After 15+ years as a WordPress expert helping clients increase sales and growth through better website and review management, I‘ve seen first-hand the tremendous impact Google reviews can have.
This comprehensive 4,000+ word guide will unpack everything you need to know to choose the right Google reviews plugin for your WordPress site.
Contents
- Why Google Reviews Are Critical for Your Website
- 1. Smash Balloon Reviews Feed Pro
- 2. Widgets for Google Reviews
- 3. WP Business Reviews
- 4. WP Review Slider Pro
- 5. Reviews & Ratings – Google My Business
- 6. Business Reviews Bundle
- 7. WP Review Pro
- Which Is the Best Google Reviews Plugin for You?
- FAQs About Google Review Plugins
- Get More Google Reviews with the Right Plugin
Why Google Reviews Are Critical for Your Website
Google reviews aren‘t just a "nice to have". They can dramatically influence consumer purchase decisions and buying behavior:
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92% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchasing decision. [source]
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Customer review score and quantity have a higher correlation to conversions than price or discounts. [source]
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On average, businesses see a 4.6x increase in leads from customer reviews [source]
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Pages with reviews can deliver up to 183% more conversions compared to pages with no reviews [source]
For local businesses, Google reviews also play a crucial role in local SEO and Google Business Profile rankings. Positive Google reviews signals to Google that a business provides a good customer experience.
Simply put – if you run any kind of business, ecommerce store, or organization, you can‘t afford to ignore customer reviews and Google reviews in particular.
Now let‘s explore the top plugins to easily showcase Google reviews on your WordPress website.
1. Smash Balloon Reviews Feed Pro
Smash Balloon Reviews Feed Pro is the premier Google review solution for WordPress. With over 5,000 site owners and agencies using it, it‘s become the go-to plugin for showcasing Google reviews.
Key Features
- Automatically pull and display latest Google reviews
- Beautiful designs that match your theme styling
- Display anywhere on your site with shortcode
- Mix Google with Facebook, Yelp, TripAdvisor, etc
- Powerful review moderation and filtering
- Simple setup and configuration
One of the standout features is the ability to complement Google reviews with Facebook, Yelp, TripAdvisor and more. This lets you showcase a broader spectrum of customer feedback.
The easy-to-use Visual Editor makes it simple to customize the look and feel of your reviews. For example, you can:
- Choose specific elements like names, date, rating, etc
- Set number of reviews
- Pick from grid, carousel or list layouts
- Add buttons and custom CSS
With in-depth review filtering, you can hide or moderate unwanted reviews easily:
- Filter by keyword
- Exclude low ratings
- Block spam
- Anonymize reviewers
New reviews are pulled automatically keeping your site updated. If you want to display reviews on a local site, use alongside Smash Balloon‘s Local Business schema markup to enhance SEO.
Over 5,000 businesses use this plugin for its versatility and customization options. It comes highly recommended by WordPress experts.
Why We Recommend It
Smash Balloon Reviews Feed Pro is the leading plugin choice for its beautiful display, seamless integration, and powerful feature set. For most users, this will be the only reviews plugin you need.
Pricing
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Starter | $39 |
| Professional | $99 |
| Agency | $199 |
Tip: Try the free version first to confirm it works for your specific needs. Then upgrade to pro for unlimited Google reviews and priority email support.
2. Widgets for Google Reviews
Widgets for Google Reviews is a user-friendly free plugin focused solely on Google reviews display. With over 70,000 active installs, it‘s a lightweight yet robust Google reviews solution.
Key Features
- Totally free
- 40+ widget display designs
- Carousel, grid, list and slider options
- Shortcode to display anywhere
- Automatic review updates
- Basic filter for hiding unwanted reviews
The main benefit of this plugin is simplicity. If all you need is an easy way to showcase Google reviews, this delivers exactly that.
You can pick from a diverse set of widget templates to match your theme‘s look and feel. For example, here are some of the stylish options:
While features are more limited compared to premium plugins, you still get essentials like:
- Sorting reviews by date or randomly
- Excluding reviews by keyword
- Showing a specific number of reviews
- Adding CSS classes for extra styling
It‘s straightforward to set up with a Google API key and Place ID. And reviews are updated automatically as new ones come in.
