Alternative to HivePress Directory Theme

Why Look for a HivePress Alternative?

HivePress markets itself as a free directory plugin for WordPress. And technically, that’s true. The core plugin costs nothing. But here’s what catches people off guard: most useful features sit behind paid extensions at $29–$39 each.

Want bookings? That’s $39. Marketplace functionality? Another $39. Memberships, search alerts, SEO tools — each one is a separate purchase. The full extension bundle runs $199, and you still need a compatible theme on top of that.

Reddit users haven’t been shy about their frustrations either. One user reported their “customer service team not responding for 5 weeks“. Another wrote plainly: “My experience with HivePress was terrible. Wasted my money and time.” Others flagged issues with customization limits and broken mobile functionality.

If you’re building a directory or marketplace with WordPress, there’s a simpler path. Listeo is a complete directory theme — bookings, marketplace, AI search, and monetization tools — all included for $79. No extensions to juggle. No surprise costs.

Listeo — The All-in-One Directory Theme

Listeo is a WordPress theme built for directories and listing marketplaces. Think Yelp, Airbnb, Booking.com, or Etsy-style sites — you can build all of these with a single theme.

Everything ships in one package. Three booking types (daily, hourly, and event-based), a multi-vendor marketplace, listing packages for monetization, advanced search with geolocation, and even AI-powered semantic search using ChatGPT or Gemini.

No separate plugins. No extension store. One theme, one purchase, everything works out of the box.

Where HivePress Falls Short

HivePress isn’t bad software. It’s lightweight, developer-friendly, and has clean code. But the plugin-only model creates real problems:

• Extension dependency — 17 add-ons to manage, update, and pay for individually
• Theme compatibility headaches — you need ListingHive (basic) or a compatible premium theme ($50–$100 extra)
• Support delays — multiple Reddit threads report weeks-long wait times for responses
• Customization limits — users report struggling with “finer points of customisation” and basic vs paid listing setups
• No AI features — no semantic search or chatbot integration available

The “free” label is technically accurate for the core plugin. But building anything beyond a basic directory means spending $200–$300 once you factor in extensions and a proper theme.

Feature Comparison: Listeo vs HivePress

The Real Cost Breakdown

Let’s do the math for a directory with bookings and marketplace features:

• HivePress route: Free plugin + premium theme ($50–$100) + bookings ($39) + marketplace ($39) = $128–$178. Or grab the full bundle at $199 plus a theme — $249–$299 total
• Listeo route: $79. Everything included. Done.

That’s $49–$220 in savings depending on which HivePress path you take. And Listeo gives you features HivePress doesn’t even offer — like AI-powered semantic search and event ticketing with multi-guest types.

Who Should Use What

HivePress makes sense if you only need a basic free directory with no bookings, no marketplace, and you’re comfortable with the ListingHive theme. It’s genuinely lightweight and works well for simple use cases.

Listeo is the better pick if you’re building something serious — a rental marketplace, service directory, event platform, or any directory you plan to monetize. You get a polished theme with every feature built in, direct developer support, and no extension fatigue.

Our recommendation: If you need bookings, marketplace functionality, or AI search — skip the extension math and get Listeo for $79. It’s a fraction of the cost with more features out of the box.

Frequently Asked Questions