# Page 9 | Brilliant Directories Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra > Page 9 - Is Brilliant Directories the right Membership Management solution for you? Explore 803 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/133173/Brilliant-Directories/reviews --- Brilliant Directories 4.8 (803) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated March 13th, 2026 # Page 9 - Reviews of Brilliant Directories ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 201-225 of 803 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use TK Tali K. Used the software for: ### "Brilliant Directories Software Review" January 30, 2017 4.0 This software is good in terms of functionality as it manages subscriptions nicely and wraps the directory functionality into one. However, the user interface is pretty confusing. It takes a long time to figure out how all of the pieces are connected (i.e. where links are stored, how to change forms, how the forms connect with widgets etc.) The UI and the flow could be more user friendly and obvious. Perhaps there should be an overview about how all of the pieces of the website link up to each other. Once you figure out how to use the tools, it requires jumping between many different components to implement a simple change, so it is a bit clunky. Additionally, you really need significant coding experience to customize. I.e. Part of the reason we purchased this software was because it had many of the features we need, and in particular I was told pre-purchase that there was a way to create different types of users (i.e. a general user, A listing user, a non-listing user) and that I could also customize what they each see in their profile. In reality however, in order to customize what each sees in their profile, you need to custom code, which I wasn't aware of....Overall the software includes great functionality for running a site and managing subscriptions but could be more user friendly. Review Source Response from Brilliant Directories March 10, 2017 Hey Tali, thanks for the feedback! There definitely are a lot of options included in the Brilliant Directories platform. Our Quick Start Video series (available right in your admin dashboard) lays out a good starting point for basic setup of a website. We also have our Support Center with hundreds of searchable support documents as well as our community forum which our support team monitors. Regarding customizations, there are many built-in options for you to configure when it comes setting up your membership levels and what your different members have access to. Some more intense customizations do require some coding, but many changes can be made via the built-in point-and-click options. Your feedback is incredibly helpful to us and we will absolutely use it to improve our platform in the future. Thank you! JR Jason R. Owner / CEO Used the software for: ### "Brilliant Directories is the Gem that entrepreneurs, publishers, and startups have been looking for" June 8, 2016 5.0 Being a publisher and site designer for the last 7 years, I have used many builders, and platforms to produce new publishing concept ideas. Each one of these also had their drawbacks; lack of quality, huge learning curves, manually coding issues, etc. I knew the features I was looking for , but was always unable to find them all together for that perfect setup I needed. After years of building far from perfect material, I finally ran into the website for Brilliant Directories. After reading what they offered, and seeing the quality of sites their system can produce, I was very interested, and knew I had to take the chance. I signed up immediately, and right away I got the tools I needed to open my account. I was also introduced to their customer service representatives, which are really great people, and very helpful. Once I began working and developing in the brilliant directories software, I was literally able to design and launch that perfect site that I've been trying to build for last 7 years in about 2 days. Their software is so efficient, and easy to understand, but also has much depth with its options. Mostly, it provides the tools needed for a quality page rank, which is crucial for growing new visitors. The next day, I immediately bought a full site license, with no second thought. The license is an investment in my business, and being able to produce such quality sites myself is absolutely invaluable. It is a very exciting thing for any business owner to realize they now have the tools to build out all their unfinished greatest ideas, along with new ones to come. A very rewarding feeling for sure. I have not encountered any cons with brilliant directories, and I can say that I'm very fortunate to work with such smart talented people, with whom I have developed good relations. Brilliant Directories is the best website development program I have encountered, Their customer service and help departments are professional. There is nothing in my way now to achieving the success I have been working towards. Review Source PF Philip F. President and Founding Partner Law Practice Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Review by a new user" November 29, 2020 5.0 Excellent. I sent an email to support on a Saturday and \[SENSITIVE