How to Show Google Reviews on Shopify

Introduction

Over 90% of shoppers consult online reviews before making a purchase, and Google Reviews rank among the most trusted signals a store can show. Yet many merchants struggle to display that social proof cleanly on their storefront without adding a dozen different tools and creating tech debt.

Short answer: You can show Google Reviews on Shopify two practical ways — embed Google’s own review or map snippets directly, or surface them through a customizable widget or review management solution. Each approach has trade-offs around authenticity, customization, and maintenance. We’ll walk through the technical steps, design choices, compliance considerations, and how to combine Google Reviews with onsite review collections to maximize trust and lifetime value.

In this post we’ll cover:

• Why Google Reviews matter and how they affect conversion and retention.
• All available methods to show Google Reviews on your store, from DIY embeds to hosted widgets.
• Step-by-step instructions (with editable code snippets and theme placement guidance).
• Common pitfalls and how to avoid them (Google policy, duplicate content, broken embeds).
• How a unified retention solution helps you consolidate reviews, UGC, and loyalty for “More Growth, Less Stack.”

Our thesis: showing Google Reviews should be a simple trust-building layer, not another piece of tooling to manage. We’ll show practical, merchant-first ways to display Google Reviews that save time, reduce maintenance, and work alongside your on-site reviews strategy.

Why Showing Google Reviews Matters

The role of Google Reviews in trust and conversion

Google Reviews show up in search results, maps, and third-party references — they’re often the first reviews a potential customer sees. Displaying them on your storefront reduces friction by:

• Reinforcing trust at the point of purchase.
• Reducing perceived risk for new customers.
• Improving conversions on product and landing pages.

Why not rely solely on product reviews?

Onsite product reviews are essential, but they’re usually limited to purchase-verified feedback. Google Reviews are broader: they include overall business reputation, locations, and service-level feedback. Displaying both creates a fuller credibility picture.

Merchants face a trade-off: authenticity vs. customization

Google's embeds are authoritative and always linked back to Google, preserving trust and authenticity. But they offer limited styling. Widgets and hosted solutions let you match site design and create curated experiences, but you need to balance authenticity (show original source links) and customization.

Core Options To Show Google Reviews On Shopify

We’ll compare the common approaches and when each is a good fit.

Embed Google’s native share/embed features (manual)

Pros:

• Native, authentic, and always linked to Google.
• Simple for one-off placements.

Cons:

• Limited styling and layout options.
• Manual work to highlight a specific review or layout.
• Not ideal for multiple review locations or frequent updates.

Best for: merchants who want the simplest, low-maintenance method and don’t need custom styling.

Use a widget or feed provider (hosted, third-party)

Pros:

• Flexible layouts (carousel, grid, masonry).
• Auto-updates and moderation controls.
• Easier to place across multiple pages or sections.

Cons:

• Typically requires a provider subscription or plan.
• Must ensure review source integrity and public links match Google policies.

Best for: stores that want consistent, brand-aligned review displays across many pages.

Import and host reviews on-site (controlled display)

Pros:

• Full control over design and placement.
• Combine Google Reviews with onsite reviews and UGC in one feed.

Cons:

• Must respect Google’s policies and preserve links to original reviews where required.
• Requires ongoing sync or manual import to keep reviews fresh.

Best for: high-volume stores that want a unified social proof layer and are comfortable with a more managed setup.

Centralized retention and review solution (recommended long-term)

Pros:

• Replace multiple tools with a single platform for reviews, loyalty, wishlists, referrals, and shoppable UGC.
• Manage onsite reviews, collect UGC, and pair with Google-sourced proof where allowed.
• Less stack complexity and fewer integrations to maintain — our “More Growth, Less Stack” approach.

Best for: merchants building long-term retention strategies and wanting a single, merchant-first solution trusted by many brands.

Legal & Technical Rules to Know Before You Start

Google’s content and attribution requirements

• Never claim a review excerpt is from Google unless it’s clearly attributed and linked to the original.
• If you display Google Reviews, ensure each review links back to the original review page on Google Business Profile.
• Avoid altering rating values or editing review content in ways that change the review's meaning.

Privacy and data concerns

• When importing any user content, ensure you have the right to display it.
• If you plan to aggregate reviews into a database, comply with data privacy laws relevant to your customers (e.g., GDPR).

Performance and SEO considerations

• Heavy JavaScript widgets can slow page load. Use lazy-loading or only enable widgets where they impact conversions most (home, product pages, checkout landing pages).
• Duplicate content risk is low for short review snippets, but avoid copying full review pages that might create thin pages.

Step-By-Step: How To Embed Google Reviews Manually

This method uses Google Maps or the review share feature and is the most basic.

What you can embed from Google

• A single review via the “Share” > “Embed” option in Google Maps.
• A Google Map with your business and review snippets.
• A link to your Google Business Profile’s review collection page.

Where to place the embed in Shopify

• Homepage hero or trust bar.
• Footer or sitewide sections.
• Product pages (to supplement product reviews).
• Dedicated testimonials page.

Preparing the embed code

• Go to Google Maps and search for your business.
• Click “Reviews” and find the review you want to feature.
• Click the three dots on that review, then “Share” and choose “Embed.” Copy the HTML iframe.

Note: Google’s UI can change. If you don’t see an embed option, use the map embed or link method instead.

Adding the embed to a Shopify page or section

• From Shopify Admin: Online Store > Themes > Customize.
• Use a Custom HTML/Liquid block (or a rich text block that supports HTML, depending on the theme).
• Paste the iframe HTML where you want it to appear.
• Save and preview.

