How Can Customers Leave Reviews on Shopify

Introduction

Customer reviews are one of the most powerful trust signals for an online store. Reviews influence purchase decisions, boost SEO, increase conversion rates, and create a steady stream of user-generated content that fuels marketing. Yet many merchants struggle to collect and display reviews in a way that’s seamless for customers and sustainable for the team managing the store.

Short answer: Customers can leave reviews on Shopify through several paths—post-purchase prompts in mobile shopping apps, on-product review widgets you place on product pages, via email or SMS review requests after delivery, or through third-party integrations that collect verified reviews and visual content. The exact flow depends on how you set up your store and which review workflow you enable.

In this article we’ll explain every practical way customers can leave reviews on Shopify, the pros and cons of each approach, step-by-step implementation tactics, moderation and compliance tips, and how to connect reviews to retention strategies like rewards and UGC. We’ll also show how our retention suite simplifies the process so you can collect more verified reviews without adding six different tools to your stack.

Our main message: reviews are a retention and conversion engine, and with the right systems in place you can make leaving a review easy for customers while turning those reviews into repeat purchases and social proof.

Why Reviews Matter for Shopify Stores

The practical value of customer reviews

Customer reviews do more than just display a star rating. They:

• Reduce uncertainty for new buyers and increase conversion rates.
• Provide SEO value by creating fresh, keyword-rich content on product pages.
• Surface product feedback that helps merchandising and product teams improve offerings.
• Supply authentic visual content (UGC) for marketing channels like email and social.
• Feed loyalty and referral programs by recognizing customers who contribute reviews.

When we design retention programs, we treat reviews as a multi-purpose asset: they improve first-time conversion and also create opportunities to re-engage reviewers with incentives and personalized offers.

Business outcomes to expect

While exact lifts vary by industry and product type, consistent review collection typically leads to:

• Higher average conversion rates on product pages that display multiple verified reviews.
• Improved average order value when reviews highlight complementary products.
• More efficient paid advertising because ad creatives can use real customer quotes and photos.
• Higher lifetime value when reviewers are enrolled into loyalty programs and re-engaged.

We recommend tracking how reviews correlate with key metrics in your store dashboard so you can quantify the impact over time.

Where Customers Can Leave Reviews on Shopify

Customers can leave reviews via multiple channels and touchpoints. Each has trade-offs in terms of friction, verification, and discoverability.

Shop App and Mobile Platforms

Customers who use the Shop app (or similar mobile shopping experiences) often receive post-delivery prompts asking them to rate and review purchased products. These review flows are typically low-friction because the app can push a notification after delivery and identify verified purchases.

Pros:

• High verification and low friction.
• Reviews can be displayed publicly in mobile storefronts that shoppers use.

Cons:

• Limited control over review UI and moderation rules.
• Not all customers use the Shop app or other mobile interfaces.

If you want reviews gathered from app-driven experiences to appear on your storefront, make sure your review system supports syncing partner-collected reviews.

Product Page Review Widgets

The most visible place to collect reviews is directly on product pages through a review widget. Widgets let customers add a star rating, text, and often photos or videos.

Pros:

• Highly discoverable and directly tied to purchase intent.
• Immediate social proof at the point of decision.

Cons:

• You must build or install a review collection and moderation workflow.
• Unverified reviews can reduce trust if not managed properly.

We recommend embedding a well-designed review section on every product page to capture feedback when shoppers are most ready to convert.

Post-Purchase Email Requests

Sending an automated email after delivery is a classic and effective way to collect reviews. These emails are typically triggered after fulfillment or delivery confirmation and can include direct links back to the product review form.

Pros:

• Easy to automate and customize.
• Can be personalized and timed based on fulfillment data.

Cons:

• Open rates and response rates vary; subject lines and timing matter.
• Risk of appearing transactional rather than relational if not phrased well.

Post-purchase emails are a core part of review collection cadences. We’ll share templated copy and timing tips later.

SMS Review Requests

SMS has higher open and response rates than email but requires explicit opt-in. When used properly, an SMS link to leave a review can be very effective.

Pros:

• Higher engagement and faster responses.
• Good option for mobile-first customers.

Cons:

• Requires SMS consent and careful frequency management.
• Character limits and usability constraints on mobile forms.