CONTENT HIDDEN\] even called me back a couple of hours later and spent a lot of time on the phone with me. Pros I only just started using Brilliant Directories but it looks nice on the public side and looks easy to use on the admin side. I like that it includes hosting. I have directories using WordPress which is a lot less expensive but I thought I would try Brilliant Directories for a couple of directories. Although I only just got one directory set up, I like it and just bought three more because of the discount offered for Black Friday. I wasn't very happy about the cost of the addon plugins and thought I would try using it without the addons but because of the Black Friday discount, I bought another 3 sites and 5 VIP addons. I started moving a criminal lawyer directory at 1888drugcrimes.com using PHPYellow (no longer in business) to 1800drugcrimes.com using Brilliant Directories. So far it looks good. Since PHPYellow is out of business and I have seen Brilliant Directories for years I thought I could trust Brilliant Directories to stick around. Now, I will start moving some WordPress directories to Brilliant Directories. Cons Cost. But the directories look good and the extra cost probably keeps Brilliant Directories in business when companies with less expensive scripts like PHPYellow are no longer in business. Reason for choosing Brilliant Directories It looks better. Review Source ML Mei L. Marketing Internet Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Build a Directory without Coding" March 15, 2023 4.0 The overall experience using Brilliant Directories is good despite some limitations Pros Brilliant Directories makes it effortless to launch a directory business easily. Its vast array of templates can cater to your specific business requirements. Customizing site pages to fit our needs has never been easier, thanks to Brilliant Directories. Their exceptional support team is always available, and they also offer webinars and tutorials to help you manage your sites. The user-friendly interface features drag and drop functionality for most website settings. Cons The designs and UI aspects seem outdated, and there are limitations in terms of customization. Additionally, upgrading to some desired features can be expensive. Alternatives considered [Directorist](https://www.capterra.com/p/253315/Directorist/) Reason for choosing Brilliant Directories No coding is needed. Easy deployment. Switched from [eDirectory](https://www.capterra.com/p/149786/eDirectory/) Cost. It is lower in prices Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Founder Internet Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Nice platform with below average support" June 15, 2018 3.0 Pros Excellent features, easy to use and configure with good investments to grow the platform. The platform is quite flexible with external resources easily available Cons Customer support is below average with no customer orientation. One of the incidences where they did not accept a bug that led to a loss. Review Source JJ Justin J. Director Entertainment Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Impressed so far " March 6, 2021 4.0 \[SENSITIVE CONTENT HIDDEN\] has been a great help in sales - really knows his stuff and is a joy to deal with. Software so far - has been fine. I will need time to get used to it - but the start has been possitive. Will update in due course. I have already purcahsed 3 lifetime sites and VIP add ons - 2 of which are no more than a work in progress. I would not have acquired these if I did not think the software would support my idea.. Pros So far it has allowed us to explore alternative ideas to our traditional core method of operation. It will be interesting over the coming months to see how this allows us to expand. Cons Like with any software that is capable of doing a lot of things, it can be a bit of a minefield for non techies (me) to get their head around all the features. In this case the explantions of what something does is good, there are great support videso and help pages - its very user friendly. The drawback I have found, is that there are so many options - they are not always found in the most intuative locations. So I do spend time getting confuesd where to look for things, & then getting in a muddle. Resolving that completely would make the overal user experience totally fantastic. Its good anyway - but this would just take it up another level. Review Source SH Sam H. Developer/QA Analyst Health, Wellness and Fitness Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Super Clean Interface and Design" December 30, 2016 4.0 We have developed a few projects for clients in the directory business, with a lot of hard coding and various WP plugins, but can tedious to piecemeal things, and clients want easy, simple tools to use, and it has to look really nice aesthetically. BD has done a great job with their overall look and feel of the system. We still need to dig into it more and see how well it performs in Google, etc. but this is a great out of the box system coming from the eyes of developers. We are curious about the bandwidth issues we have read about, but we will put it to test. If anyone wants to try their hand at a small business with not a lot of cash outflow at first, this is