Which data aggregators distribute local business listings, and do I have to pay?

Which sources does Google say it uses for local business information?

Google's Business Profile source guidance says information can be compiled from four source classes: publicly available information such as a business website, licensed data from third parties, user contributions such as addresses and phone numbers, and Google's own interactions with a local place or business. The guidance does not name a complete list of data aggregators that supply Google.

The Google Business Profile hub explains the profile itself. This page focuses on the separate question of what listing-distribution vendors say they do.

Which providers currently claim to distribute local business information?

Data Axle, TransUnion Digital Business Profile, and Yext publish different distribution claims. This is a non-exhaustive comparison of current listing-distribution vendors and networks, not a complete roster of data aggregators. The claims below describe each vendor's own public materials. They do not establish that Google uses any named vendor's feed.

The word “aggregator” therefore needs care. Data Axle and TransUnion describe distribution networks. Yext explicitly describes direct publisher connections rather than an aggregator model. A provider's label does not tell you whether Google accepts or uses a particular feed.

Do I have to pay a listing distributor?

No. Google says an eligible business can add or claim its Business Profile at no charge. A vendor service is optional, and the table above separates a free limited-location offer, an advertised monthly offer, and vendor materials that route buyers to a demo or enterprise contact without a numeric price. Those are vendor terms, not fees required by Google.

That answer separates two costs. Google does not charge for the add-or-claim action. A vendor may charge for distributing or managing information across other destinations. Read the vendor's scope before treating a free listing submission as equivalent to a paid distribution service.

What must I do on Google before a listing can show?

Google says a business must add or claim its Business Profile and then verify it to show on Search, Maps, and other Google services. Some businesses must verify before making changes, and edits require the Google Account linked to the profile.

Use this sequence:

1. Add the business if no eligible Business Profile exists, or claim the matching unverified profile if one exists.
2. Complete Google's verification method for the profile.
3. Sign in with the linked Google Account when you edit the business information.
4. Check the business's name, address or service area, phone, website, and hours after a vendor says it has distributed an update.

The local citations guide covers how to compare those facts across the Google Business Profile, website, directories, and other public listings.

How should I check a vendor's distribution claim?

Ask for the exact destinations, fields, price scope, and ownership terms before you pay. A useful check is a record of what the vendor claims, what the business actually sees, and what still needs correction.

The citation and directory listing service guide explains what to request from a provider, including listing-level evidence, correction records, ownership, reporting, and cancellation. Use Google's Business Profile source guidance as the reference for Google's source categories, not a vendor's claim as proof of Google's internal data path.