Service Providers

It's possible to use IP address detection and geolocation in an attempt to pinpoint the location of your users. The system will determine the IP address of each user, and run it through a 3rd-party geolocation service to perform the geolocation lookup.

Precision Not Guaranteed

Keep in mind, the accuracy of IP-based geolocation is highly variable... it's very normal for a user's IP geolocation to report the location of their local internet service provider, instead of the user's exact location. Don't be suprised if a user's reported location is several miles/kilometers from their actual location.

There are multiple companies which can provide geolocation services. You can set which service your website is using by visiting Settings > Google Maps in your control panel.

None

If you are not using geolocation, simply select "None". This will be the default value when the plugin is first installed.

ipstack

The quickest and easiest way to add visitor geolocation to your site. ipstack (opens new window) provides solid and consistent geolocation results. This is the recommended solution, because it is free and easy to use.

MaxMind

Another option is to use the MaxMind (opens new window) geolocation service. It's a bit more complicated to set up, with a recurring monthly cost associated. MaxMind is a slightly older, enterprise-level solution.

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Equal Quality Data

If you choose to enable visitor geolocation, both ipstack and MaxMind are equally solid options. Both services return reliable, high-quality data.

Our preference for ipstack is only because it is free and has a simpler user interface.