How to Add Google Reviews to WordPress: 5 Plugins Compared

To add Google reviews to WordPress, install a Google reviews plugin or paste a review tool's block or embed code into your page. The right option depends on how many reviews you want to show and where the plugin gets them from Google.

That review source is the detail to check first. It decides whether you can show 5 reviews, 10, or your full review history, and it explains most missing-review problems you're likely to run into. WordPress runs 39.7% of all websites, so you'll have dozens of review plugins to choose from.

I've set up Google review feeds on WordPress with a lot of different plugins. The one you pick matters far more than the steps you follow.

This guide explains the three ways plugins fetch reviews, compares five plugins side by side, and walks through setup with Curator. It also shows where to paste your feed in WordPress and how to fix a feed that won't appear. If you're on Squarespace, Wix, or another builder, start with our guide on how to add Google reviews to your website.

Where your plugin gets its reviews decides what you can show

Every Google reviews plugin has to get your reviews from Google, and there are three ways to do it. The method a plugin uses determines how many reviews you can show, how often they update, and how much setup is involved.

A plugin's name and rating won't tell you which method it uses, but its setup screen will. If it asks for an API key, it's using Google's Places API. If it only asks for a Google Maps link or Place ID, it fetches reviews without a key. If it asks you to sign in with Google, it connects through your Business Profile. Checking this before you install answers most questions about missing reviews.

Google's Places API

Plugins that ask for an API key use Google's Places API, and that route comes with a fixed limit. Google's documentation states that a Place object can contain up to five reviews.

Google sorts those five by relevance by default, so Google chooses which reviews appear, not you. Setup also takes more work than the other routes. You'll need a Google Cloud project, an API key, and usually a billing account.

Some plugins work around the limit by saving each new review they find over time. Rich Showcase says it works this way, so your list slowly grows past five instead of staying fixed.

Plugins that fetch reviews without a key

Several popular plugins skip the API key and only need your Google Maps link or Place ID. It's the fastest way to get reviews live, and setup usually takes about five minutes.

In exchange, you get a fixed free allowance. Trustindex, Rich Showcase, and Smash Balloon's free plugin each show up to 10 reviews this way.

Automatic updates usually come at a cost. Rich Showcase and Smash Balloon's free version need your own API key to refresh reviews. Trustindex includes automatic updates only in its paid account.

Ten reviews is plenty for a lot of sites. If you want to show more than that, you'll need one of the other routes.

Owner sign-in to your Business Profile

The third route connects through the Google account that manages your Business Profile. You sign in, grant the plugin access, and it pulls your reviews directly. WP Social Ninja works this way, and its FAQ says you can display an unlimited number of reviews.

The tradeoff is access. You need to own or manage the profile, so if you're building a site for a client, you'll need their login or manager access first. In return, you avoid the five- and ten-review limits of the other routes.

This route works best when you want your full review history and you control the account.

Google reviews WordPress plugins compared

The most popular plugin isn't automatically the right one for your site. The best fit depends on how many reviews you want to show, how much control you need, and who owns the Google account.

I compared each plugin below on four criteria:

• Where it gets reviews, since that sets its limit

• How many reviews the free version shows

• Whether you can hide or approve individual reviews, which matters when spam appears

• Whether new reviews appear automatically, or only with an API key or paid plan

Every detail comes from each plugin's listing on WordPress.org. Rich Showcase's listing is also one of the pages Google's AI Overview cites for this search.

I generally recommend a free plugin if you only need ten Google reviews on one site. A review feed becomes worth it when you need more control over what appears and where.

Widgets for Google Reviews (Trustindex)

Widgets for Google Reviews by Trustindex is the most widely used option here. It has more than 1 million active installations and a 4.9 out of 5 rating from 2,656 reviews. Setup is quick: paste your Google Place URL, choose from 40+ layouts, and publish.

The free plugin shows up to 10 Google reviews in 1 widget and stores them in your WordPress database. Reviews from other platforms, and automatic updates when a new review arrives, require a paid Trustindex account.

Start here if you want something free and fast for a single page. If you need several widgets on a free plan, Rich Showcase is a better match.

