How To Add Review Section To Shopify

Introduction

App fatigue is real: many merchants juggle five to seven separate solutions just to manage reviews, loyalty, and UGC — and that friction slows growth. Customer reviews remain one of the highest-impact levers for improving conversions and long-term value, so adding a well-designed review section to Shopify is a must for every store.

Short answer: Adding a review section to Shopify can be done through built-in theme blocks, a customizable external widget, or by embedding a reviews solution into your templates. The fastest route is to add a reviews block in the theme editor; the most versatile route is to use a reviews and UGC solution that also helps collect, moderate, and syndicate reviews across product pages, home pages, and social channels.

In this post we’ll explain what makes a review section effective, walk through multiple implementation methods (no-code and code-based), share best practices for collecting and moderating reviews, and show how to tie reviews to loyalty and UGC to boost repeat purchases and lifetime value. Along the way we’ll point out where a unified retention platform can replace multiple solutions and reduce maintenance burden while improving results. We’re focused on practical steps you can implement today and the optimization ideas that produce measurable lifts.

Our main message: a thoughtfully designed review section isn’t a cosmetic upgrade — it’s a conversion and retention tool. By combining the right placement, design, collection flow, and incentives, you convert browsers into buyers and customers into repeat buyers.

Why Reviews Matter For Shopify Stores

The business case for reviews

Customer reviews increase trust and reduce perceived risk. Reviews do several important jobs at once:

• They provide social proof that your product performs as promised.
• They lengthen on-page content with user language that improves search relevance.
• They offer conversion cues (star ratings, verified purchase tags) that reduce friction.
• They generate content that can be re-used across marketing channels, including email, social, and ads.

Because reviews affect both conversion and retention, they work as a growth multiplier: more reviews often mean higher conversion rates, which in turn boosts sales volume and enables better customer acquisition economics.

How reviews interact with retention strategy

Reviews do more than close a single sale. When combined with loyalty and referral programs, they become a retention mechanism: reward customers for leaving reviews, surface that activity in loyalty profiles, and encourage reviewers to return for exclusive perks. This connects product feedback with long-term value, which is central to our “More Growth, Less Stack” philosophy—one unified retention suite can handle reviews, rewards, and UGC instead of multiple disconnected tools.

Overview Of Ways To Add Reviews On Shopify

High-level options

There are several practical ways to add a review section to Shopify:

• Use built-in theme sections and blocks (no code).
• Insert a review widget from a reviews and UGC platform (no code or minimal embed).
• Add a custom Liquid section or snippet (code-based).
• Use a unified retention platform that provides Reviews & UGC integrated with loyalty and referral programs.

We’ll walk through each method and the trade-offs so you can pick the approach that fits your technical comfort, design needs, and long-term strategy.

Quick comparison of approaches

• Theme blocks: Fast, low maintenance, limited customization.
• Embedded widget: Flexible, often feature-rich, adds external dependency.
• Custom Liquid: Fully flexible, requires development hours and ongoing maintenance.
• Unified retention suite: Best value for money when you want reviews plus loyalty, referrals, and UGC without managing multiple integrations.

We recommend starting with the theme editor or an integrated reviews solution, then evolving to a unified retention platform that replaces multiple point solutions and reduces maintenance.

How To Add A Review Section Using Shopify Theme Editor (No Code)

This is the quickest route for most merchants, especially those using Online Store 2.0 themes like Dawn.

What you’ll need before starting

• Access to Shopify admin (permissions to edit themes).
• A theme that supports sections and blocks (most modern themes do).
• A reviews solution installed in your store (if you want a feature-rich widget) or the Product Reviews functionality available in your theme.

If you’re evaluating solutions and want to compare pricing and plan features before you install, you can review our plans to see how reviews and loyalty work together (see our pricing plans).

Step-by-step: add reviews with the theme editor

Open the theme customizer

From Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes and click Customize on the theme you want to edit.

Select the product template

Use the template dropdown to choose Products and the specific product template you want to edit.

Add a reviews section or block

Look for an “Apps” or “Reviews” section in the Add section menu. Many themes include a Reviews block or star-rating block that you can add to the product template. Drag it into the desired area and save.

• Star-rating block: shows cumulative rating near the title or price.
• Full reviews block: lists customer comments and can include reviewer name, date, and rating.

If your theme does not provide a reviews block, you can insert a custom HTML block and paste a reviews widget code (covered below).

