Very Simple Google Maps

77 Quality Score

Active Installs

16/30

With about 3,000 active installs, it sits well below the top Google-related plugins, but it has found a steady niche audience that is larger than its modest profile suggests.

Update Freshness

25/25

It was last updated on 5 May 2025 and is tested against WordPress 6.8.5, which signals the author is still paying attention, though update frequency over time has not been heavy.

User Rating

14/15

A 90 out of 100 from 17 ratings is excellent and reflects a small but very satisfied user base that found the plugin did exactly what it advertised.

Support Health

8/15

Zero support threads and zero resolutions is technically a clean record, but with only 3,000 installs it also means the author has not been tested under real support pressure, which keeps this score middling.

WP Compatibility

15/15

Compatibility scores well at 75, with a low WordPress 3.3 requirement and a PHP 5.6 floor, so it will run on virtually any host, though the broad compatibility comes partly from how little the plugin actually does.

Scores higher than 53% of indexed plugins

About

Contains a simple way to add an embedded Google Map to any page or post.

Active Installs 3k+

Rating ★★★★½ 4.5/5

Last Updated 2026-08-13 6:27am GMT

Requires WordPress 3.3+

Tested Up To 7.1

Requires PHP 5.6+

Security History

2 known vulnerabilities, all patched

2 Medium

Most recent: October 23, 2023

View details ▸

What It Does

Very Simple Google Maps lets you drop an embedded Google Map onto any page or post using a straightforward shortcode. It focuses on doing one thing: displaying a map at a specified address without exposing the complexity of the Google Maps API. The plugin is geared at users who want a quick location pin on a contact or about page without configuring markers, clusters, or custom layers.

Who It's For

This is a good fit for small business owners, freelancers, and local shops that just need a single map showing where their storefront is. It also works for anyone running a simple contact page who does not want to learn the full Google Maps JavaScript API. If your site only needs one or two embedded maps and nothing more, this plugin does not overcomplicate that job.

Who Should Skip It

If you need multiple markers, custom map styles, store locators, directions, or interactive features like clustering, this plugin will frustrate you. Larger sites, real estate listings, multi-location directories, and any developer comfortable pasting an embed iframe themselves should look elsewhere or just use the raw Google Maps embed code.

The Bottom Line

Very Simple Google Maps is a no-frills solution that earns its 90/100 user rating by staying small and doing exactly one job well, and its overall quality score of 61.19 reflects solid user satisfaction but limited adoption and minimal support history. It is worth using if you literally just need a single embedded map and want the lightest possible plugin for the job. Anyone needing more than a basic pin on a map should pick WP Go Maps or Site Kit instead.

Related Plugins

Site Kit by Google 94/100

Pick this if you want the official Google suite, including Maps integration alongside Analytics, Search Console, and AdSense in one package.

Widgets for Google Reviews 94/100

Pick this if your main goal is showcasing Google Reviews and ratings rather than embedding a basic location map.

GA Google Analytics 87/100

Pick this if you specifically need Google Analytics tracking rather than map embedding, since it solves a different problem entirely.

Flamingo 87/100

Pick this if you need to collect and store form submissions, as it pairs well with contact forms but does not handle maps.

WP Go Maps 86/100

Pick this if you need a full-featured map plugin with multiple markers, custom layers, directions, and store locator functionality.