How to Create Free Plans on eDirectory

Offering a free plan is one of the most effective ways to encourage users to join your directory and start adding listings without any upfront cost. In eDirectory, free plans are easy to configure and do not require any billing cycle, since they never expire.

This guide walks you through each step of the process—from creating your free listing level to making the plan visible on your “Advertise with Us” page.

Step 1: Go to Manage Products

Navigate to: Settings → Products & Plans → Manage Products

Step 2: Create or Activate Your Free Listing Level

Make sure you have a listing level that will be used as your free option.
You can name it something like “Free Listing”, or any name you prefer.
In this example, we’ll name it “Bronze”, which will serve as our free listing level.

Step 3: Go to Manage Plans

Navigate to: Settings → Products & Plans → Manage Plans

Step 4: Create a New Plan

On this page, click “Create Plan.”

Step 5: Configure Your Free Plan Details

Enter a name for your new plan.
Leave the price set to 0.
Keep the Billing Cycle field set to “Select a cycle.”

Important: Free subscriptions on eDirectory do not expire and therefore cannot have a billing cycle.

Billing cycles are only used for paid plans that require recurring charges. Because of this, free plans must be created without any billing cycle configured—this is expected and correct behavior.

Step 6: Add Your Free Listing Level to the Plan

In the Included Products section, find the listing level you created in Step 2 and click the “+” icon to add it to the plan.

Step 7: Configure Listing Quantities and Templates

After adding the listing level:

Set the number of listings users can add under this plan.
If users should be able to create unlimited free listings, check the “Unlimited” option.
(Optional) Assign a Listing Template to this plan.

Note: If your site has only one listing template, the system will automatically use it, so assigning one manually is not necessary.

Step 8: Save Your Plan

Click Save to confirm your new free plan.

Step 9: Make Your Free Plan Visible on the Website

To display this plan publicly:

Go to Design → Page Editor → Advertise with Us

Locate the Pricing & Plans Cards widget and click Edit

Click Add Plan

Select your new Free Plan, then click Add

Ensure the plan is now listed in the widget
Click Save Changes inside the widget

Finally, click Save Changes again at the top of the page

Conclusion

Creating a free plan in eDirectory is a great strategy to attract new users and encourage engagement on your site. By setting up a free listing level, adding it to a 0-cost plan, and making it visible on your “Advertise with Us” page, you provide users with an easy way to join your directory and start adding content immediately.

This setup requires no billing cycle, making it simple, flexible, and ideal for onboarding new members.

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