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DirectoryDuck as a Brilliant Directories alternative: pricing and features
Both are software for running a directory website. This page puts their prices and features side by side, including the places where DirectoryDuck does less.
Prices and features read from each vendor's own website on November 11, 2026.
Is DirectoryDuck an alternative to Brilliant Directories, and what does each cost?
For a directory you fill and run yourself, yes: DirectoryDuck has a Free plan at $0 and paid plans from $39/mo, while Brilliant Directories lists its "Monthly Plan" at $97 and, under "Included with every plan", member signup and paid membership plans, which DirectoryDuck does not have.
DirectoryDuck's full limits are on pricing, and directory software: what to check covers the questions worth asking any vendor.
Prices and features, side by side
The Brilliant Directories column quotes that vendor's own plans page; words in quotation marks are the page's. Prices are in US dollars. DirectoryDuck's paid plans are available now, billed monthly or yearly. Rows marked "DirectoryDuck limit" are the ones to read first.
| DirectoryDuck | Brilliant Directories | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | DirectoryDuckFree $0; Starter $39/mo or $390/yr; Growth $99/mo or $990/yr; Pro $249/mo or $2,490/yr. | Brilliant Directories"Monthly Plan": $97. Its page prints no billing period beside the price.Source: brilliantdirectories.com/plans, read |
| Free plan | DirectoryDuckYes: $0, with 1 directory at directoryduck.com/your-name, 100 listings and 100 starter credits. | Brilliant DirectoriesLists a free demo: "Start Free Demo Now" and "100% full access — no credit card".Source: brilliantdirectories.com/plans, read |
| LimitsDirectoryDuck limit | DirectoryDuckListings: Free 100; Starter 500; Growth 2,000 in each of 5 directories; Pro unlimited. | Brilliant DirectoriesMembers: lists "Manage 100,000 Members".Source: brilliantdirectories.com/plans, read |
| Member logins and paid membershipsDirectoryDuck limit | DirectoryDuckNo. Listed businesses get no accounts and pay no dues. A business can claim its listing by confirming its email address. | Brilliant DirectoriesLists "Unlimited Membership Plans", "Self-Service Signup Pages" and "Recurring Payments".Source: brilliantdirectories.com/plans, read |
| Payments from listed businessesDirectoryDuck limit | DirectoryDuckNone. DirectoryDuck takes no payment from a listed business; you collect it yourself, outside DirectoryDuck. | Brilliant DirectoriesLists "Stripe / PayPal / Authorize.net" and "$0 Platform Fees".Source: brilliantdirectories.com/plans, read |
| Featured listings | DirectoryDuckStarter and up, up to 10 per directory at a time. You set the price, sell the spot and collect the payment yourself. | Brilliant DirectoriesLists "Featured Listing Upsells".Source: brilliantdirectories.com/plans, read |
| Removing the vendor's brandingDirectoryDuck limit | DirectoryDuckPro only, and partly: Pro hides the "Powered by DirectoryDuck" badge on the hosted pages and the embed. The review form and claim pages still run on directoryduck.com, and notification emails come from DirectoryDuck. | Brilliant DirectoriesLists "100% Unbranded / White Labeled".Source: brilliantdirectories.com/plans, read |
| Your own domain | DirectoryDuckStarter and up: one domain on Starter, one per directory on Growth and Pro. The Free plan's directory lives at directoryduck.com/your-name. | Brilliant DirectoriesLists "Use your own domain like yourbrand.com — SSL included."Source: brilliantdirectories.com/plans, read |
| Templates and themesDirectoryDuck limit | DirectoryDuckNo template gallery. You set the directory's colors. | Brilliant DirectoriesLists "10+ Premium Themes".Source: brilliantdirectories.com/plans, read |
| WordPress pluginDirectoryDuck limit | DirectoryDuckNo plugin. One script tag shows the directory on a WordPress page. | Brilliant DirectoriesNot mentioned on its plans page.Source: brilliantdirectories.com/plans, read |
| AI | DirectoryDuckAI discovery searches the web for businesses that fit your niche and drafts each listing for you to approve. It spends credits. | Brilliant DirectoriesLists "AI to Generate Pages, Emails & More" and "100 Instant Business Records".Source: brilliantdirectories.com/plans, read |
| API | DirectoryDuckA public API on every plan, Free included. | Brilliant DirectoriesLists "Developer API".Source: brilliantdirectories.com/plans, read |
Prices and features read from each vendor's own website on November 11, 2026. Vendors change prices and features; check each website before you decide.