Rich Showcase for Google Reviews

Rich Showcase for Google Reviews is a strong choice if page speed and privacy matter to you. It serves reviews from your own WordPress database and makes no outside requests when visitors load the page. Its files total about 24 KB compressed. The plugin has 100,000+ active installations and a 4.9 out of 5 rating from 1,620 reviews.

It shows up to 10 reviews with no API key. If you add your own free Google API key, it checks for new reviews daily. The API only returns five reviews per request, but the plugin saves every new review it finds, so your collection grows over time.

Choose it over Trustindex if you want unlimited widgets and don't mind creating an API key.

Reviews Feed by Smash Balloon

If you already use other Smash Balloon feeds, or your Yelp reviews are as strong as your Google ones, Reviews Feed is a natural fit. It has 100,000+ active installations and a 4.3 out of 5 rating from 37 reviews.

The free version shows your 10 latest Google or Yelp reviews without an API key once you verify your email. Adding your own key turns on daily updates. Star-rating filters, moderation, and carousel layouts are Pro features, and Pro shows up to 50 reviews with weekly updates and no key.

Keep in mind that the free version can't hide individual reviews. Any spam on your Google profile can appear on your site, too.

WP Social Ninja

WP Social Ninja uses the owner sign-in route, so it can show far more reviews than the no-key plugins. Google reviews are included in the free version, and its FAQ says you can display an unlimited number of them. It has 30,000+ active installations and a 4.8 out of 5 rating from 71 reviews.

Hiding specific reviews and filtering by rating require Pro. The plugin also includes social feeds and chat widgets, which is useful if you'd like one tool for all three. Before you start, make sure you can sign in to the Google account that manages the Business Profile.

Curator

Curator's WordPress plugin works differently from the others. The plugin only displays your feed, using a Curator Feed Embed block or a shortcode, while your reviews come from your Curator account. It has 2,000+ active installations and a 4.2 out of 5 rating from 5 reviews.

Curator offers two Google Reviews sources. Google Reviews Lite is included on every plan and pulls up to 5 reviews that Google selects, without images. Google Reviews Premium requires the Business plan or higher and pulls up to 20 reviews with images each time it refreshes.

If you only want Google reviews on one WordPress site for free, the plugins above will show more of them. Curator is the better fit when you want Google reviews alongside Instagram, TikTok, Yelp, or Reddit posts in one moderated feed. It also works well when the same feed needs to run on several sites. Curator's feeds load directly into your page rather than inside a frame, so your site's styles can apply to them.

Learn more about Curator's Google reviews widget, see how to add testimonials to WordPress from multiple sources, or compare plans on the pricing page.

How to add Google reviews to WordPress with Curator

The steps below cover setup inside your Curator account, from creating a feed to publishing it. Each step matches a screen in your dashboard, so it helps to keep this guide open in a second tab. Adding the finished feed to WordPress is covered in the next section.

Step 1: Create a feed and choose an approval setting

After you sign up for Curator, start by creating a feed. A feed collects your Google reviews and turns them into a display you can customize for your website.

1. Log in to your Curator dashboard.

2. Click "Create a new feed."

3. Give your feed a clear name, such as "Google Reviews."

4. Choose an approval setting:

   • Approved: Every review pulled from Google appears on your site unless you remove it.

   • Needs approval: No review appears on your site until you approve it.

For most sites, "Needs approval" is the better choice. It gives you full control over which reviews are published, so your feed stays polished and on-brand.

Step 2: Add Google Reviews as your source

Next, tell Curator where to pull content from.

1. Inside your new feed, click "Add a Source."

2. Scroll through the list of supported platforms and select "Google Reviews."

Step 3: Find your business and choose Lite or Premium

Curator will ask you to choose between two Google Reviews sources:

• Google Reviews (Lite): Included on every plan. It pulls up to 5 reviews that Google selects, without images.

• Google Reviews: The Premium version, which requires the Business plan or higher. It pulls up to 20 reviews with images per refresh.

Lite is a good way to test your setup. You can move to Premium when five reviews aren't enough to show your best feedback.

Next, search for your business using both its name and address, so Curator finds the correct listing. Results appear as you type. Select your business, confirm the location, and click "Next."

If you see two listings at the same address, choose carefully. The troubleshooting section below explains how to fix a feed connected to the wrong listing.

Step 4: Approve the reviews you want on your site

Curator connects to your Google Business Profile, pulls in your reviews, and shows them so you can confirm you have the right listing. Once you've checked them, click "Curate" in the top-right corner.

