
| Yellowbook | 73 | US | Long-established directory with category pages |
| Best of the Web | 72 | US | Editor-reviewed directory; trusted listing |
| Tuugo | 69 | Global | Multi-country business directory |
| FindGlocal | 69 | Global | Embedded Google Maps listings that rank in local search |
| Judy’s Book | 68 | US | Review-led local recommendations |
| NiceLocal | 56 | Global | Aggregated listings across many cities |
| CityLocal Pro | 52 | Global | City-by-city local advertising listings |
| Opendi | 47 | Global | Easy submission; good for stacking extra citations |
Data Aggregators
Aggregators push your NAP data out to dozens of smaller directories at once. Submitting here first saves hours of manual work, because the downstream sites receive your record automatically.
| Site | Domain Rating | Country | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Axle | 12 | US | Bulk distribution of NAP data to hundreds of directories and data partners |
United States Directories
The core table above already covers most US directories. If you operate in the United States, prioritise Google Business Profile, Bing Places, Yelp, Apple Business Connect and the Better Business Bureau first, then work through the remaining core entries. Local chambers of commerce and city-level directories in your own metro are worth adding too – they usually have low competition and rank quickly for “your service + your city”.
India
| Site | Domain Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| IndiaMART | 87 | B2B suppliers, manufacturers and wholesalers |
| JustDial | 86 | Local services and consumer categories across India |
| TradeIndia | 83 | Exporters and industrial B2B listings |
| Sulekha | 77 | Home services and professional categories |
| AskLaila | 46 | City-level local search listings |
| Grotal | 44 | Extra citation volume for Indian cities |
United Kingdom
| Site | Domain Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Yell | 91 | The primary UK business directory; strong local rankings |
| Thomson Local | 73 | Long-standing UK directory with category pages |
Australia
| Site | Domain Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Pages Australia | 83 | The dominant Australian directory |
| True Local | 78 | Reviews plus business listings for AU |
| White Pages Australia | 71 | Supplementary AU citation with name and address |
| StartLocal | 59 | Extra AU coverage and local category pages |
Business and Profile Platforms
These are not directories in the classic sense, but each one hosts a company profile that acts as a high-authority citation and often allows a link to your website. They are quick wins because the profiles already rank.
| Platform | Domain Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 99 | B2B credibility; company page ranks for brand searches | |
| YouTube | 99 | Brand channel profile with links and location info |
| 97 | Visual and lifestyle brands; profile links to your site | |
| Crunchbase | 91 | Startups, SaaS and funded companies |
| Glassdoor | 91 | Employer branding and company verification |
| ZoomInfo | 85 | B2B company data and firmographic profiles |
How to Build Citations the Right Way (Step by Step)
- Lock your NAP format first. Decide exactly how your business name, address and phone number will be written, then copy that string everywhere. Choose one format for “Street” vs “St” and one for “+1 555 123 4567” vs “555-123-4567” and never mix them.
- Claim Google Business Profile before anything else. It is the record every other platform is compared against, and it powers the map pack. Verify the listing and complete every field, including hours, categories and photos.
- Submit to the data aggregators early. Aggregators distribute your data downstream, so the sooner they hold the correct record, the fewer cleanup jobs you face later.
- Work through the core directories. Use the first table above and go in descending DR order. Create the listing, paste the exact NAP string, add your description and logo, and save the login details in your password manager.
- Add country-specific directories. Only after the core group is done, add the India, UK or Australia tables that match where you actually operate. Do not create listings in countries you do not serve.
- Audit for duplicates. Search your phone number and business name in quotes on Google. Duplicate listings split your signals, so claim each one and either complete it with the correct data or request removal.
- Re-verify quarterly. Directories change hands, expire free listings and merge records. A short quarterly check keeps your data accurate, especially after you move premises or change your phone number.
Common Citation Mistakes That Hurt Local Rankings
- Inconsistent NAP data. An old suite number on three directories and a new one on four is worse than having fewer, accurate listings.
- Leaving duplicate listings live. When you move or rebrand, the old listing stays behind and splits your citations unless you claim or delete it.
- Stuffing keywords into the business name. “Best Cheap Plumber Delhi 24×7” is a guideline violation. Use the registered name and put the keywords in the description instead.
- Ignoring country-specific sites. A US-only directory list will not help a business that serves UK or Indian customers.
- Submitting everywhere at once and never checking. A submitted listing is not necessarily a published listing. Verify each one is live and approved.
- Using a call-tracking number as the primary phone. Mismatched numbers across directories weaken the whole citation set. Keep the primary number consistent and add tracking numbers only where the platform supports a second field.
How to Check Your Citations
Start with a manual audit. Search your exact business name and phone number in quotation marks on Google and Bing, then open each result and compare the address character by character. This surfaces duplicates and stale records that automated tools often miss.
For scoring and monitoring, use a dedicated citation audit tool or your own spreadsheet. Whichever route you take, record the listing URL, the date you submitted it and the date it went live, so a quarterly re-check takes minutes instead of hours. Once your citations point to your site from authoritative domains, it is worth measuring the effect on your URL portfolio: run your domain through our spam score checker to confirm the new referring domains are clean, and check overall authority with the DR checker or the bulk DA PA checker if you are managing several client sites.
Citations work best as part of a wider local strategy. Pair them with a complete profile setup, on-page local signals and review generation, as covered in our guides to local SEO for your business and Google Maps SEO. If you need broader distribution beyond local directories, see our list of free business listing sites and the directory submission sites list, and use a free keyword tool to find the city and service terms your customers actually search.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a local citation?
A local citation is any online mention of your business name, address and phone number, usually on a directory, review site or map platform. It counts even when there is no link back to your website, because it helps search engines confirm that your business is real and located where you say.
How many citations does a local business need?
There is no fixed number, and more is not automatically better. A practical target is the core universal set of roughly 30 to 35 authoritative sources, plus the country-specific directories that match the markets you actually serve. Consistent data across those listings matters far more than raw volume.
Are local citations still important in 2026?
Yes. Citations remain one of the few local ranking signals you fully control, and they still feed the map pack. They also let your business appear on directory pages that already rank on their own, which is valuable when your own website is new or has thin backlink coverage.
What is NAP consistency?
NAP consistency means your business name, address and phone number are written identically everywhere they appear online. The same abbreviation style, the same punctuation and the same suite number across every directory, including your own website footer and social profiles. Mismatched records reduce confidence in your location data.
Are citations free?
Most of the citation sites listed here are free to submit, including Google Business Profile, Bing Places and Apple Business Connect. Some directories sell paid placements or verification tiers, but for ranking purposes the free listing is usually enough. Pay only when a paid tier solves a specific problem.
How long do citations take to work?
Google Business Profile can influence local results within days of verification. Third-party directories typically take a few weeks to approve, index and begin contributing. Treat citation building as an ongoing quarterly process, and re-verify your records after any move, rebrand or phone number change.
What is the difference between a citation and a backlink?
A backlink is a clickable link from another website to yours, and it can pass link equity. A citation is a mention of your business name, address and phone number, with or without a link. Many directory listings are both at once, but a citation still carries local relevance when the link is absent.
Do citations help you rank in the Google Map Pack?
They contribute to it. Map pack rankings are driven mainly by relevance, distance and prominence, and citations support prominence by confirming your business details across many trusted sites. They work best alongside a complete Google Business Profile, accurate categories and a steady flow of customer reviews.