SMS is best leveraged for short review requests or to remind customers who haven’t responded to email requests.

Checkout, Order Status, and Account Dashboards

Some stores provide review invitations in order confirmation pages, account dashboards, or order status pages—places customers return to for tracking information.

Pros:

• Reaches customers already engaged with order information.
• Can be low friction for logged-in users.

Cons:

• Timing is less precise since customers may not return to these pages after delivery.
• Often overlooked unless integrated into the post-delivery communication flow.

Consider combining this approach with email/SMS to capture customers across touchpoints.

Third-Party Integrations and Trust Platforms

Many merchants use a review and UGC platform to centralize review collection, syndication, and display. These platforms often offer review request automation, visual content collection, and moderation tools.

Pros:

• Feature-rich, with tools for photos, moderation, and display.
• Can integrate reviews across channels (product pages, ads, social).

Cons:

• Adds to toolstack complexity if you rely on multiple separate solutions.
• Potential data fragmentation if not integrated with your main retention platform.

Our “More Growth, Less Stack” approach consolidates review collection into a retention suite so merchants avoid app fatigue and gain more synergistic value.

How Customers Actually Leave a Review: Step-By-Step Flows

Below we describe the most common flows customers follow when leaving a review and how you can optimize each step.

Flow: Post-delivery Email Review Request

• Customer receives order delivered confirmation.
• Automated review request email is sent after a configurable delay.
• Email includes a clear CTA that takes the customer to a review form or directly anchors to the product review section.
• Customer leaves a star rating, optional comment, and can upload photos.
• Review is submitted and enters moderation (if enabled), then published.

Optimization tips:

• Time the request based on product delivery windows (e.g., 3–10 days after delivery for physical goods, shorter for digital products).
• Keep the form minimal: star rating + short text + optional photo.
• Use a direct link that scrolls the customer to the review form to reduce friction.

Flow: In-App Prompt (e.g., Shop App)

• Once the order is delivered, the app sends a push notification to the customer.
• The notification opens the product’s review interface.
• Customers rate stars, add a comment up to a character limit, and submit.

Optimization tips:

• Make sure your review settings are configured to accept partner-collected reviews if you use an external review solution.
• Encourage in-app reviewers to upload photos by showing examples of great submissions.

Flow: On-Page Review Widget

• Shopper lands on the product page.
• They click the “Write a review” button and fill out a short form embedded in the page.
• For logged-in customers, prefill name and email to speed up submission.
• After submission, show a thank-you message and an incentive (optional) to encourage ongoing engagement.

Optimization tips:

• Keep fields minimal and mobile-optimized.
• Offer a progress indicator for photo uploads.
• Consider pre-populating stars to reduce clicks (but avoid biasing the rating).

Flow: SMS Link to Review Form

• SMS is sent to a customer who opted in, including a short link to the review form.
• Customer clicks the link, which opens a mobile-friendly review form.
• Customer submits rating and any media.

Optimization tips:

• Keep copy short and direct, and include the product name for context.
• Ensure the link points to a fully mobile-optimized review form.
• Include opt-out instructions to respect privacy and compliance.

Implementing Reviews Using Growave’s Tools

Collecting reviews is more effective when it’s built into a larger retention strategy. Our Reviews & UGC solution is designed to collect verified product reviews, gather photos and videos, and feed that content into other retention channels like loyalty and shoppable galleries.

Why use a unified retention suite

When review collection, loyalty, and UGC live under one roof, you get four advantages:

• Fewer integrations to manage and fewer points of failure.
• Unified customer profiles that tie reviews to LTV and repeat purchase behavior.
• Ability to reward reviewers with points automatically and drive repeat purchases.
• Easier syndication of reviews to product pages, social galleries, and paid ads.

If you want to explore plans and see how review collection fits into a broader retention strategy, compare our plans and start a 14-day free trial to test the workflow firsthand. (compare plans and start a free trial)

Enabling verified reviews and UGC with our Reviews feature

When you enable our Reviews & UGC workflow, you gain these capabilities:

• Verified-purchase review requests sent by email and SMS.
• A review form optimized for mobile and desktop that accepts photos and videos.
• Moderation and auto-approval rules so you control what gets published.
• Rich display widgets for product pages and collection pages.
• Options to sync partner-collected reviews into the storefront.

