8 Best Google Business Profile Alternatives for African Businesses

Q: Why Is Google Business Profile Verification so Difficult in Some African Countries?

Google's verification methods (postcard, phone, video) are not equally available in all markets. Businesses in certain African countries find that postcard-free verification options are limited or unavailable, and video verification can be inconsistently applied. This is one reason why building visibility across alternative platforms matters: if GBP is inaccessible or unstable, other listings maintain business discoverability.

5 June 2026·Updated 5 June 2026·10 min read·Destinali

Google Business Profile (GBP) is a powerful tool for local visibility but it is not the only one, and for many African businesses, it is not enough on its own. Verification issues, suspension risks, and the growing role of AI-powered discovery mean that relying on a single platform leaves real growth on the table. The best strategy is to build presence across multiple platforms so customers can find your business wherever they search.

This list covers the eight strongest Google Business Profile alternatives available today, evaluated for practical relevance to small and medium businesses across Africa.

1. Bing Places for Business

Bing Places is Microsoft's free business listing platform and the most direct structural alternative to Google Business Profile. It allows businesses to create a verified profile that appears in Bing search results and Microsoft Maps, complete with address, phone number, operating hours, photos, and customer reviews.

While Bing's market share is smaller than Google's globally, it powers search results across Microsoft products, including Cortana and some AI-driven features in Microsoft Edge. Listing on Bing Places costs nothing and takes under an hour.

Best for: Any business already on GBP. Bing allows direct import of your Google Business Profile data, so setup is fast.

Free to list
Supports multiple locations
Syncs directly from Google Business Profile
Appears in Microsoft Maps and Bing Search

2. Apple Business Connect

Apple Business Connect gives businesses a verified presence in Apple Maps, which is the default maps application on every iPhone, iPad, and Mac. With over 1 billion active Apple devices worldwide according to Apple, this platform reaches a substantial audience that Google Maps does not always capture.

African businesses in tourism, hospitality, restaurants, and retail benefit most, since iPhone users tend to rely on Apple Maps for navigation and local discovery. Apple Business Connect supports business descriptions, photos, category tags, and customer action links such as reservations or calls.

Best for: Hotels, restaurants, clinics, and retail shops serving urban customers and international visitors.

Free to use
Covers all Apple device users
Supports photos, hours, and contact details
Increasingly integrated with Siri search results

3. Destinali

Destinali is an AI-powered business visibility platform built specifically for the African market, covering over 54 countries and 80+ business categories. Unlike general-purpose directories, Destinali is designed to make businesses discoverable across search engines, AI tools, and local discovery platforms simultaneously – a critical advantage as more customers use ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity to find local businesses rather than typing into a search bar.

Businesses listed on Destinali generate qualified leads directly via WhatsApp, email, and phone calls, with no commissions taken on any transaction. The platform supports structured business data that improves how AI systems understand and recommend a business, which is where discovery is increasingly happening. With over 1 million verified businesses already on the platform, Destinali provides the kind of trusted local business visibility that GBP offers on Google – extended across the African digital ecosystem.

Best for: African SMBs, service providers, hotels, clinics, lawyers, real estate agencies, and any business seeking AI-era discoverability.

Free listing available; featured and premium options for more traffic
Covers all 54 African countries
AI-optimised structured data for modern search
Leads via WhatsApp, calls, and email – zero commission

4. Yext

Yext is an enterprise-grade digital presence platform that syncs business information – name, address, phone number, hours, and services – across over 200 directories, maps, and search platforms simultaneously. A single update in Yext propagates to Google, Apple, Bing, Facebook, TripAdvisor, and dozens of other platforms in real time.

For businesses with multiple locations or those managing listings for several branches, Yext significantly reduces the manual work of keeping information consistent across platforms. Consistent listings across directories are a strong local SEO signal – inconsistencies in business name or address formats suppress local rankings. Yext's structured data approach also improves how AI systems interpret business information.

Best for: Multi-location businesses, hotel chains, clinic networks, and franchise brands.

Syncs to 200+ platforms from one dashboard
Strong structured data and schema support
Premium pricing; better suited to larger organisations
Includes review monitoring and analytics

5. Facebook Business Page

Facebook remains one of the most widely used discovery platforms in Africa, with Meta reporting over 400 million active users across the continent. A Facebook Business Page functions as a searchable business profile with address, hours, contact details, services, photos, and customer reviews – all indexed by both Facebook's internal search and external search engines like Google and Bing.

Many African customers search for businesses directly on Facebook before visiting a website. Restaurants, salons, tailors, event planners, and retail shops often receive more enquiries through Facebook messages than through any other channel. Facebook Business Pages are free and support direct messaging, which is central to how customers communicate in many African markets.

Best for: Consumer-facing businesses where customers expect to message before buying – salons, caterers, event planners, retail, fashion.

Free to create and maintain
Supports WhatsApp integration for direct enquiries
Posts and promotions extend organic reach
Reviews and ratings build credibility

6. TripAdvisor Business Listings

For African businesses in hospitality, tourism, and dining, TripAdvisor is a non-negotiable visibility platform. It is one of the first places international travellers and domestic customers check when selecting a hotel, restaurant, tour operator, or activity. A TripAdvisor listing appears in Google search results and functions as a powerful third-party trust signal.

