The short answer
Use Google Maps for coverage, Yelp for review-driven service businesses, and both when you want the most complete list in a city.
How they differ
| Google Maps | Yelp | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Almost every business with a location | Strongest for restaurants, home and local services, health and beauty — especially in the US |
| Search | Niche + location, ranked by Maps | Search term + location, ranked by Yelp |
| Ratings | Google rating and reviews | Yelp rating and reviews (often fewer, more detailed) |
| Extras | Maps rank, photos, phone line type | Price range, years in business, service areas, claimed status |
| Owner names | Found on the business website | Found on the website, and sometimes on the Yelp page itself |
When Google Maps is the better choice
- You need volume — every dentist in a state, every gym in a country.
- You care about Maps rank — businesses ranked 4–15 are natural local-SEO prospects.
- You want mobile numbers checked for line type before a calling campaign.
See the Google Maps lead generation guide.
When Yelp is the better choice
- Your offer is about reputation — reviews, replies, ratings.
- You sell to home services where customers compare on Yelp.
- You want the business summary and first-line idea Yelp leads come with, to personalise quickly.
See Yelp lead generation.
Use both — then de-duplicate
Run the same niche and city on both, export both lists and remove businesses that appear twice (website domain and phone number are the most reliable keys). Many businesses show up on only one of the two — that's the point. Combining lead sources walks through it.
Cost
Both cost one credit per business found, so a combined list costs exactly what the two lists cost separately.