Directory portal website themes comparison

This is a themes and plugins features comparison for a better overview of our directory business website solutions. You can learn here the main differences between our new and older products. We post here a short progress report and what is coming soon. Plus, we have information on how it will be possible to move from a third-party solution to ours.

Especially news for existing customers about migration process: In this article, you will learn new information about the options for migrating from old templates to Citadela Directory solution in our FAQ section.

Short overview: New Citadela Directory Solution

We released a new Citadela WordPress theme and plugins back in 2019. It is built on plain WordPress, and it is customisable using Gutenberg Editor. Since then, we have constantly been working on new functions.

Citadela solution is our 3rd WordPress products generation. We incorporate all our 11 years of experience with WordPress and directory sites. We put attention to speed, multipurpose content usability and compatibility. Production is divided into phases. We bring you a better overview of upcoming things in the monthly reports.

Brief recapitulation as of 8th March 2021

We have finished the 2nd and start working on 3rd phases of developing the Citadela Directory solution. We fulfilled the plan and released everything planned. We also fit into the time frame. We are adding now new extra feature – Filter Search. It will be released in the coming days. Another great news is that Citadela DirectorPRO Layout is live now.

See the latest March 2021 progress report.

FAQ section

Where we would like to answer the most frequent topics related to our products. Please have a look on our Citadela Directory Plugin documentation and let us know what are you missing there.

1. How to decide which directory theme to use?

It depends on your project. If you are going to build a brand new portal, we would recommend you to use Citadela solutions. Why? Because it is fast and based on pure WordPress. You have a lot of blocks that are easy to use in the Gutenberg editor. Furthermore, Citadela products have unique directory functions also for non-traditional catalogue sites. We develop new features only for this theme from now on.

2. I use DirectoryPRO, should I change the template and plugins to Citadela Directory Pack?

Individual decision-making applies for the change from DirectoryPRO to Citadela directory. Items and Items Reviews are sufficient for some of you. Other customers need more features than Claim listing or Advanced Search.

3. What are the plans with the Citadela products?

The new Citadela template and plugins have fewer classic directory features than DirectoryPRO but are continually evolving. It already contains functions that are unique and will serve not only to catalogue websites. We are gradually adding new features to cover everything DirectoryPRO can do. Subsequently, the development will continue focused on such functions that were not part of DirectoryPRO either.

4. What is the future of DirectoryPRO?

We released the last features for DirectoryPRO in March 2020. We’ve added the much-needed OpenStreetMap.We also made a new modern design.

We believe in the future of WordPress associated only with the Gutenberg editor. Business directory websites should serve their visitors primarily, and we can deliver new perfect and long-term solutions only with the Gutenberg editor. Unfortunately, DirectoryPRO will not meet these requirements soon. That’s why we started developing a purely new solution in advance — solutions for the future. But don’t worry. We issue security and bugs updates for all old products as long as we achieve new goals.

Software is constantly evolving, just like everything around us. We flexibly adapt to current conditions to deliver to our customers the highest quality products for the next ten years of AitThemes’ existence. The code principles we have chosen for Citadela products assure us that they will be more flexible and less maintenance-intensive for our customers.

5. What about data migration into the new Citadela solution?

Already at the launch of the Citadela products, we introduced the possibility of automatic migration. It is a basic solution to cover the migration of only basic data.

We bring good news to you all our customers and new user from 3rd party solution.  We have included functionality for importing data in a CSV file in our short-term production plan. Customers who use Directory PRO or another AitThemes listing template will be able to export and import data. This option will also be available to users who are not yet our customers and want to switch to a solution built on the Gutenberg editor. This solution will allow the migration from any product to Citadela Directory solution.

The preparation of this functionality is a relatively complicated and demanding task. And not an easy decision when to put it into production. We still have the third phase full of exciting features that is also challenging. Write in the comment below – what would you prefer more? To migrate data, or would you prefer faster progress of Phase no.3? See the latest plan and progress report.

Previous updates change log

Update 2021-03-12

New: Filter Search using Item Extensions

Update 2021-03-04

New: Advanced Search with Geolocation support

Update 2021-02-19

New: Advanced Filters using Item Extensions

Update 2021-02-11

Permission Manager and Multiple Subscription functionality.

Update 2021-01-21

Custom Item Extensions additional improvements

Update 2020-12-21

Custom Item Extensions feature is ready and the new update will be released today.

Update 2020-12-11

This week we published another listing feature. Now you can use Clam listing in Citadela Directory plugin.

Update 2020–11-10

We update the information in this article regularly. In addition to our quarterly progress reports on the development, you can also see what’s new in the Citadela Directory package compared to DirectoryPRO and older directory templates.

Since the first edition of this article, the following have been added:

• Automatic updates for the Citadela Pro, Directory and Block plugins
• Automated import of pre-designed layouts directly from wp-admin
• Item reviews
• Get directions

Multipurpose content

We have expanded listing features to have more ways how to display data. Besides that you can create portal content as classic Page, now you can show listings data inside your Posts as well. And it is so easy, drag the block in between of text paragraphs. The content is a king, and therefore listing data integration plays a considerable part. Let’s get new ideas for a new type of content on your website. Now Citadela Directory Pack with WordPress and its Gutenberg editor offers better work with Posts and Pages. Get some flash about how to build micro portal site.

During past months we enhanced some of the portal features and new are coming each month. Citadela Directory Pack features growth is our primary goal for next months. We plan to match our older portal products.

Website Monetization

We added a Subscription Plan feature. We decided to use WooCommerce as a basement. The package parameters are modular, and you can configure your own. Also, you have a big choice for payment gateways. WooCoomerce offers variable payments methods. The full documentation can be found under our Documentation section.

Easy admin feature brings a more elegant environment for listings owners while editing their items. Next, you can expect some data display enhancements and also some new major features coming soon.

Products Comparison

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