Customize placement and appearance

Drag and drop the block to the location that supports the purchase decision best—near the product title, above add-to-cart, or as a dedicated section lower on the product page. Use theme settings to match colors and typography.

Pros and cons of this method

• Pros: Fast, no development, works well for many merchants.
• Cons: Limited styling control and features; collection and syndication options may be basic.

How To Embed A Reviews Widget (Zero-To-Low Code)

Embedding a third-party reviews widget gives you more features like review requests, moderation, UGC galleries, and review syndication.

How widgets work

Most reviews platforms provide a snippet you paste into your theme or into a theme block that accepts HTML. The widget then loads reviews from the platform and renders them where you placed the snippet.

Where to put the widget

• Product template section (preferred for product-specific reviews).
• A custom reviews section on a brand or collection page.
• Footer or sidebar for aggregated ratings.

Step-by-step: embed a widget

Get the embed code from your reviews provider

In the reviews solution dashboard, locate the widget configuration and copy the provided embed code.

Insert into the theme

• In Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes > Customize > select the template > add a Custom Liquid or Custom HTML block and paste the code.
• Save and preview. Adjust CSS in the widget settings or add custom CSS in theme settings if needed.

Styling the widget to match your site

Most widgets allow custom CSS. Use CSS variables in your theme to ensure consistent color and font usage. If your widget supports custom templates, use that to make the layout consistent with your brand.

Pros and cons

• Pros: More features, better collection automation, richer displays (photos, videos).
• Cons: Slightly more technical, potential performance considerations if the widget loads external scripts.

How To Add Reviews By Editing Liquid (For Developers)

If you need precise control over markup, data attributes, or SEO markup, adding a custom Liquid section is the most flexible path.

When to choose this approach

• You want custom placement and markup that integrates tightly with your product schema.
• You need to include review snippets in head or JSON-LD for structured data.
• Your theme or visual editor cannot render the layout you require.

General steps for a custom Liquid review section

Create a new section file

In the theme code editor, add a new section file like sections/product-reviews.liquid.

Output reviews data

If you are using a reviews solution that exposes a JavaScript API, build the HTML container and let the script populate it. If you maintain reviews in Shopify metafields or a custom data store, iterate through the collection in Liquid.

Example pattern (conceptual, not code-heavy):

• Create a container with data attributes for product ID.
• Include star summary markup and an empty list for individual reviews.
• Load the external reviews script or your custom script to fetch and render review items.

Add structured data (JSON-LD)

Include JSON-LD that summarizes product rating and review count to increase the chance of rich snippets in search results. Make sure the values you output are accurate and kept in sync with visible content.

Add the section to product template

In the product template, include the new section so it appears where you want.

Important developer notes

• Avoid duplicating JSON-LD or review markup across multiple places—search engines prefer a single canonical set.
• Sanitize any user-supplied content to prevent XSS.
• Cache results where possible to reduce load.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Full control, best for SEO and custom layouts.
• Cons: Requires developer time and ongoing maintenance.

Display Strategy: Where To Show Reviews For Maximum Impact

Placement matters almost as much as having reviews at all. Show reviews where they influence decisions.

High-impact locations

• Product pages: primary place—display star rating next to title and full reviews further down.
• PDP hero area: show star rating and a short featured review near the price to reduce friction at checkout.
• Collection pages: show average star ratings in product tiles to help shoppers filter faster.
• Home page hero or social proof area: display aggregated ratings from top products.
• Cart and checkout (where supported): show reassuring badges like “trusted by thousands”.

Design choices that increase conversion

• Show verified purchase tags so readers trust the context.
• Display reviewer photos and ratings prominently for visual credibility.
• Highlight common themes in reviews (size, fit, performance) using short quotes.
• Surface negative reviews responsibly — a mix of positive and constructive feedback increases authenticity.

How to reuse reviews for social and email

• Pull top-rated product reviews into email templates for abandoned cart or post-purchase flows.
• Create UGC galleries from photo reviews to use in homepage banners and social ads.

When you use a unified solution for reviews and UGC, you can route review content into loyalty profiles, product pages, and social galleries without multiple integrations. Learn how our Reviews & UGC features integrate across retention programs by exploring our product pages (see our reviews and UGC features).

Collecting Reviews: How To Get More, Better Reviews

Collecting reviews is a system, not a onetime task. You want consistent, high-quality feedback.