a great way to test the idea. Keep up the nice work BD. Pros Clean interface right out of the box. Cons So far things look good. We would like BD to maybe include a little more documentation or video for those folks that might want to keep their domain hosted on their own hosting provider, keep their own webmail accounts, etc. yet still be able to utilize the BD email template system. A lot of businesses might want to keep their own webmail system going on their current hosting provider. Review Source Response from Brilliant Directories December 30, 2016 Hey Sam. Amazing feedback - thanks so much! Regarding your concerns about domains and email management, being a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution, we do need to host your website on our servers (which is 100% free). However, if you want to maintain a hosting account with the company that you bought your domain from (e.g., GoDaddy, Network Solutions, etc), you can certainly do so to continue to use their services to manage your webmail accounts. Hope that helps and thanks again! MB Moetaz B. Realtor Real Estate Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Dennis is a great guy" December 9, 2021 5.0 good Pros I love it it's easy to use and powerful, don't know what more to say Cons need to see more templates and add more features Alternatives considered [eDirectory](https://www.capterra.com/p/149786/eDirectory/) Reason for choosing Brilliant Directories fast and easy to use Review Source RJ R J. Entrepreneur Used the software for: ### "Brilliant Directories is brilliant!" April 19, 2016 5.0 I've been helping a budding entrepreneur consider launching an online business. She wanted to launch an online local directory of her hometown with the purpose to improve both online to offline opportunities for local businesses and the community. The only problem was she has no technical background. I recommended Brilliant Directories to her because offers a simple turn-key website solution with unlimited possibilities without the need for any technical experience. They give you the confidence to focus on managing operations by saving tremendous time to launch any website directory concept. Discover other website themes they offer such as; classifieds, job board, e-commerce site, blogging, etc. We experimented with the 14 day free trial and it was clear that Brilliant Directories out of the box was better then anything else (sorry wordpress I still love u for blogging). Along with the amazing directory component it offers an internal email system and a lead generation/management component for further monetization options. During the 14 days we had time to determine that Brilliant Directories was the best option to run an online directory instead of using a premium wordpress directory theme or plugins, etc. Along the way we experienced amazing support and customer service via their online solution center, forum or directly via email. We also enjoyed the explainer videos on the Brilliant Directories YouTube channel by Patrick and other trainers. A few times I required some advanced technical support and Brilliant Directories team came through with immediate response offering suggestions and options. We look forward to rolling out our new Brilliant Directories website and other future concept websites. Thanks to the entire Brilliant Directories staff including special thanks to Kelvin & Dennis for timely support and professionalism. We highly recommend Brilliant Directories to anyone interested in operating an online website. Cheers. Review Source AW Anthony W. Owner Internet Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Great Black Friday Support" November 27, 2021 5.0 Pros Black Friday Specials Ease of Use Good support for customization Great Customer Support Great Stability Regular Updates Cons Ability to access files followings change in file management, but not a major issue. Review Source SR Stephen R. Preseident Defense & Space Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Very Pleased" October 17, 2022 5.0 Outstanding! Pros After a lot of research, I settled on Brilliant Directories. They have been outstanding regarding customer support and the granularity of the website controls/options is more than I had hoped for which is very beneficial to how I had intended to implement my website. I could not recommend Brilliant Directories more - Fantastic! They have made me a fan. Cons There is a high learning curve, but BD has many videos and support articles, not to mention outstanding customer support, so that has mitigated my lack of knowledge. Reason for choosing Brilliant Directories At a basic level, they didn't provide the means for me to offer potential members a tiered membership plan. Review Source NG Nasser G. Web Developer Used the software for: ### "So far, not bad" December 28, 2015 3.0 On the positive side, Brilliant Directories is very easy, in fact effortless, to initially get up and running. That's good. On the negative side, I'm finding it difficult to understand how to customize the system according to my needs. I am a web developer with years of experience with php, javacscript, SQL Server, etc. I just a simple set of documentation which tells me how I can access the source code, and what the API is (if there is