Learn how to collect verified product reviews and visual content by setting up a review campaign and customizing reminder timings. (collect verified product reviews and UGC)

Rewarding reviewers automatically with Loyalty & Rewards

To increase review submission rates while following platform rules, offer non-monetary incentives via a points-based loyalty program. Our Loyalty & Rewards module can:

• Issue points automatically when a customer submits a review.
• Display how many points are available for leaving different types of UGC (photo, video).
• Send follow-up emails to convert reviewers into repeat buyers using points.

This creates a virtuous cycle: reviews earn points, points drive repeat purchases, and repeat purchases generate more opportunities for reviews. If you want to build a points-based rewards program that encourages authentic reviews, our tools make it straightforward to set up. (reward customers with points and incentives)

Examples of display options

• Product page review section with star summary and recent reviews.
• Review highlights carousel for the homepage or collection pages.
• Shoppable UGC galleries that link customer photos back to the product.
• Widgets designed for mobile and desktop to keep layout consistent.

See real merchant examples and inspiration to model your review displays after stores that are getting great results. (merchant stories and inspiration)

Best Practices: Asking Customers to Leave Reviews

How you ask matters as much as when and where you ask. Small improvements in timing and tone produce much higher response rates.

Timing and cadence

• For low-touch, fast-delivery products, request a review 3–7 days after delivery.
• For high-consideration or consumable products, wait 10–30 days so the customer has experience with the product.
• Send a friendly reminder after 5–7 days if there’s no response.
• Limit review requests to avoid overcommunication—don’t ask the same customer for a review more than once for the same product.

Messaging and email subject lines

• Subject line should reference the product to create context (e.g., “How’s your new [Product]? Quick favor?”).
• Keep the email concise and friendly; avoid lengthy forms inside the email.
• Use social proof inside the email to normalize reviewing (e.g., “Join thousands of customers who’ve shared feedback”).
• Include one clear CTA that opens a prefilled review form.

SMS best practices

• Keep SMS copy short and include the product name.
• Use a clear short link that goes directly to the review form.
• Respect local regulations and ensure opt-ins are properly captured.

Incentives and disclosure

• If you offer points or a discount for a review, require disclosure in line with platform policies and local regulations.
• Avoid paying for positive reviews; incentivize honest feedback and be transparent.
• Use loyalty points rather than monetary discounts when possible; points are easier to disclose and integrate into retention flows.

Make the form easy

• Star rating + optional brief comment achieves the highest completion rates.
• Accept photos and videos, but make media optional and provide clear upload instructions.
• Offer social login or prefill fields for repeat customers.

Displaying Reviews Effectively

Collecting reviews is only half the battle—how you display them determines how much influence they have.

Placement and hierarchy

• Place a visible star rating summary near the product title.
• Show an excerpt of recent reviews above the fold on product pages.
• Use a mix of short testimonials and longer, detailed reviews.
• Include photo and video testimonials prominently, as visual social proof converts well.

Design and mobile optimization

• Use responsive widgets that adjust for mobile and tablet.
• Limit the amount of text shown in mobile views and provide “read more” options.
• Keep buttons and upload fields thumb-accessible.

Schema markup and SEO

• Use structured data to enable rich snippets in search results (average rating, review count).
• Ensure your review system outputs valid schema so Google and other search engines can index ratings.
• Syndicate review content across pages that need social proof (homepage, collection pages).

Our social reviews tools include widgets optimized for display and options to help with structured data so reviews can contribute to search visibility. (collect verified product reviews and UGC)

Moderation, Trust, and Policy Compliance

Maintaining trust requires clear moderation and compliance practices.

Moderation workflows

• Decide between manual moderation, automatic approval with filters, or a hybrid approach.
• Auto-approve low-risk reviews (e.g., text-only, no flagged words) and queue reviews with photos for a quick visual check.
• Display a clear moderation policy so customers know why a review may be removed.

Handling fake or abusive submissions

• Use verification flags to prioritize verified-purchase reviews.
• Implement spam filters and blacklist repeated offenders.
• Respond quickly and publicly to abusive or inaccurate reviews with a calm, helpful tone.