What you give up with DirectoryDuck
DirectoryDuck does not have these, or has them only in part. The table above shows what Brilliant Directories' plans page lists for each.
- No member logins or dues. The businesses you list do not get accounts, and there are no paid membership plans. A business can claim its listing by confirming its email address.
- No payments from the businesses you list. DirectoryDuck bills you for your plan and any credit packs. It takes no payment from a listed business, for a featured spot or anything else, so you invoice and collect that yourself.
- Badge removal only on Pro, and only in part. Pro at $249/mo hides the "Powered by DirectoryDuck" badge on the hosted pages and the embed. The review form and claim pages still run on directoryduck.com, and notification emails come from DirectoryDuck. Free, Starter and Growth always show the badge.
- Listing caps on Starter and Growth. Starter holds 500 listings in 1 directory, and Growth holds 2,000 in each of 5 directories. Only Pro is unlimited.
- No template gallery. You set the directory's colors; there is no set of themes to pick from.
- No WordPress plugin. One script tag puts the directory on a WordPress page, but embedded listings may not be indexed as part of your site.
Where DirectoryDuck is different
- A Free plan at $0. It includes 1 directory and 100 listings.
- AI listing discovery. It searches the web for businesses that fit your niche and drafts each listing for you to approve. Discovery spends credits; the Free plan includes 100 starter credits. See how AI discovery works.
- A hosted page or one script tag. The directory is hosted at directoryduck.com/your-name, or shown on the site you already have with one script tag.
- The API on every plan. The public API reads your published listings and reviews on Free, Starter, Growth and Pro.
Explore has real directory websites to look at before you choose.
Who should choose which
Choose Brilliant Directories if you need paid memberships: its plans page lists membership plans, member signup pages and recurring payments. It is also the one to look at if you need a fully unbranded site or a set of themes. DirectoryDuck does not do those.
Choose DirectoryDuck if you will fill and manage the listings yourself, want to start at $0 and have AI discovery draft the first listings, want the directory on a site you already have, and are content to sell featured spots and collect the payment yourself.
Questions about DirectoryDuck and Brilliant Directories
- How much does Brilliant Directories cost?
- On November 11, 2026, Brilliant Directories' own plans page listed its "Monthly Plan" at $97, with no billing period printed beside the price. Check its website for the current price and terms before you decide.
- Does DirectoryDuck have member logins and paid memberships, as Brilliant Directories lists?
- No. DirectoryDuck has no member logins and no dues, and it takes no payment from the businesses you list. Brilliant Directories' plans page lists "Unlimited Membership Plans" and "Recurring Payments" under "Included with every plan", so if you need paid memberships it is the one to look at.
- Does either one have a free plan?
- DirectoryDuck has a Free plan at $0 with 1 directory and 100 listings. Brilliant Directories' plans page lists a free demo ("100% full access — no credit card") and its "Monthly Plan" at $97.
- Can I run either one under my own brand?
- Brilliant Directories lists "100% Unbranded / White Labeled". DirectoryDuck does this only partly: your own domain starts on Starter at $39/mo, and Pro at $249/mo hides the "Powered by DirectoryDuck" badge on the hosted pages and the embed, but the review form and claim pages still run on directoryduck.com.
Brilliant Directories is a trademark of its owner. DirectoryDuck is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Brilliant Directories. Prices and features read from each vendor's own website on November 11, 2026.
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