No. Search does not exclude Free listings. A well-written Free listing outranks a neglected paid one.
Paid plans add features — events, deals, menus, bookings, analytics — and the featured badge for extra prominence. They are not a requirement to be found.
What actually decides whether you are found
- Your listing is Published, not Pending or Draft.
- Your category matches what you do.
- Your description names your products and services in words people type.
- Your address was chosen from the suggestions, so you have coordinates.
- You have tags for the specific things you offer.
All five are available on the Free plan, and all five matter more than the plan you are on.
Featuring, on paid plans, adds prominence — but a featured listing with no photo still loses the click to a Free one with a good photo.