Best Google reviews WordPress plugins in 2026

How we compared the WordPress options

This list uses each plugin's WordPress.org page as the source for its published features and active-installation bucket. The counts are rounded labels shown by WordPress.org when checked in October 2026, not exact numbers of happy customers. They can change. A high count may reflect long availability or a broad product, while a smaller plugin can still fit a particular site well. We have not tested the speed or support of all eight plugins. The order is for easy reading, not a measured ranking.

Check four things before installing. How do you connect your business? How do you place the display in the editor? What does the free tier actually show? How do updates work? A shortcode (a short tag in square brackets that WordPress swaps for the plugin's display) suits the classic editor. A block may fit the newer block editor better. A plugin may require an API key (a password-like code that lets software ask Google for data), a provider account, or a particular connection flow. Read the current installation section, because menus and plan boundaries change. Publish a test page and inspect it on a phone.

Also check source attribution and how review text links to Google. No plugin can give your own site review stars in Google Search; see our guide on why. Choose on the visitor-facing display and upkeep.

• Why website review stars do not show in Search

Sources: WordPress.org: Widgets for Google Reviews, WordPress.org: Smash Balloon Reviews Feed

1. Widgets for Google Reviews by Trustindex — 1+ million

The WordPress.org listing for Trustindex's Widgets for Google Reviews shows 1+ million active installations. Its free tier lists up to 10 Google reviews, 40+ widget layouts, one review widget and filtering by rating. More features need a Trustindex account. This makes it the largest directory listing in this group by the displayed installation bucket. WordPress owners who want a widely used plugin with visual layouts and a familiar dashboard may reasonably start here.

Read the current directory page for its WordPress version requirements and look at recent support threads before installing. Then verify which options require a paid account, how reviews update, and whether your theme affects the layout. A directory count does not guarantee that your specific page builder, mobile design, or source-link expectation will work automatically. Build a draft page, check a few reviews against the live Google listing, and inspect the published result.

Best fit to investigate: a general WordPress site that wants a high-adoption Google review plugin. Watch for: plan-level differences and whether the particular layout you want is in the version you install.

Sources: WordPress.org: Widgets for Google Reviews

2. Smash Balloon Reviews Feed — 100,000+

Smash Balloon's Reviews Feed listing shows 100,000+ active installations. Its WordPress.org page and provider documentation describe creating feeds for Google and Yelp, customizing them, and placing a shortcode or feed block on a page. The provider's free-version setup guide says Google and Yelp can be used as sources in the free plugin. Without your own Google API key, the listing says it shows up to 10 of the latest reviews for one business. With your own key, new reviews are collected daily. This is worth comparing if you want multiple review platforms in one WordPress workflow.

The WordPress focus means the feed builder lives alongside your normal site editing. Check the current source connection steps and whether your intended feature belongs to the free or paid version. If you use caching or script optimization plugins, inspect the public page after enabling them; a good preview is not enough. A feed with several review sources should label each source clearly so visitors know what they are reading.

Best fit to investigate: a WordPress site that may show Google and Yelp feedback. Watch for: source setup, current feature limits, and how the feed behaves with your theme.

Sources: WordPress.org: Smash Balloon Reviews Feed, Smash Balloon: free Reviews Feed setup

3. Rich Showcase for Google Reviews — 100,000+

The WordPress.org page for Rich Showcase for Google Reviews shows 100,000+ active installations. Its description lists slider, grid, list and rating layouts, plus a floating rating badge. You can place it with a block, a shortcode or a page builder. It says up to 10 reviews show without an API key, and you can connect several Google places. That makes it interesting for a site owner who wants both a larger review section and a compact badge.

Read the changelog too. Version 7.1.6, for example, moved badges into the main Widgets list. Check the FAQ to see when you would need your own API key. If you use a floating badge, check that it does not cover a contact button, accessibility control, or cookie notice on mobile. More layout choices also mean more settings to maintain.

Best fit to investigate: WordPress sites wanting a review showcase and badge. Watch for: connection method, placement of the badge, and the live result on narrow screens.

Sources: WordPress.org: Rich Showcase for Google Reviews

4. WP Social Ninja — 30,000+

WP Social Ninja's WordPress.org listing shows 30,000+ active installations and describes Google reviews alongside social feeds, testimonials, and chat widgets. It lists integrations with common page builders such as Elementor and Gutenberg. A business already looking for several kinds of social content may value one tool that covers more than Google review cards.

The wider feature range is also a reason to scope your needs carefully. If you only want one small Google badge, check whether the dashboard and plan boundaries feel heavier than necessary. If you want reviews, social feeds, and chat controls together, test those features on the same theme and see whether the styling is consistent. WordPress.org reviews and support activity can help you spot current setup questions, but read them as individual experiences rather than a guarantee.

Best fit to investigate: a WordPress site combining reviews and social feeds. Watch for: feature scope, builder compatibility, and the free-versus-paid line for the sources you need.

Sources: WordPress.org: WP Social Ninja

5. Reviews and Rating – Google Reviews — 20,000+

The Reviews and Rating – Google Reviews plugin page on WordPress.org shows 20,000+ active installations. Its description covers shortcodes, a widget and a block, many design options, and hiding individual reviews. Its listed requirements are a free Google API key and a Place ID (Google's unique code for a business). It also says it adds structured data for search engines; that will not bring review stars for your own business. It may appeal to an owner who wants a focused Google display without adding a full social-feed platform.