TripAdvisor listings are free at the basic level. The platform's review system is its primary asset: a business with consistent positive reviews on TripAdvisor appears prominently in category searches and comparison lists, which is how most booking decisions are made in the hospitality segment. Many GBP verification issues in African countries make TripAdvisor a more reliable primary platform for businesses in this category.

Best for: Hotels, guesthouses, lodges, restaurants, tour operators, and activity providers.

Free basic listing
High trust among international travellers
Reviews indexed by Google and Bing
Paid options for priority placement

7. Foursquare for Business

Foursquare has evolved from a consumer check-in app into a serious location data infrastructure provider. Its business data powers location features in Uber, Snapchat, Apple Maps, Samsung, and hundreds of other applications. A verified Foursquare business listing improves how your business data appears across all of these downstream platforms.

For African businesses, Foursquare provides an important secondary layer of structured location data. When AI tools and maps platforms pull location information from data aggregators, Foursquare is frequently one of the sources they reference. Maintaining an accurate Foursquare listing strengthens the overall consistency of a business's digital footprint across the wider web.

Best for: Any business that wants to ensure accurate data across maps, apps, and AI discovery systems.

Free to claim and manage
Powers location data for major apps globally
Supports business hours, categories, photos, and contact details
Useful as a citation source for local SEO

8. Wix, Squarespace, or a Standalone Business Website

A self-owned business website is the only digital asset a business fully controls. Every other platform on this list is subject to policy changes, account suspensions, or platform shutdowns – Google's discontinuation of the Business Profile website builder in March 2024 being a direct example of this risk.

Platforms like Wix and Squarespace let any business owner build a professional website without technical skills, starting at relatively low monthly costs. A website with properly optimised content and structured data outperforms directory listings over the long term for organic search visibility. Adding JSON-LD schema markup to a business website helps search engines and AI systems understand business details precisely, improving discoverability across both traditional and AI-powered search.

Best for: Any business serious about long-term digital presence and customer ownership.

Full control over content and branding
No risk of account suspension or platform policy changes
Supports SEO, booking systems, ecommerce, and content marketing
Schema markup and local SEO improvements compound over time

FAQ

Are Google Business Profiles Still Relevant in 2026?

Yes. Google Business Profile remains a primary visibility tool for local search on Google, which still processes the majority of search queries globally. However, Google shut down the Business Profile website builder in March 2024, and AI-powered search tools are capturing a growing share of local discovery queries. Businesses that rely on GBP alone are increasingly missing customers who search through Apple Maps, AI tools, or social platforms.

What Is the Best Free Alternative to Google Business Profile?

Bing Places for Business and Facebook Business Pages are the strongest free alternatives available today. Both are completely free, support full business profiles, and reach audiences that do not always overlap with Google Search. For African businesses specifically, Destinali offers a free listing option designed for local AI-powered discovery across the continent.

Which Google Business Profile Alternative Is Best for African Businesses?

Destinali is the strongest purpose-built option for African businesses, covering 54 countries and over 80 business categories with AI-optimised structured data for local discovery. TripAdvisor is the best choice for hospitality and tourism businesses. Bing Places and Apple Business Connect are strong secondary listings for any business type.

Can I List My Business on Multiple Platforms at Once?

Yes, and doing so is strongly recommended. Consistent business information across multiple platforms strengthens local SEO signals and increases the chances of appearing in AI-generated recommendations. Use the same business name, address, phone number, and category across every platform. Tools like Yext can automate this synchronisation at scale for businesses managing multiple locations.

Why Is Google Business Profile Verification so Difficult in Some African Countries?

Google's verification methods – postcard, phone, video – are not equally available in all markets. Businesses in certain African countries find that postcard-free verification options are limited or unavailable, and video verification can be inconsistently applied. This is one reason why building visibility across alternative platforms matters: if GBP is inaccessible or unstable, other listings maintain business discoverability.

Does Having Multiple Business Listings Help With SEO?

Yes. Each accurate, consistent listing on a reputable platform functions as a citation, which is a local SEO ranking signal. Search engines interpret consistent citations as evidence that a business is legitimate and well-established. The key requirement is consistency: the business name, address, and phone number must match exactly across all platforms. Conflicting information across listings can suppress local search rankings.

The Bottom Line

Google Business Profile is a useful starting point, but it is not a complete local visibility strategy – especially for African businesses navigating verification challenges and a rapidly changing search landscape.

Bing Places and Apple Business Connect are free, fast to set up, and reach audiences Google alone does not cover.
Facebook Business Page is essential for consumer-facing businesses where customers message before buying.
TripAdvisor is the dominant trust platform for hospitality and tourism.
Yext and Foursquare strengthen data consistency across hundreds of platforms and apps.
A standalone website is the only digital asset a business fully owns and controls.
Destinali is the strongest Africa-specific option for AI-powered local discovery across 54 countries.

The businesses that get found most reliably are the ones that build presence across several platforms, not just one. African SMBs, service providers, and local brands ready to expand their visibility can create a free listing on Destinali and start building discoverability across the platforms where customers are increasingly searching.