Proven tactics to increase submission rates

• Request reviews by email after purchase, timed to expected delivery and usage window.
• Make the review form quick: rating, headline, short text, photo upload.
• Offer optional incentives (discount, loyalty points) to encourage submissions. Be transparent about what reviewers will receive.
• Use SMS follow-ups where permitted for higher open rates.
• Ask specific questions in the review form to generate useful content (e.g., “How did the size fit?”).

We recommend tying review incentives to loyalty actions so you track behavior in one retention platform. Rewarding reviewers via points that are visible in their loyalty profile increases retention and lifetime value — see how our loyalty engine works to incentivize reviews (learn about loyalty and rewards).

Review request templates

Keep messages short, clear, and helpful. A simple post-delivery email that reminds customers when they’re likely to have used your product works best. Include a direct link to the review form and clearly state any reward.

Handling negative reviews

• Respond quickly and publicly when appropriate.
• Offer to make things right offline if the issue requires personal attention.
• Use negative feedback as product insights—track themes and present them to merchandising or product teams.

Moderation, Trust Signals, And Legal Considerations

Moderation workflows

• Decide whether reviews publish automatically or require review.
• Build moderation queues and set criteria for automatic spam filtering.
• Tag reviews (photo, verified purchase, returns) to enable better display filters.

Trust signals that matter to shoppers

• Verified purchase tags.
• Reviewer badges for frequent contributors.
• Date of the review and device used if relevant (e.g., pet products where use-case matters).
• Photo and video attachments.

Avoiding legal pitfalls

• Make incentive rules transparent in review request emails and forms.
• Do not remove or alter negative reviews to mislead shoppers.
• Keep records of opt-ins for SMS or email review requests.

SEO Considerations: Structured Data And Rich Snippets

Why structured data matters

Structured data (JSON-LD) helps search engines understand your page content. Correct review markup increases the likelihood of rich snippets featuring star ratings and review counts in search results—this boosts click-through rates.

Implementation checklist

• Ensure product schema includes aggregateRating with accurate ratingValue and reviewCount.
• Make sure visible content matches JSON-LD values.
• Avoid duplicate or conflicting structured data across templates.

A reviews solution that outputs correct structured data for product pages reduces manual work. If you manage schema in a custom Liquid section, validate with structured data testing tools.

Advanced: Shoppable UGC And Reviews Integration

Photos and videos in reviews are powerful. They show real usage and can be made shoppable.

How shoppable UGC helps conversion

• Customers see the product in real life, reducing fit and expectation risk.
• Shoppable galleries turn social proof into purchase paths.
• Combining UGC with loyalty and referral programs increases the chance that a reviewer becomes an advocate.

Our Reviews & UGC features let merchants collect photo reviews and display shoppable galleries that connect product tags to direct links, cutting the path to purchase and increasing LTV. You can learn more about this functionality and how it connects to other retention levers on our reviews page (see our reviews and UGC features).

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Reviews not showing after installation

• Check theme placement: the reviews block may be added but not published in the right template.
• Confirm the widget script loads (inspect network requests).
• Clear cache and preview in incognito to ensure changes propagate.
• If using a reviews platform, ensure the product IDs match between Shopify and the provider.

Styling mismatches

• Use the widget’s CSS or theme variables to override fonts and colors.
• If the widget injects inline styles, use higher-specificity CSS selectors in theme stylesheet.

Performance concerns

• Lazy-load the reviews widget or defer script execution.
• Use server-side rendering for aggregate rating if possible.

If you want help reviewing integration options or seeing how consolidating reviews, loyalty, and UGC into a single retention platform reduces complexity, you can install or learn more from our listing in the Shopify directory and compare plans (view our Shopify listing).

Testing And Optimization: What To Measure

To ensure your review section drives business outcomes, track these KPIs:

• Conversion rate lift on product pages with reviews.
• Average order value for customers who engage with reviews.
• Review submission rate (post-purchase review requests).
• UGC engagement: clicks, shares, and conversions from shoppable galleries.
• SEO metrics: impressions and click-through rate for product searches.

Run A/B tests on placement and presentation: star rating near title vs. above the fold, or featuring photographic reviews vs. text-only. Use learnings to refine the collection and display flows.

How Reviews Fit Into A Retention-First Stack

The cost of an overcomplicated stack

Many merchants add point solutions for reviews, UGC, loyalty, referrals, and social galleries. That increases integration work, data silos, and maintenance. Our philosophy is "More Growth, Less Stack": one retention platform that handles reviews, loyalty, wishlists, referrals, and shoppable social reduces overhead and produces better results through cross-functional data.

