When extracting business leads from Google Maps, you typically choose between three approaches:
- Browser Extensions — lightweight scrapers that run in your browser.
- Open-Source / DIY Scripts — code-based tools you host and maintain yourself.
- Dedicated Cloud Tools — managed platforms like BizLeadInfo built for speed, scale, and reliability.
Browser Extensions
Pros:
- Setup (install as Chrome/Edge extension).
- User interaction required – Point-and-click to extract data.
- Supports multiple export formats.
- Bulk keyword extraction and “update when map moves” options.
Cons:
- Require user time to interact with the extraction process.
- Dependent on your browser and machine resources.
- Risk of breaking with Google Maps updates.
- Limited automation.
- Missing data due to extractor zoom limitation.
- Subscription-based – you might pay for more than what you get.
Best for: users who want to interact with the scraper and are ok with spending time to guide the extraction process.
Open-Source Scripts & DIY Tools
Pros:
- Free and customizable.
- Can customize the capture data points (name, phone, coordinates, reviews, etc.).
- Flexible outputs.
Cons:
- Requires time to learn, set up and configure.
- Requires coding and maintenance.
- High risk of breakage when Google changes layouts.
- Time-intensive for non-developers.
- Legal risks (always check ToS).
Best for: developers, hobbyists, or one-off projects.
BizLeadInfo: A Polished Cloud Solution
Why BizLeadInfo stands out:
- Fully automated: Just select and area and target business category.
- Zero setup: 100% cloud-based, no installs and no interaction during the extraction process.
- Smart area segmentation: automatically splits regions into micro-zones and runs in parallel.
- Fast runs: thousands of leads in seconds.
- Clean data: names, categories, addresses, phones, websites, ratings, reviews, and publicly available emails.
- Flexible viewing & export: cards, tables, maps, and ready-to-use .xls files.
- Real-time progress: live tracking with email notifications.
- Scalable: Extract multiple lists in parallel and save time.
Best for: agencies, B2B marketers, and sales teams scaling campaigns.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Browser Extensions | Open-Source Scripts | BizLeadInfo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | Require install | Manual coding | Cloud, instant |
| Scalability | Law, 1 job at a time | Infrastructure depended | High (parallel) |
| Data Cleaning | Limited | Developer’s effort | Clean + structured |
| Export Options | CSV, Excel, JSON | CSV, JSON, custom | XLS, TSV, Card view, map view |
| Cost | Subscription | Development and time cost | Pay-as-you-go |
| Automation | Minimal | Custom scripts | 100% |
| Ideal For | Users who dont mins interaction and have lots of time | Developers, coders | Agencies, high-volume sales, B2B marketers, Market research |
Final Word
- Browser extensions are fine for light use or for users who have time to interact with the extension and dont mind missing some data.
- Open-source tools are flexible but require coding time and upkeep.
- BizLeadInfo delivers a turnkey experience: scalable, fast, and clean.