Why We Recommend It
Widgets for Google Reviews is the ideal free choice for users who want a fuss-free way to display Google reviews without complex customization.
Pricing
100% free. Comes with basic support through the forums.
3. WP Business Reviews
WP Business Reviews is great for showcasing a mix of Google reviews alongside Facebook, Yelp, and Zomato. It‘s especially valuable for restaurants, cafes, and other food-based businesses.
Key Features
- Display Google + Facebook + Yelp + Zomato
- Show different platforms separately or combined
- Match site‘s light/dark color scheme
- Carousel, grid, list and gallery views
- Advanced filters to moderate reviews
- Manually add missing reviews
Most plugins only allow displaying one source of reviews. WP Business Reviews stands out for its support of multiple integrated platforms.
You can choose to show them together in a single feed or separated on different pages. For cafes and restaurants, blending Google with direct competitors like Yelp and Zomato is highly compelling social proof.
The plugin gives you fine-grained control over moderating reviews. For example:
- Hide reviews below a star rating
- Exclude by keyword
- Manually add missing reviews
This ensures your best reviews are prominently displayed.
Why We Recommend It
WP Business Reviews is uniquely positioned to bring together reviews from diverse sources. The Zomato integration makes it perfect for food-based local businesses.
Pricing
Starting at $99 per year for the Pro package. It‘s an investment well worth it for the SEO and conversion boost positive reviews provide.
4. WP Review Slider Pro
WP Review Slider Pro supports Google alongside 100+ platforms – the most expansive coverage of any WP review plugin.
Key Features
- 100+ integrated review sites
- 12 designer review templates
- Match your theme style
- WooCommerce ready
- Actively updated
- Free version available
The extensive catalog of supported sites is what makes WP Review Slider special. Beyond just Google, Facebook and Yelp, it can pull in reviews from niche platforms like:
- Travel: TripAdvisor, Booking.com, AirBnB
- Software: Capterra, Software Advice, G2
- Apps: Google Play, App Store
- Products: Amazon, BestBuy
And many more specialized sites relevant to your industry.
You can pick from 12 sleek templates and customize colors to match your theme. The carousel slider view is smooth and engaging.
Displaying reviews from niche sites that your potential customers recognize and trust can boost credibility. For example, a SaaS startup showing ratings from trusted software review sites like Capterra and G2.
Why We Recommend It
The breadth of integrations with niche review platforms tailored to your business makes WP Review Slider Pro unique.
Pricing
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Single Site | $39 |
| Unlimited Sites | $129 |
Free version available to test capabilities before upgrading.
5. Reviews & Ratings – Google My Business
Reviews & Ratings – Google My Business offers a streamlined way to display your Google Business Profile reviews. It‘s built specifically for local businesses who heavily rely on Google presence and rankings.
Key Features
- Made for Google My Business
- One click setup
- Match your brand styles
- Shortcode and widget to display
- Clean, modern templates
- Basic filter for reviews
After connecting your Google account, the plugin automatically pulls in your profile‘s reviews. You can then customize the look and feel to match your brand palette.
Some examples of the stylish templates:
The simplicity of this plugin makes it easy for any local business owner to showcase their Google reviews in minutes.
While features are more limited compared to premium plugins, you still get all the essentials:
- Sorting and limiting reviews
- Hiding low rating reviews
- Excluding keywords
Why We Recommend It
The no-fuss setup and singular focus on Google My Business reviews make this a great choice for local businesses relying on Google.
Pricing
The plugin is 100% free. Comes with community-based support.
6. Business Reviews Bundle
Business Reviews Bundle is unique for allowing Google reviews alongside Facebook and Yelp in a unified feed. For service businesses juggling multiple review profiles, it‘s an invaluable tool.