If your feed is set to "Needs approval," approve each review you want to display. If everything is approved by default, delete any reviews you don't want. When you're finished, click "Style/publish feed."

Step 5: Style the feed to match your theme

Now style your reviews to match your website. Start by choosing one of Curator's style templates.

From there, you can adjust colors, fonts, layout, and other settings in the side tabs. If you want full control, you can also add your own custom CSS.

When you're done, click "Get code."

Step 6: Publish the feed and grab your feed ID or code

Click "Publish" or "Get Code" so your latest changes go live. Then copy what your WordPress setup needs:

• If you're using Curator's plugin, copy your Feed Public Key from Publish > Keys.

• If you're pasting code into a Custom HTML block, click "Copy to clipboard" to copy the embed code.

Whenever you change the feed's style or approve new reviews, click Publish again so your WordPress site shows the update. If you chose "Needs approval," check your approval queue regularly so new reviews don't sit unpublished.

You can add reviews from other platforms the same way. For example, add Reddit as a second source in the same feed and repeat these steps.

Where to paste your reviews feed in WordPress

Once your feed is published, WordPress gives you four places to put it. The right choice depends on which editor you use and whether you want reviews on one page or across your whole site.

Deciding which pages should show reviews is a separate question, covered in our guide to where to display Google reviews. This section focuses on how to add the feed.

In the block editor

The block editor gives you two options.

Curator's WordPress plugin: In your dashboard, go to Plugins, then Add New. Search for "Curator," click Install Now, and then click Activate. Open your page, add the Curator block, and enter your Feed ID.

A Custom HTML block: Add a Custom HTML block where you want the reviews to appear, paste your embed code, and update the page. No plugin is needed. Our page on how to embed Google reviews explains the embed code in more detail.

For a single page, the Custom HTML block is the simpler choice, since there's one less plugin to maintain. If several people edit your site, the plugin is easier to manage, because a named block is easier to find and update later.

In the classic editor or with a shortcode

If you use the classic editor or a theme builder, add the plugin's shortcode anywhere shortcodes work, including posts, pages, and many widget areas.

If you'd rather paste the embed code, switch to the Text tab first. The Visual tab can change code as you paste it, which breaks the feed. Save the page and check the live version, not just the editor preview.

You can also reuse the same shortcode on several pages. When you update the feed in Curator, every page that uses it updates automatically.

In Elementor and other page builders

Page builders have their own widgets for adding code, and they're common on WordPress sites. Elementor alone is used by 31.6% of all websites that use WordPress.

In Elementor, drag the HTML widget onto your page and paste the embed code. If you're using Curator's plugin, add the Shortcode widget instead and paste your shortcode. WPBakery and Divi work the same way, using their raw HTML, code, or shortcode modules.

Before you publish, preview the page on mobile. Page builders can set fixed column widths, and a review carousel in a narrow column can look cramped on a phone.

In your sidebar or footer

To show reviews on every page, add your feed to a widget area. Go to Appearance, then Widgets. If you use a block theme, open the Site Editor and edit your footer template part instead. Add a Custom HTML block or the Curator block to your footer or sidebar, then save.

Narrow areas work best with a compact layout, such as a carousel or a short list. A large grid will quickly crowd a sidebar. For more ideas on what to include, see our guide to the WordPress footer widget.

When your Google reviews won't show up in WordPress

If your Google reviews won't show up in WordPress, the plugin usually isn't the problem. Something in WordPress is more likely caching the page, delaying the feed's script, or removing the code. Below are the four most common symptoms and how to fix each one.

The feed shows in the editor but not on the live page

If you can see the feed while you're logged in but visitors can't, caching is the most likely cause. Your caching plugin or your host can serve visitors an older copy of the page, saved before you added the feed. Logged-in users often bypass that cache, which is why the page looks fine to you.

To fix it, clear your caching plugin's cache and your host's cache after you publish. Then open the page in a private browser window to see what visitors see. Curator's help center recommends the same steps: click Publish or Get Code, then clear your WordPress cache if the feed doesn't appear.

Your optimization plugin or page builder changed the code

Performance plugins speed up pages by delaying JavaScript. Settings like "delay JavaScript" or "defer JavaScript" can hold back the feed's script until a visitor scrolls or clicks. Excluding the feed script from that setting usually solves it.