one). The Customer Service response time is very fast, and so far they have been very good at helping with DNS changes. However, with regards to customization, so far I have only received responses telling me it can't be done, or I have to ask for a quote in the marketplace, or I have to spend $100 of my allowance to set up a call with an expert. I am a web developer! I want to do this stuff myself. Please help me out here. (I've already paid a reasonable amount of money. If I need something that I can't do myself then, rest assured, I'll pay you more). Thank you. Review Source Response from Brilliant Directories August 7, 2017 Hi Nasser! Jason Haloossim here, founder at Brilliant Directories. As a developer you have tons of access to your source code to make higher level edits, queries and more. Join me in our next Webinar Wednesday where you can get free live support on your website and ask questions about where to access things in the your admin area. REGISTER FREE (all are welcome): https://www.brilliantdirectories.com/workshop We do these about every 2 weeks and it's a great way to learn more about how BD works. I hope to see you in the next webinar and will look out for any questions from you. All the best, Jason Haloossim Brilliant Directories FB Felicity B. Owner Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Exceeds every expectation " April 7, 2022 5.0 Pros The flexibility in building, the ease of use, the entire set up process - it’s all so impressive. The VIP Addons absolutely make Brilliant Directories unbeatable. The true standout however is the support, I’ve run my agency for 13 years and I use a lot of SAAS subscriptions and I have never encountered such a brilliant support system and lovely, helpful, proactive support team. I’m so impressed! Cons A direct link in with Zapier so it’s easier to link to other systems without web hooks etc would be wonderful. A slightly more intuitive design builder would be great too. Squarespace is a brilliant reference in terms of a great ‘site builder’ offering. It would be wonderful to have a touch more flexibility in the build without CSS or coding :) Reason for choosing Brilliant Directories Quality and flexibility Review Source aH andrew H. internet marketeer Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "The platform is good, but if you need help support is pretty rubbish." July 13, 2017 4.0 Pros Easy to use, if you are a complete beginner with no experience you will have problems. Can be quite easy to customize if you know what you are doing. Cons Support is bad. I have only ever had the same 2 people reply to my support tickets. If you are based outside the USA like me, then you will have to wait for a reply, sometimes 2+ days for a simple question. The forum is a waste of time, no one ever on there. You might be lucky and get a reply back within 2 weeks. The hosting is another issue, they host the site on their servers so if you have any problems with the site being down, again you are at the mercy of their support.... if you can call it that. This is a main concern for me, running a business with their software you need BD to offer 24/7 support. They keep saying they are going to make changes, still waiting for that.... I don't think I would buy from them again, unless they buck their ideas up. Review Source RT Racheal T. Business owner Health, Wellness and Fitness Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Exactly what I need" January 10, 2017 5.0 I have been looking for a solution to help me build a fitness class directory and I can't tell you how happy I am that I came across Brilliant Directories. The software has everything that I need and more and has inspired me to add features that I didn't even know I wanted. The customer service is excellent, time responsive, helpful and friendly. I am even surprising myself with my ability to set up the software relatively easily. An excellent product. Pros There are just so many features. It literally does everything that I need with just the one piece of software. Cons It would be really nice to have a visual editor for non-techies like myself that can't handle code but want to make more customisation than the predetermined options allow. That being said, the site is fully customizable and you can have customizations done through Brilliant Directories. Review Source Response from Brilliant Directories February 2, 2017 Hi Racheal. The software definitely is packed with features! We do include a WYSIWYG editor for web page content editing, article writing, etc., along with hundreds of point-and-click design settings. As for the techies or developers, we do include the ability to edit the code for some more in-depth customizations. Thanks for the feedback - it helps us improve the software and make it easier to use for everyone! EV Ester V. founder Retail Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Very impressed so far!" September 28, 2018 5.0 So far I'm very happy with BD. I'm relatively new to the platform, but have had my business and website under various other platforms for 10 years! BD is BY FAR more affordable, more mobile-friendly AND more functional than any other platform I've used in the past. I also like that BD seems genuinely interested in helping their clients