Example benefits of unifying reviews with loyalty and referrals

• Reward customers for writing reviews with loyalty points automatically.
• Use high-value reviewers as referral advocates and track their lifetime value.
• Reuse photo reviews in marketing automations tied to rewards and referral campaigns.

We’re merchant-first: Growave is built to be a stable, long-term growth partner trusted by over 15,000 brands, and we maintain a 4.8-star rating on Shopify by focusing on long-term merchant success. If you want to compare plan tiers and see how a unified retention platform fits your needs, check our plans (see our pricing plans). If you prefer to evaluate from Shopify, you can install or learn more through our Shopify listing (view our Shopify listing).

Checklist: Launching A High-Converting Review Section

Use this pre-launch checklist to avoid common mistakes. Treat it as an operational guide you can follow on launch day.

• Confirm review block/widget appears on product templates.
• Verify structured data matches visible ratings.
• Test review submission flow (desktop and mobile).
• Confirm moderation settings (auto-publish vs. manual).
• Confirm incentives are transparent and recorded in loyalty profiles.
• Validate image and video uploads work and are displayed correctly.
• Check performance and lazy-load scripts if needed.
• Confirm placement: star rating near title, full reviews lower on page.
• Review copy in review request emails and incentives.
• Run a quick A/B test on placement or review highlights after launch.

Migrating From Multiple Tools To A Unified Retention Platform

If you currently use separate solutions, plan a migration that minimizes downtime and preserves review history.

• Export reviews and associated metadata from current solution(s).
• Map fields to the new platform’s schema (review text, rating, photos, reviewer info, verified purchase).
• Import reviews and validate display and structured data.
• Implement redirect or embed for historical widgets if necessary.
• Replace multiple integrations with the single retention platform and test.

A unified solution reduces duplication and gives you visibility across loyalty, referrals, reviews, and UGC—consolidation that saves time and produces better long-term outcomes.

Common Mistakes Merchants Make (And How To Fix Them)

• Expecting reviews to “fix” a poor product experience. Fix product issues first; reviews amplify reality.
• Hiding negative reviews. Authenticity trumps perfection; shoppers trust a mix.
• Using inconsistent incentives. Be transparent and consistent when rewarding reviews.
• Overloading pages with scripts. Use optimized widgets or server-rendered markup.
• Treating reviews as a single feature. Integrate them into loyalty, email, and social for full value.

Conclusion

A well-executed review section moves the needle on both conversions and retention. Whether you choose the theme editor for speed, an embedded widget for features, custom Liquid for control, or a unified retention platform for long-term efficiency, the key is purposeful implementation: place reviews where they influence decisions, collect them consistently, and tie them to incentives that drive repeat business. By centralizing reviews, loyalty, and UGC in one platform, you reduce integration overhead and unlock compounding growth.

Explore our plans and start your 14-day free trial to add reviews, loyalty, and shoppable UGC without juggling multiple solutions. Start your 14-day free trial and see plans

FAQ

How quickly can I get a review section live on Shopify?

You can have a basic reviews block live in under 15 minutes using your theme editor. If you want automated review requests, photo uploads, and shoppable UGC, plan for a few hours to a day to configure and test. Migrating reviews from other systems requires more time depending on export/import complexity.

Will adding reviews affect my page speed?

External widgets can impact load times if not optimized. Use lazy-loading, defer non-critical scripts, or server-render key pieces like aggregate rating. A unified retention solution that optimizes its scripts and offers performance best practices minimizes impact.

Can I incentivize customers to leave reviews?

Yes. Incentives work well when they’re transparent and recorded (for example, loyalty points awarded for review submissions). Avoid misleading incentives and ensure policies are clear.

How do I get rich search results (star ratings) to show in Google?

Provide accurate structured data: product schema with aggregateRating and reviewCount that match visible content. Avoid duplicate or conflicting markup and ensure your reviews are legitimate and public. If you use a reviews solution, confirm it outputs valid JSON-LD for you.

If you want help implementing any of the technical steps or to see how reviews, loyalty, referrals, and UGC combine to drive retention, we’re here to assist. Learn more about how our Reviews & UGC and Loyalty & Rewards work together (explore reviews and UGC features) and read our pricing to pick the plan that fits your growth goals (see our pricing plans).