Basic Google Maps Placemarks
by Ian Dunn · Uncategorized
Also makes 8 other plugins · 3.4K+ installs across the portfolio →
Embeds a Google Map into your site and lets you add map markers with custom icons and information windows.
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
B 83/100
no flags
Active installs
2K+
≈3K estimated
Momentum
+21%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “map”, “marker” and “google maps” for “basic”, “mind map” and “churches”. “map” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “basic” sits at #10 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “marker” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “mind map” sits at #15 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “google maps” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #19. “churches” sits at #17 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
83 health vs 58 average across 25,735 Uncategorized plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →1.0%
of downloads still active
At least 2K of 209.9K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Uncategorized plugin keeps 0.6%, across 17,766 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Uncategorized plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
This plugin shipped 1 release in the last 12 months, and every existing install that updated counted as another download. wp.org publishes no split between first installs and updates, so we show the raw rate rather than guess at one.
Details
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Excellent listing optimization
Well tuned across the board
Updated 214 days ago, past the ~180 days where wp.org starts discounting
Tested up to WordPress 6.9.11, the current branch or newer
4.4★ over 51 reviews, smoothed to 4.25★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
33
Momentum
Losing ground
-1.0
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
11%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.4
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| placemark your tag | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| placemarks | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| geocode your tag | #3 | #2 | 0 |
| basic | #10 | #13 | down 3 |
| google maps customization | #6 | #14 | 0 |
| google maps your tag | #19 | #20 | down 3 |
| best google maps | #8 | #19 | 0 |
| mind map | #15 | #15 | down 1 |
| google map | #21 | #24 | up 1 |
| embed google maps | #9 | #17 | down 1 |
| maps | #24 | #21 | 0 |
| map markers | #22 | #23 | 0 |
| churches | #17 | #14 | down 4 |
| best maps | #12 | #18 | 0 |
| open street map | #20 | #19 | down 3 |
| community map | #22 | #22 | down 4 |
| patch | #23 | #18 | 0 |
| world map | #24 | #19 | down 3 |
| custom google maps marker icons | #14 | #19 | 0 |
| web maps | #17 | #19 | down 2 |
| map your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| marker your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
75 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 42 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 2 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “map”, “marker” and “google maps” for “basic”, “mind map” and “churches”. “map” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “basic” sits at #10 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “marker” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “mind map” sits at #15 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “google maps” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #19. “churches” sits at #17 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 2.2K · peaks are release surges
Directory rank vs rivals
wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
Occasionally updatedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
1
releases in the last 12 months
7mo ago
latest release · v1.10.8 · 31 Mar 2026
40
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 99% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “2K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 26 days ago and the previous band took 19 months to cross, so the real count is still just under 3K.
Install history since 1 Aug 2021
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ drazon6.1y ago
Well although this plugin hasn’t been updated the last 3 years it works perfectly well, and as I said if you need something simple without any bloat this is it. @iandunn if you could bump the plugin version to avoid some “security plugins” marking it as an abandoned plugin it would be great
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ correll2508.8y ago
This saved me a lot of work adding Google Maps to my site. Thanks for all the work!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ marinetg9.1y ago
Looked for over 4 hours for the best and most customisable maps plugin. This is the winner. Great job and thanks!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ psuba9.8y ago
Great plugin if you want to start of customising one. I am using it to display mapped areas for a local orienteering club, and with some customisation it does exactly that – both a category page to show different types of areas on one page and with using the clustering feature, whilst also using it as I am displaying a single page with descriptions for each area itself. I have added category specific placemarks, and adjusted the description display instead to use excerpts, add a featured image (instead of using that as a placemark) and link to the page of the area itself. Done in two days. Thanks.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ hello10.1y ago
Good plugin, appreciate the cluster option. There are sometimes issues with with the display, need to drag the map to refresh.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ azlivin00810.2y ago
this plugin no longer works. Google requires an API for maps, and the plugin does not have anything in the settings to add an API. Maps come up “oops, something’s wrong”
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Vsky10.4y ago
Too much codes for a XXI sec plugin Nowadays is time for clicks and drags. Enough Linux or DOS similar things.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ jadi10010.5y ago
Fine and flexible plugin, that makes things as you expect it. Like it.
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 10.8 [SECURITY] Fixed an unauthenticated arbitrary map-coordinate write vulnerability. An unauthorized person could alter the map’s center location. Capability and nonce checks were added to fix it. props pwnie for responsibl 10.8
- — Version 10.7 [NEW] Added UI options and filters for entering a Google API keys. 10.7
- — Version 10.6 [FIX] Load local copy of default marker clustering images, because remote copies no longer work . 10.6
- — Version 10.5 [UPDATE] Changed the text-domain from bgmp to basic-google-maps-placemarks , to support language packs . 10.5
- — Version 10.4 [NEW] Added Russian translation. props alexgr. [NEW] Added Serbo-Croatian translation. props Borisa Djuraskovic. [NEW] Added Dutch translation. props mardonios. 10.4
- — Version 10.3 [FIX] Closed a minor XSS vulnerability in several Settings form fields in the Administration Panels. props trizaeron . 10.3
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceThe 1 disclosed vulnerability is patched in the current version (1.10.8). Sites still on an older version should update.
Vulnerability records provided by Wordfence Intelligence. Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc. License and terms.
CVE records: Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. CVE terms of use.
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0.1
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 77 languages, 9 at 90% or more
Plus 53 more locales with partial translations.
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
6 of 8 pass · checked 28 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Embeds a Google Map into your site and lets you add map markers with custom icons and information windows."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 19 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 16 of 19 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for One audience phrase ("if you need"); say who the plugin is for and what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions Google Maps, Multisite, Zoom.
- ! Headings and lists 0 headings and 5 lists; assistants quote headed sections and bullet lists, not paragraphs.
- ✓ Enough to quote 5,452 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 4 of 5 tags appear in the text; "geocode" does not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-10-05 3K+ → 2K+ down after 564 days in tier
- 2025-03-20 4K+ → 3K+ down after 399 days in tier
- 2024-02-15 5K+ → 4K+ down after 292 days in tier
- 2023-04-29 6K+ → 5K+ down after 271 days in tier
- 2022-08-01 7K+ → 6K+ down after 334 days in tier
- 2021-09-01 8K+ → 7K+ down after 243 days in tier
- 2021-01-01 9K+ → 8K+ down after 184 days in tier
- 2020-07-01 10K+ → 9K+ down
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).
-
Multiple Location Google Map 100+ installs · 4.2★ · 3 shared tags D -
Multi Location Marker 80+ installs · 4.0★ · 3 shared tags B -
WP Go Maps – Google Map, OpenStreetMap, Leaflet Map 300K+ installs · 4.8★ · 2 shared tags A -
WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings 60K+ installs · 4.2★ · 2 shared tags B -
Maps Widget for Google Maps 20K+ installs · 4.6★ · 2 shared tags A -
Easy Google Maps by Supsystic – Custom Markers, Clustering & Map Themes 20K+ installs · 4.6★ · 2 shared tags A
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Basic Google Maps Placemarks into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/basic-google-maps-placemarks" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Basic Google Maps Placemarks — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Basic Google Maps Placemarks: 2K+ active installs, 4.4★ (51 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/basic-google-maps-placemarks
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