grow, and provide marketing webinars and a marketing group on Facebook, so BD staff and website owners can help each other. The only negative is that BD does not offer phone or chat support. The email tech team is prompt, but sometimes it can take several hours (or even a day or two), for something that would have taken 5 minutes over phone or chat. Pros The platform offers a ton of features and functionality, and though there is definitely a learning curve, a non-techie can set it up and get it running in just a few hours. It's easy to customize colors, fonts, branding, text labels, etc., and make the site look nice quickly. I also like that the platform is very mobile friendly! Cons My biggest issue is that it can get expensive to customize beyond the regular features, unless you are a developer and know what you're doing. But having said that, most other platforms don't even offer the option to customize as much. So it's not necessarily a negative. Just frustrating knowing that something IS possible but costly, rather than knowing that something is not possible. Review Source JN Jennifer N. CEO Hospital & Health Care Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "My Experience" November 26, 2020 4.0 Excellent. \[SENSITIVE CONTENT HIDDEN\] is also super responsive - I email him and he gets back to me instantly. That's great customer service and means a lot. Pros Add-ons like the coupon are great. Lots of features, too. Cons The admin/dashboard could be streamlined. I find I have to go to different areas for menu items, for example, rather than having things in the same spot. It would be great to get an "emergency" ticket in case something goes terribly wrong, like your site is down etc. Everyone should be able to export their members - I don't think that should be an add-on. Reason for choosing Brilliant Directories We decided that since we were a directory, it would be better to go with a pre-made directory design rather than reinventing the wheel. Review Source aH alesa H. Marketing Director Civil Engineering Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Excellent for Associations!" July 30, 2021 5.0 My overall experience with Brilliant Directories has been excellent. The team is very responsive, and the community is very helpful and supportive. Pros I love the tutorials! I didn't feel link the learning curve was to step. I didn't get overwhelmed by the tech. Cons I would have liked a more drag and drop, as I am a WordPress user, however working with the widgets is much like Gutenberg editor. Reason for choosing Brilliant Directories I have tried to build my own directory website with several no code tools, but after months of trying I just couldn't put things together well enough to have someone else manage the backend. I am confident that I can pass the task of backend management off to another team member without a problem. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Owner/Director Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Wish I'd Started Sooner" November 29, 2021 5.0 Responsive and excellent customer service, even from their \[SENSITIVE CONTENT\] on a Sunday. Pros With the site and VIP add-ons - I don't need anything else. Cons I'd like to see some new templates, but otherwise very happy with what I have. Reason for choosing Brilliant Directories Pricing and ease of use. Review Source JK Jotham K. Founder and CEO Used the software for: ### "Robust Credibility Driven - Directory Business Software" August 31, 2015 4.0 When I conducted a "Service Needs Assessment" for my Niche Market Project, it became obvious that the Niche has a severe shortage of: 1. modern Cutting Edge Technological tools to drive (CRM) Customer Relationship Management strategies, 2. it also lack (CMS) this is Content Management Systems to inform customers and support customers 3. above all it lacked a well organized networking environment which is a critical success factor for business growth. Item 3 above is one of those factors any business cannot ignore, we all need to build a well organized network environment through which we can market, promote our products or services. To achieve this we also need credibility in the way we organize our network within and outside our Niche market to also attract new customers. That is how the Directory idea cropped into my decision min-map. I reviewed several directory software on the market including the WP directory plugin, but they all fell short of a well organized system of developing and setting up one's directory. Then this happened ........ I accidentally hit on the Brilliant Directories. I liked the step by step support they give when I began setting up my directory, and the fact that almost 90% of the directory was already set up before I even began customizing it. As if that was not enough I had a hand held process as I began customizing the directory all the way. That is why I believe Brilliant Directories were the best choice, you are never left alone in the cold to take care of the tricky config, plugins set up, theme customization, coding and all that mambo-jumbo tech stuff. That is why Brilliant Directories is not only the best choice I made but the best choice anyone can make, if Directory business success is what they need. Review Source TS Tony S. Used the software for: ### "Very good, could be better" December 23, 2014 4.0 This is a very tough review as BD has a lot of tremendous positives going for it while at the same time there are some frustrating negatives. It's about a 90% thing. 