Platform policies and Shop integration

• If you want reviews to appear in mobile shopping apps, make sure your review source complies with partner policies.
• Some platforms only display reviews from verified purchases or from supported review ecosystems—ensure compatibility.

Disclosure for incentives

• If you reward reviewers, include a short disclosure near the review form and in any public display where relevant.
• Make it clear that incentives are offered for honest feedback, not for positive reviews.

Turning Reviews Into Retention Drivers

Reviews are content and customer behavior—both of which can be converted into growth.

Reward reviewers with loyalty points

• Automatically grant points when a customer submits a review (adjust points based on effort; photo/video gets more).
• Encourage reviewers to redeem points on repeat purchases, increasing LTV.
• Show progress bars and social proof inside the loyalty widget to nudge participation.

Our loyalty module ties review actions to points issuance so you can reward reviewers instantly and encourage repeat buying. (reward customers with points and incentives)

Use reviews in remarketing and creative

• Pull customer quotes and images into ad creative, emails, and social posts.
• Segment reviewers in your CRM and send follow-ups with related product recommendations.

Build referral loops

• After a customer leaves a review, present an easy referral CTA to share the product with friends.
• Offer both the reviewer and referee points or discounts to create mutual incentive.

Shoppable UGC galleries

• Create a shoppable gallery of customer photos that links back to product pages.
• Feature UGC in email, on product pages, and in social ad creative to increase engagement.

Showcase UGC in a way that makes it easy for customers to click through and buy, turning content into measurable sales. (merchant stories and inspiration)

Measuring Review Performance

To know whether your strategy is working, track the right metrics.

Key metrics to watch

• Review submission rate (reviews per orders or per delivered shipments).
• Average rating and distribution across 1–5 stars.
• Conversion rate lift on pages with reviews versus pages without.
• UGC submission rates (photos/videos).
• Repeat purchase rate and LTV for reviewers vs. non-reviewers.

Attribution and cohorts

• Track cohorts of customers who left reviews and measure their repeat purchase behavior over time.
• Attribute revenue to review-driven campaigns (e.g., ads using UGC or emails featuring top reviews).

Benchmarks and targets

• Aim to get reviews on your top-selling products first; prioritize on-product pages with the highest traffic.
• A steady inflow of reviews (weekly or monthly) is better than a volatile burst followed by silence.
• Improve average rating over time by iterating on product quality and customer experience.

Common Problems And How To Fix Them

Below are issues we see merchants face and practical fixes.

Problem: Low review submission rate

Fixes:

• Reassess timing: move request earlier or later based on product usage.
• Simplify the review form to reduce friction.
• Add an optional incentive and disclose it clearly.
• Send reminders via a different channel (SMS if email isn’t working).

Problem: Reviews aren’t showing in Shop or partner platforms

Fixes:

• Confirm your review source supports partner syndication.
• Ensure review collection is from verified purchases if the platform requires it.
• Check that you’ve enabled partner sync settings in your review tool.

Problem: Too many negative reviews

Fixes:

• Audit product pages for clarity on product details to reduce expectation mismatch.
• Respond quickly and offer solutions to unhappy customers.
• Use negative feedback to identify product or process fixes.

Problem: Photos or videos fail to upload

Fixes:

• Optimize upload handling for mobile with client-side compression.
• Allow customers to submit via multiple channels (email, direct upload, social).
• Offer a fallback: customers can reply to an email with photos and an admin can attach them.

Advanced Strategies for High-Performing Review Programs

These strategies move reviews from a checkbox to a core growth lever.

Segmented review requests

• Use purchase data to tailor review requests (e.g., ask about fit for apparel, taste for consumables).
• For high-value customers, send a personalized review invitation from a support rep.

Multi-step review collection

• Ask for a quick star rating first, then follow up asking for a photo or longer comment from customers who gave 4–5 stars.
• This reduces friction and increases the quantity of ratings while still collecting depth for high-satisfaction customers.

Visual-first review campaigns

• Run periodic campaigns asking customers to share photos for a seasonal gallery.
• Promote the campaign with a small points reward and show the gallery on the homepage.

Integrate review signals into merchandising

• Feature top reviewers or top-rated products in automated emails and homepage sections.
• Use review themes (e.g., “best for travel”, “best for dry skin”) to power category pages.