One agency we work with added a Google reviews feed to a dental practice's homepage. It looked perfect in the editor but vanished for visitors, because their performance plugin delayed every script until the first scroll. Excluding the feed script fixed it in five minutes.

Code can also be removed when you paste it. Some editors and security plugins strip script tags from pasted code. Use the plugin's block or shortcode, or a Custom HTML block, rather than the visual editor.

Only five reviews appear

If your feed shows exactly five reviews, you've likely hit a source limit. Curator's Lite source pulls up to five reviews that Google selects. Other plugins that stop at five are almost always using the Places API, as explained earlier in this guide.

To show more, upgrade to Google Reviews Premium on a Business plan, which pulls up to 20 reviews per refresh. You can also switch to a plugin whose review source fits how many reviews you want to show.

The wrong business shows up

Does your feed show reviews from the wrong location, or no reviews at all? It's probably connected to a duplicate or outdated listing at the same address. Delete the source and add it again, this time searching with your full business name and street address. Confirm the location before you click Next.

Afterward, compare the first few reviews in your feed with the ones on your Business Profile to make sure they match. Our guide to adding Google reviews to your website explains how duplicate listings happen and how to find the right one.

Will Google reviews on WordPress give you stars in search?

Some review plugins promise "rich snippets" or an "SEO boost," which suggests your reviews could add gold stars to your search results. I get asked about this on almost every reviews project. For reviews of your own business, the answer is no.

Google's review snippet guidelines explain why. When a business controls the reviews about itself, its pages using LocalBusiness or Organization markup aren't eligible for star results. Google specifically lists embedded third-party widgets, including Google Business reviews widgets, as an example.

The same guidelines say not to include reviews or ratings collected from other websites in your markup. If a plugin adds review markup automatically, check its settings so it doesn't add markup that goes against Google's guidelines.

Showing your Google reviews on your site is still worthwhile. Choose a plugin for how well it displays your reviews, not for search stars. A good review feed reassures visitors at the moment they're deciding whether to call, book, or buy.

How to add Google reviews to WordPress FAQs

Can I add Google reviews to WordPress without a plugin?

Yes, but you'll still need a review tool. Most tools give you an embed code you can paste into a Custom HTML block, so you don't need to install a WordPress plugin. Google itself doesn't offer an embed code for your reviews. Its free option is a map embed that shows your location and star rating. Visitors have to click through to Google to read the reviews.

Is there a free Google reviews plugin for WordPress?

Yes. Widgets for Google Reviews, Rich Showcase, and Smash Balloon's Reviews Feed each show up to 10 reviews for free. WP Social Ninja includes Google reviews in its free version when you sign in to your Business Profile. Curator's free plan includes Google Reviews Lite, which shows up to 5 reviews. See Curator's pricing page for paid plans.

Do I need a Google API key to show Google reviews in WordPress?

Not always. Trustindex, Rich Showcase, and Smash Balloon's free plugin can each show up to 10 reviews without one. You'll need your own key if you want Rich Showcase or Smash Balloon's free version to update automatically. WP Social Ninja uses Google sign-in instead, and Curator handles the connection inside your Curator account, so neither one asks for a key.

Will new Google reviews show up on my WordPress site automatically?

It depends on the tool. Curator refreshes feeds automatically: every 24 hours on Free, every 60 minutes on Pro, and every 15 minutes on Business. If your feed is set to "Needs approval," new reviews wait in Curator until you approve them. Rich Showcase and Smash Balloon's free version refresh daily once you add your own API key. Trustindex includes automatic updates only in its paid account.

Will a Google reviews feed slow down my WordPress site?

A well-built feed shouldn't. Rich Showcase, for example, loads about 24 KB of files. The bigger risks are on the WordPress side, where caching can hide new reviews and script-delay settings can hold the feed back. Exclude the feed script from delay settings, and test your page speed after you publish.

Ready to add your best Google reviews to WordPress? Start with Curator's free plan. You can add Instagram posts, TikToks, or Yelp reviews to the same feed whenever you're ready. Try Curator free.

Using a different site builder? See how to add Google reviews to Squarespace, or browse our Wix Google reviews widget.