1) Software itself - tremendous capability and functionality. Somewhat confusing and doesn't always work as laid out. A lot of the knowledge base is out dated and is for prior versions. If BD can fully deliver on all components, I would say it's amazing software. 2) Support & Coaching - Luana Villalobos who runs the Forum is outstanding and Patrick Brunelle does a great job along with Ernesto. The down side is they are very busy and there's no way to get instant access - chat, phone, etc. Sometimes as you're communicating through email or the forum it's frustrating if you have a follow up question and have to wait hours or a day for a second response. The coaching sessions are useful. And the support when you get it is great - they do fix everything. 3) Pricing - be careful - BD has a lot of deals and you have to really do your homework to get the best deal. 4) Sales- Dennis Tinerino does a great job of walking you through the software. Overall, really good software with a few bugs. Biggest need is some type of quicker support system. I'd recommend them as long as you're not in a rush. Review Source Response from Brilliant Directories December 23, 2014 Tony, We do appreciate your honest feedback very much. Thank you. This helps us improve our overall service. Based on your review, we will take steps to better improve our support forums and knowledge base for easier navigation. We're glad to hear that everything else is working out great for you, and we look forward to a great long-standing relationship with you. Thank you again for your honest review. This constructive feedback helps everyone. To your success, Brilliant Directories Zachary I. President Accounting Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Need it " July 29, 2022 5.0 Game changer Pros Needed this’ very easy to Use and fast to go live Cons Some of the ui is clunky But that’s about it Review Source kF karen F. managing director Human Resources Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "great product with loads of bells and whistles" December 31, 2020 5.0 excellent. staff excellent at resolving issues and answering queries Pros really happy with our decision to move from another product to brilliant directories. whilst it takes a while to get to grips with the customisation options - this product can be tailored to suit almost any membership site deployment and there is great support available to get you up and running quickly. Cons slightly clunky admin interface - could be more intuitive about where to find things Alternatives considered [eDirectory](https://www.capterra.com/p/149786/eDirectory/)[WordPress](https://www.capterra.com/p/131687/WordPress/)[WildApricot](https://www.capterra.com/p/76116/WildApricot/) Reason for choosing Brilliant Directories pricing structure and free trial suited my needs Switched from [WildApricot](https://www.capterra.com/p/76116/WildApricot/) wanted a more elegant public facing website and wild apricot did not deliver this. Review Source KP Karen P. Owner Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "surprised at how easy the setup took" May 18, 2018 5.0 Pros Great designs. LOTS of features built in - very surprised at this. Any time I email in, there seems to be a setting or option for just about anything. The videos helped me starting out. It took about an hour to go through them but glad I did. The main reason I chose this was because of the lead selling capabilities. I'm selling leads to my members and this platform does that best. Cons In my first few days I had to email support a lot with questions. But they were quick to respond. The price is a little high but after working with two other platforms... you get what you pay for. There is enough value to justify the price now that I know how it works. Review Source VS Volkan S. CMO Photography Used the software for: I used a free trial ### "Right Choice!" February 2, 2021 5.0 Pros I tried almost every membership and directory software in the industry. Overall, Brilliant Directories is the best solution for me. I used the free trial option for a week and loved it. It is so easy to use and it's an awesome product even without the VIP Add-Ons. Cons I'll let you know once I open it to the world. I haven't tested it with the real members yet. Alternatives considered [MemberClicks](https://www.capterra.com/p/133851/MemberClicks/)[eDirectory](https://www.capterra.com/p/149786/eDirectory/)[Glue Up](https://www.capterra.com/p/134209/Glue-Up/)[Member Solutions](https://www.capterra.com/p/156382/Member-Solutions-Membership-Manager/) Reason for choosing Brilliant Directories When I compared the functions and the price, its the best of them. The other huge factor is \[SENSITIVE CONTENT HIDDEN\]. I had so many questions, concerns and demands. He kindly answered all my questions, solved my concerns and helped me within my budget. I'll start my project asap thanks to him. I hope I'll get the same support after the sale. Review Source Talk to a Capterra advisor for free and get results within 15 minutes.