Combine with referral mechanics

• After a customer leaves a review, trigger a referral flow that asks them to share their review link in exchange for points for both the reviewer and referee.

Implementation Checklist (Actionable Steps to Get Reviews Flowing)

Below are tactical steps you can implement today. Use this checklist as a practical roadmap.

• Audit product pages to ensure a review section is present and visible.
• Choose a review collection workflow (in-app, widget, email automation, or combined).
• Configure post-delivery timing rules based on product type.
• Create concise review request templates for email and SMS.
• Enable photo and video uploads and test on mobile.
• Set up moderation rules and auto-approval filters.
• Integrate reward logic to grant points when reviews are submitted.
• Add schema markup for ratings or use your review tool’s built-in schema support.
• Build a shoppable UGC gallery fed by approved photos.
• Monitor review metrics weekly and iterate.

If you’d like a walkthrough of review setup and how it ties to loyalty and UGC, book a personalized demo to see the workflow in action. (book a demo)

Choosing The Right Review Strategy For Your Store

There isn’t a single “best” way to collect reviews—what matters is picking a strategy that matches your customer behavior and internal capacity.

Consider these trade-offs when choosing:

• Simplicity vs. feature set: A simple email-to-form flow is easy to run; a full UGC suite provides more content and syndication but requires more configuration.
• Verification requirements: If you need only verified-purchase reviews, ensure your flow can connect to order and fulfillment data.
• Display needs: If you want shoppable galleries and rich widgets, choose a solution with strong display options.
• Long-term value: Integrations with loyalty are valuable because they turn review contributors into repeat buyers.

We built our retention suite to minimize the number of separate tools you need, combining reviews, loyalty, referrals, wishlists, and shoppable Instagram under one roof. That’s how we help merchants avoid app fatigue and get better value for money while driving sustainable growth.

If you want to explore how the packages compare and which plan unlocks the features you need, review plan options and start a free trial to test the platform. (compare plans and start a free trial)

Troubleshooting: When Reviews Don’t Appear Publicly

If reviews that customers submit are not appearing on product pages or in partner apps, follow this diagnostic checklist:

• Confirm the review was successfully submitted and not stuck in moderation.
• Verify the review meets platform content policies (no profanity, personal data, etc.).
• Check that verified-purchase flags are present if required by the partner platform.
• Ensure the widget or display snippet is installed on the correct product template.
• Clear cached pages or preview in an incognito window to rule out caching issues.
• If syncing from a partner, confirm the sync schedule and API status.

If you need help diagnosing display issues, our support team is available to assist via the app listing or demo request.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can customers leave reviews without creating an account? A: Yes—many review flows allow guest reviews. However, pre-filling name and email for repeat customers improves data quality. If verification of purchase is required, tying the review to the order number or email helps validate the reviewer.

Q: Are incentivized reviews allowed? A: Incentivized reviews are allowed when done transparently. Offer non-monetary incentives like loyalty points and disclose that points were offered for submitting a review. Avoid offering incentives specifically for positive reviews.

Q: How do I get reviews to show up in external shopping apps? A: External apps often require partner-compatible review sources and may prefer verified-purchase reviews. Make sure your review workflow supports partner sync and that you meet the app’s eligibility requirements.

Q: What’s the ideal timing for review requests? A: It depends on product type. For everyday items, 3–7 days after delivery is typical. For products that require setup or longer use, 10–30 days may be more appropriate. Test timing to find the sweet spot for your audience.

Conclusion

Collecting customer reviews on Shopify is both an art and a system. The highest-performing strategies remove friction for the customer, verify purchases where needed, surface visual content, and connect review activity to broader retention tactics like rewards and referrals. When reviews are part of a unified retention suite, they do more than inform new shoppers—they become a channel for increasing lifetime value and powering sustainable growth.

We’re a merchant-first retention partner trusted by 15,000+ brands and recognized with a 4.8-star rating on Shopify. If you’re ready to turn reviews into an engine for retention and conversion, explore our plans and start your 14-day free trial today. (compare plans and start a free trial)

Start your personalized walkthrough and see how reviews, loyalty, and shoppable UGC work together—book a demo to get started. (book a demo)