Key Features
- Show Google, Facebook and Yelp together
- Combines overall rating score
- 5 designer templates to pick from
- Collapse long reviews with "Read more" links
- Exclude reviews by keyword and rating
- Free and paid versions
Most plugins silo reviews from different platforms. Business Reviews Bundle aggregates them into a single social proof feed.
For example, here are some of the ways you can display the unified reviews:
Moderation and filtering tools give you control over what reviews get shown.
The available templates make it easy to match your brand style. Though some customization flexibility is lacking compared to premium plugins.
Why We Recommend It
The unified multi-source review feed is a distinctive value add for service businesses heavily reliant on Google and Facebook.
Pricing
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | Free |
| Starter | $39 |
| Professional | $69 |
We suggest starting with the free version to test it out. Then upgrade to unlock more features.
7. WP Review Pro
WP Review Pro is designed for user-generated reviews but supports Google, Facebook and Yelp alongside its core features.
Key Features
- Create custom reviews
- Also allow Google/FB/Yelp display
- WooCommerce ready
- Review forms and management
- Basic display templates
- Free version available
At its core, WP Review Pro aims to help businesses get more on-site customer reviews. This includes features like:
- Review forms
- Email and SMS review requests
- Moderation queues
- Reply to reviewers
For Google reviews, it offers more limited functionality than dedicated plugins:
- Displays up to 5 Google reviews
- Basic template customization
- No advanced filtering
So while Google reviews are supported, the focus is on collecting and managing user-submitted reviews.
Why We Recommend It
WP Review Pro is a great fit for online stores needing WooCommerce integration and on-site review generation capabilities.
Pricing
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | Free |
| Basic | $99 |
| Pro | $199 |
Free version has decent capabilities to try it out first.
Which Is the Best Google Reviews Plugin for You?
The right Google reviews plugin depends on your specific needs and goals.
Best Plugin for Most Users:
Smash Balloon Reviews Feed Pro is our #1 recommendation for its beautiful designs,ustomization flexibility, and powerful feature set. It comes highly rated by users.
Best Free Plugin:
Widgets for Google Reviews is the leading free choice with a lightweight interface but robust display capabilities.
Best for WooCommerce:
WP Review Pro has deep WooCommerce integration to showcase reviews on product pages and optimize conversions.
Best for Food Businesses:
WP Business Reviews is uniquely suited for restaurants/cafes with its integration with reviews site Zomato.
Best for Local Businesses:
Reviews & Ratings – Google My Business offers a simplified way to highlight your GMB presence.
FAQs About Google Review Plugins
How do I set up Google reviews in WordPress?
The exact steps depend on the plugin you choose. But in general, you will:
- Install and activate the plugin (takes just a few minutes)
- Get your Google API key from the Google Cloud Console
- Enter your API key and Google Place ID in the plugin settings
- Select a review template/design to match your brand style
- Use a shortcode to display the reviews anywhere on your site
Refer to your plugin documentation for exact instructions.
How much do Google review plugins cost?
There are quality free plugins like Widgets for Google Reviews. For premium plugins, pricing can range from $39 for single site plans up to $199 for multi-site licenses.
Can I moderate Google reviews?
Yes, most plugins provide filters to hide unwanted Google reviews by:
- Keyword/phrase
- Minimum rating
- Individual reviewer names
- Date range
So you can precisely control what reviews get displayed on your site.
How often do reviews update?
Most plugins use WordPress Cron to fetch new Google reviews daily, weekly or monthly. So your reviews stay fresh automatically.
How do I get more Google reviews?
To grow Google reviews, proactively request customers to leave feedback after purchases. Offer incentives, run social campaigns, and embed review links prominently across your website.
Get More Google Reviews with the Right Plugin
I hope this comprehensive guide provided you with clarity to choose the best Google reviews plugin for your needs.
Showcasing positive Google reviews builds tremendous trust and social proof with visitors.
From my experience managing over 500 client sites, I‘ve seen first-hand the revenue and growth potential of customer reviews.
Implementing the strategies covered here will position you for success. Don‘t leave organic reviews and powerful social proof opportunities on the table.
Please let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to help fellow site owners succeed online.
