Very Simple Google Maps
by Michael Aronoff · Forms
Also makes 1 other plugin · 4K+ installs across the portfolio →
Contains a simple way to add an embedded Google Map to any page or post.
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
A 88/100
no flags
Active installs
3K+
≈3.5K estimated
Momentum
+39%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Add “google maps”, “google map” and “embedded” to your wp.org tags. You rank #12, #17 and #20 for them without listing them, close enough for a declared tag to move you up. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so with 4 listed these are the slots worth spending.
88 health vs 65 average across 2,509 Forms plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →6.0%
of downloads still active
At least 3K of 50.2K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Forms plugin keeps 1.2%, across 1,668 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Forms plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
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 23 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.5★ over 17 reviews, smoothed to 4.20★ and held back under 25 reviews
4 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.
38
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.4
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
19%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| very | #1 | #2 | 0 |
| direction your tag | #6 | #9 | down 1 |
| google maps | #12 | #21 | down 1 |
| embed google maps | #6 | #11 | 0 |
| google map | #17 | #23 | up 1 |
| google maps and directions | #7 | #13 | 0 |
| google maps directions | #7 | #13 | 0 |
| maps your tag | #20 | #22 | down 1 |
| google direction | #8 | #13 | 0 |
| embedded | #20 | #20 | down 1 |
| web maps | #9 | #18 | down 1 |
| google maps locations | #9 | #18 | up 1 |
| simple map | #9 | #13 | down 1 |
| simple map plugin | #10 | #16 | up 1 |
| easy google maps | #11 | #20 | 0 |
| google maps shortcode | #11 | #21 | down 1 |
| google maps iframe | #11 | #19 | down 2 |
| add google maps | #13 | #20 | down 1 |
| google map with markers | #13 | #20 | up 1 |
| wp google maps | #14 | #19 | 0 |
| contact your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| google your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
50 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 20 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
- Add “google maps”, “google map” and “embedded” to your wp.org tags. You rank #12, #17 and #20 for them without listing them, close enough for a declared tag to move you up. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so with 4 listed these are the slots worth spending.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 2.3K · 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.
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 79% 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 “3K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 8 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 50% of the way through.
Install history since 19 Apr 2015
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ Ryan March3.8y ago
I was looking for something incredibly basic and I found it. So many map plugins are loaded up with many features and screens and settings. This one fit precisely the need I was looking for. Love that it gets regular updates as well!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ harlointeractive6.2y ago
Just wanted the ability to add a simple google map and didn’t want to sign up for and configure a project api and all that. This plugin made it super easy. Love it! Also had a question and the developer replied quickly so that was nice too.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Stefan Ocetkiewicz6.3y ago
This plugin is working very good. Simple using, fast effects – genius! Tested with 5.4.2 WordPress version.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ peltiereffects7.0y ago
It appears the plugin is abandoned. No support responses and it doesn’t. Moved over to Mappress, works perfect and support is fantastic
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Grzegorz W9.5y ago
I can not insert Google Map API. Plugin not working.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ buchalek10.0y ago
Very Simple Google Maps – it’s true!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ kernelg10.3y ago
Lightweight, easy to use, no ‘pro’ version bait and switch, and it looks clean. This is the perfect replacement for the Google Maps shortcode in Jetpack. With this one, you simply add your address to the shortcode and boom, you’ve got a map. You can include your business name first, or just start with the street number. Add a few more well-chosen variables to the shortcode to customize. The only issue was finding a company CID code for the companycode field (see the plugin FAQ). Google may have updated their UI since these instructions were written. There was no ‘cid=’ in the Send To Your Phone > Email > emailed URL. However! When I added the company name to the address field in the shortcode, it seemed to pick this up anyway (?) and does link to the business. So this may be redundant now. Bottom line: This one really IS simple and did exactly what I needed. It’s worth a quick try.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ audaciousbee11.0y ago
very easy, flexible and additional features are available!well done
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 2.0 First public and stable version. 2.0
- — Version 2.2 Add the word “street” to the description so usage is more clear. 2.2
- — Version 2.3 Update for WP 3.8.1 2.3
- — Version 2.4 Update for WP 3.9 2.4
- — Version 2.5 Added fix to center location point in the map as suggested by user SiNNeD. 2.5
- — Version 2.6 Update for WP 4.2 2.6
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 2 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (2.9.3). Sites still on an older version should update.
- Patched Medium · 6.4 Very Simple Google Maps <= 2.9 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Shortcode ↗2023-10-23 CVE-2023-5744 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 2.9 Patched in 2.9.1
- Patched Medium · 5.4 Very Simple Google Maps <= 2.8.4 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross Site Scripting ↗2023-01-20 CVE-2023-23864 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 2.8.4 Patched in 2.9
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 6.3.2
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
4 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 "Contains a simple way to add an embedded Google Map to any page or post."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 4 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 4 of 4 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ! Names what it works with Names no plugin, service or platform it works with.
- ✓ Headings and lists 5 headings and 1 list.
- ! Enough to quote 923 characters of description; under 1,000 there is little to quote.
- ! Tags match the text Only 1 of 4 tags appear in the text ("contact", "direction", "maps" missing).
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-03-03 4K+ → 3K+ down after 3 days in tier
- 2026-02-28 3K+ → 4K+ up after 3 days in tier
- 2026-02-25 4K+ → 3K+ down after 9 days in tier
- 2026-02-16 3K+ → 4K+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2026-02-15 4K+ → 3K+ down after 1179 days in tier
- 2022-11-24 5K+ → 4K+ down after 15 days in tier
- 2022-11-09 4K+ → 5K+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2022-11-08 5K+ → 4K+ down after 14 days in tier
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).
-
Snazzy Maps 30K+ installs · 4.1★ · 2 shared tags C -
Flexible Map 7K+ installs · 4.7★ · 2 shared tags A -
WP Geo 800+ installs · 4.4★ · 2 shared tags D -
Maps for WP 300+ installs · 3.9★ · 2 shared tags C -
Map Me 300+ installs · 4.2★ · 2 shared tags D -
Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed 5M+ installs · 4.2★ · 1 shared tag A
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Very Simple Google Maps into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/very-simple-google-maps" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Very Simple Google Maps — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Very Simple Google Maps: 3K+ active installs, 4.5★ (17 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/very-simple-google-maps
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