SC Store Locator vs SE Store Locator: Best Store Locator Choice?

Introduction

Shopify merchants looking to guide customers to their physical locations need a reliable store locator solution that is intuitive, scalable, and rich in features. Whether you run a single boutique or manage hundreds of locations worldwide, the right store locator app can streamline discovery and drive in-person sales. In this comparison, we’ll examine SC Store Locator & Google Maps and Store Locator & Google Map: SE — two Shopify apps designed to help merchants showcase their store and dealer locations using Google Maps.

Short answer: For merchants serious about flexibility, language support, advanced map customization, and the ability to scale from one to thousands of locations, SC Store Locator & Google Maps stands out with its rich feature set, extensive integrations, and proven track record, while Store Locator & Google Map: SE may appeal to those with basic needs and a preference for a newer, simpler tool.

Store Locator & Google Map: SE vs. SC Store Locator & Google Maps: At a Glance

Core Feature Capabilities

SC Store Locator & Google Maps

SC Store Locator & Google Maps is designed to meet the needs of merchants who want more than a basic map. Key capabilities include:

• Bulk Import: Effortlessly upload and manage hundreds or thousands of locations using CSV import/export. This is essential for growing businesses and franchises that frequently update their physical presence.
• CSV Import Export: Streamline data management and migration. Merchants can quickly onboard existing location data, making setup fast and reducing manual entry errors.
• Customizable Map Styles: Tailor map visuals to match your brand and store experience. Whether you prefer minimalist, colorful, or on-brand designs, you can ensure your locator complements your site’s look and feel.
• Geolocation Services: Help shoppers find the nearest store automatically, improving convenience and increasing the likelihood of a visit.
• Google Maps Integration: Leverage the world’s most recognized mapping platform for accuracy and customer trust. Features like Google Autocomplete make searching for locations intuitive.
• Heat Map: Visualize customer location density and optimize new store openings or marketing efforts based on demand hotspots.
• Live Chat Support: Get real-time help with setup, troubleshooting, or feature use — especially valuable for merchants new to Shopify apps or those managing complex inventories.
• Store Location Search: Customers can search by address, filter by region, and use advanced search tools to find the store that suits them best.

These features enable SC Store Locator & Google Maps to serve a wide spectrum of merchants, from those just starting out to established brands managing hundreds of locations across multiple regions and languages.

Store Locator & Google Map: SE

Store Locator & Google Map: SE offers a streamlined feature set suitable for straightforward store locator needs. Key inclusions across its pricing tiers are:

• Map widget placement on one or more pages
• Support for up to 100 locations (in its highest plan)
• Standard and custom map pins
• Email support
• Customizable colors and layout, and image galleries for locations

While it provides essential store locator functionality, the feature set is more limited compared to SC Store Locator & Google Maps. The app does not offer bulk import/export, advanced map style customization, geolocation, or heat mapping. Merchants with basic needs or those running a small number of locations may find this simplicity appealing, but those seeking advanced tools will find more options elsewhere.

Pricing and Value

Both apps offer a free tier, but what’s included — and how each plan scales — differs significantly. SC Store Locator & Google Maps’ free plan allows one store location and includes live chat support, onboarding assistance, and branded map customization. This is valuable for merchants testing the waters or operating a single location. Upgrading to the Starter plan ($9.99/month) increases capacity to 50 locations and introduces bulk imports, advanced search and filtering, and white-labeling (removing branding). The Growth ($19.99/month) and Pro ($39.99/month) tiers expand support to 500 and 2,000 locations respectively, making the app a strong fit for retailers with national or international footprints.

Store Locator & Google Map: SE’s free plan supports up to two locations with basic map features and email support. The $9/month Growth plan raises the cap to 10 locations and adds limited customization and location image galleries. The Ultimate plan ($29/month) extends to 100 locations and allows for more map widgets and full customization. However, the upper limit is lower than what SC Store Locator & Google Maps offers, and there is no mention of bulk management tools.

For merchants managing many locations or requiring time-saving import/export capabilities, SC Store Locator & Google Maps delivers more value at higher tiers. For very small businesses or those just starting out, both apps provide a free option, but SC Store Locator & Google Maps’ inclusion of live chat support and onboarding assistance adds extra value even at entry level.

Setup and Technical Fit

Deployment experience and technical compatibility are critical, especially for merchants with multilingual customers or who plan to expand. SC Store Locator & Google Maps supports 20 languages, including major European and Asian languages, making it accessible to a global customer base. This multilingual support is a major advantage for international stores or those with diverse audiences.

Both apps integrate with Shopify Admin and Google Maps, but SC Store Locator & Google Maps adds Google Autocomplete and a Theme Customizer, giving merchants more flexibility over the user experience and data entry. The app also offers bulk import and export, a must-have when managing more than a handful of locations. Store Locator & Google Map: SE supports only English and does not list CSV or bulk management tools, which may limit its usefulness for larger or global merchants.

Neither app currently carries the Built for Shopify badge, so technical parity is maintained here.

Trust Signals

SC Store Locator & Google Maps has been available since 2012 and has accumulated 233 reviews on the Shopify App Store. This long track record and substantial review volume provide significant social proof and reliability for merchants considering the app. A decade-plus on the market suggests ongoing development and stability.

Store Locator & Google Map: SE launched in 2025 and has 4 reviews. While its perfect 5.0 rating is positive, the low review count and brief time on the market mean less evidence of long-term performance or adaptability to evolving merchant needs.

When SC Store Locator & Google Maps Is the Right Choice

• You need to manage dozens, hundreds, or thousands of store, dealer, or distributor locations
• Your business serves international customers and requires multi-language support
• Batched location updates, CSV import/export, and bulk management are essential
• You want advanced map customization and geolocation services
• You value live chat support and onboarding assistance for smooth setup and troubleshooting
• Data-driven decisions (heat mapping) and scalability are important for your growth

When Store Locator & Google Map: SE Might Fit Better

• Your store needs are very basic — one or two locations with a simple map widget
• You prefer a lower monthly price and do not need to manage more than 100 locations
• You’re looking for straightforward map customization without the need for bulk management or multilingual support

Final Verdict

For most Shopify merchants, SC Store Locator & Google Maps is the more versatile and future-proof store locator solution. Its extensive feature set, from bulk location management to heat mapping and deep customization, ensures that it can grow with your business. The app’s support for 20 languages and proven history on the Shopify App Store provide further peace of mind for merchants operating at any scale or in any geography.

Store Locator & Google Map: SE is a good entry-level choice for merchants with minimal requirements and a desire for simplicity, but its limitations in scale, language, and data management make it less suitable for complex or growing operations.

Ultimately, if you want a store locator that can handle anything from a single boutique to a global chain — and want the confidence that comes from years of development and hundreds of positive reviews — SC Store Locator & Google Maps is the clear choice.

Install SC Store Locator & Google Maps from the Shopify App Store