Read the current setup steps for getting the API key and Place ID, and check how often it updates. Do not assume that hiding an individual review changes what exists on Google; it only changes your website's display. If you curate the list, keep the presentation honest and link back to the original source so visitors can inspect the broader set. Test any rating summary against the live profile because counts can change.

Best fit to investigate: a focused Google review section with WordPress controls. Watch for: source connection and the accuracy of rating and count displays.

Sources: WordPress.org: Reviews and Rating – Google Reviews, FTC: Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule Q&A

6. Embedder for Google Reviews — 6,000+

Embedder for Google Reviews shows 6,000+ active installations on WordPress.org. Its listing says the free version needs no Google API key or Place ID and shows reviews as a slider or grid. Advanced filtering, extra layouts and more than 20 reviews are in the paid Pro version. This is another focused option to evaluate if the larger feed suites feel excessive for your page. The smaller installation bucket is a fact about adoption, not a measure of quality or safety.

Check the plugin's last update date, compatibility field, installation flow, and support answers on its live WordPress.org page. Those details matter more than a roundup written months ago. Confirm how it retrieves reviews, whether its options match your desired layout, and whether a shortcode or block can be inserted in your specific page builder. If you have a custom theme, look for styles that might override review-card spacing.

Best fit to investigate: a simple Google-specific WordPress embed with no API key. Watch for: the 20-review free limit, current compatibility and refresh method.

Sources: WordPress.org: Embedder for Google Reviews

7. Widgets for Google Reviews and Ratings — 3,000+

The WordPress.org listing for Widgets for Google Reviews and Ratings shows 3,000+ active installations. Its FAQ says a shortcode places the reviews on a page and that no Google API key is needed to start. It shows up to 10 reviews and supports one business location. This can be useful if a business wants a straightforward shortcode installation and does not manage several branches in one site.

Read the full page carefully because feature descriptions and paid-only capabilities can change. Its promotional text mentions rich snippets, which will not appear for your own business reviews on your own site. Inspect the actual review cards, source attribution, mobile layout, and refresh behavior. If you need multiple locations, test that requirement before committing to the plugin.

Best fit to investigate: a single-location WordPress site wanting a simple shortcode. Watch for: location limit and whether current plan features meet your design needs.

Sources: WordPress.org: Widgets for Google Reviews and Ratings

8. GR Widget – Google Reviews Widget — 700+

GR Widget's WordPress.org page shows 700+ active installations. It describes searching for a business inside the WordPress dashboard, choosing a layout, and publishing with a shortcode or Gutenberg block. The plugin page says its service handles review syncing and that review content is not stored in the WordPress database. Without an account, the free plugin offers one widget, five layouts, up to 5 reviews per business and a monthly sync. Linking a free GR Widget account raises that to 3 widgets, 22 layouts and 10 reviews. That hosted approach can simplify setup, but it also makes the external service part of your review display.

Check these limits on the live page, and ask how the service handles a lost connection or a deleted review. Make a test widget and verify that it displays the right business. Because this is a smaller directory listing, look at recent changelog and support activity rather than judging by count alone. A newer plugin may be actively maintained; a larger plugin may have more user reports. Neither fact decides the fit for your site.

Best fit to investigate: a WordPress owner who prefers dashboard search and block placement. Watch for: hosted-service dependency, current plan limits, and source links.

Sources: WordPress.org: GR Widget – Google Reviews Widget

Do you need a WordPress plugin at all?

WordPress can also accept an external review widget through a Custom HTML block or site code area. That route may be useful if you expect to move to another builder, want one provider across several sites, or prefer to manage the review display outside WordPress. VerifiedWidget, which we make, uses a script embed rather than a WordPress plugin. Its Free plan covers one widget and one business, with 20 imported reviews and monthly refresh. It offers 11 layouts, and paid plans add automatic syncing and more widgets and businesses. The tradeoff is managing a separate account and ensuring the site allows the script.

Compare an external embed with the plugins on the same page. How easy is installation for the person who edits the site? Does it load after your caching and security settings run? Can you see the original Google review? How much work does the team need to keep it current? Does the free plan's branding and allowance fit your site? A plugin is not automatically faster or more compliant, and an external embed is not automatically easier. Test both.

Whichever route you choose, use real customer reviews and keep the source clear.

• Read our WordPress embed guide

Sources: Google Places API: attribution policies

Final checklist before publishing

Choose two or three candidates that match your WordPress editor and location count. Install each on a staging page or draft where possible, connect the correct business, and compare the public output. Verify several names, dates, ratings, and source links against Google Maps. Look for text clipped on a phone, a slider that cannot be operated by keyboard, or a badge covering a button. A plugin's screenshots are not a substitute for the page your customers will actually see.

Check current WordPress.org compatibility, update date, reviews and support activity, then the vendor's plan page for imports, refreshes, feeds and branding. The install counts above are snapshot buckets; use the linked pages for today's values. If several plugins output schema or ratings, check they do not conflict.

Assign someone to revisit the display after plugin updates or a business-location change. Keep the original review source accessible and label curated selections honestly. Those simple checks matter more than chasing a 'best' badge in a roundup.

Sources: Google Places API: attribution policies, FTC: Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule Q&A