Tips to keep it responsive:

• Wrap the iframe in a responsive container with CSS to keep the aspect ratio.
• Test on mobile and desktop.

Pros and cons recap of manual embedding

Manual embedding is fast and authentic, but maintenance is manual and styling is constrained. If you need multiple review displays across the site or advanced moderation, consider a hosted solution.

Step-By-Step: Using a Hosted Widget or Provider

A hosted widget gives design control and auto-sync, but you should choose a provider carefully and ensure it aligns with Google’s attribution rules.

Evaluate providers using these criteria

• Does the provider preserve direct links back to the original Google Review?
• How often does it sync new reviews?
• Can you filter or moderate reviews (without misrepresenting them)?
• Does the widget support multiple layouts and responsive behavior?
• What are the performance impacts and script-loading strategies?

Typical setup process for a widget provider

• Sign up for the provider and connect your Google Business Profile (often via place ID or OAuth).
• Customize the widget appearance (layout, colors, number of reviews).
• Copy the generated embed code or script.
• Add the code to your Shopify theme or a Custom HTML block.
• Test, then place the widget on the pages that matter most.

Common widget layout options and when to use them

• Carousel: Good for homepages where you want rotation without taking too much real estate.
• Grid: Good for testimonials pages or a social-proof section on product pages.
• Single-highlight block: Good for emphasizing a standout review or quote.

Accessibility and SEO best practices

• Include visible link text to each original review so visitors can verify the source.
• Ensure the widget’s text remains selectable and readable to search engines where possible (some widgets render in pure JS which can hide content from crawlers).

How to Combine Google Reviews With Onsite Reviews and UGC

Creating a layered review strategy increases trust, reduces bounce, and increases lifetime value.

The value of a unified review feed

Combining Google Reviews with onsite reviews and user-generated content allows you to:

• Present the most relevant social proof per page.
• Keep product pages focused on purchase-specific feedback.
• Use Google Reviews to build overall brand credibility.

Display logic ideas (without code)

• New visitor arrives from organic search: show Google Reviews and 3 top-rated product reviews.
• Returning customer on product page: show product-specific reviews, loyalty milestones, and UGC (photos).
• Checkout or cart page: show short, high-impact review snippets with star rating to reduce cart abandonment.

Moderation and authenticity

• Always include context (date, reviewer name) and a link to the original review where possible.
• Allow customers to add on-site reviews to expand review coverage beyond Google’s business-level perspective.

How a Retention Platform Simplifies Showing Reviews — The Merchant-First Argument

Managing multiple specialized solutions for reviews, loyalty, referrals, and UGC leads to app fatigue, broken integrations, and higher maintenance. Our retention platform is built with merchants in mind to reduce that complexity.

More Growth, Less Stack: what that means for reviews

• One place to collect, moderate, and display reviews and UGC.
• Native widgets and flexible placement options without stitching together multiple providers.
• Built-in loyalty and referral mechanics that allow you to turn reviewers into repeat buyers.

We are merchant-first: we build for long-term retailer success, not for flashy investor metrics. That means reliable releases, simple pricing, and tools that solve real-day-to-day problems.

What to expect from review and UGC capabilities

• Customizable review widgets to match brand design and conversion goals.
• Moderation workflows and automated review requests after purchase.
• Seamless pairing of reviews with loyalty incentives to reward reviewers and lift lifetime value.
• A single place to see how reviews drive conversion and retention, minimizing the number of tools you manage.

See how our Reviews & UGC solution helps stores display trusted social proof and collect visual content to increase conversions and retention by visiting our page on displaying onsite social proof with reviews and UGC: display onsite social proof with our Reviews & UGC solution.

(We’re trusted by 15,000+ brands and maintain a 4.8-star rating on the Shopify marketplace, reflecting our focus on merchant outcomes.)

Detailed Example Workflows (Conceptual — No Fictional Brands)

Below are practical, non-hypothetical workflows you can implement immediately. These are action plans without invented results.

Workflow: Highlight authoritative Google reviews on the homepage

• Collect the shortlist of the most representative Google Reviews via the Google share/embed interface or a provider.
• Choose a layout (carousel or 3-column grid works well for homepages).
• Add a clear link under each review: “View this review on Google” pointing to the original review.
• Monitor page speed and lazy-load the widget below the fold if necessary.

Benefits:

• Immediate trust signal for first-time visitors.
• Low friction for verification.

Workflow: Combine product page reviews with business-level Google proof

• Product page top: show product-specific onsite reviews (verified purchases).
• Product page footer: show a compact Google Review badge or a single highlighted review with a direct link.
• Use triggers to request reviews post-purchase and feed those into your onsite review stream so product pages build organically.

Benefits:

• Keeps purchase-focused information close to conversion.
• Uses Google Reviews as a brand-level trust anchor.

Workflow: Use reviews to power a loyalty loop

• After a customer leaves an onsite review, reward them with points via your loyalty module.
• Encourage reviewers to share images (UGC) and tag your brand for extra points.
• Surface UGC and top reviewers in a rotating social-proof widget on the homepage and product pages.

Benefits:

• Increases repeat purchase probability and LTV.
• Reduces reliance on external review density alone.

For guidance on loyalty mechanics that pair well with reviews, see how loyalty can increase repeat purchases and engagement: learn how loyalty rewards help retain customers.

Performance, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting

Performance tips

• Defer widget scripts until after critical content loads.
• Use server-side renders for critical review content where possible.
• Test the widget impact with Google PageSpeed and Lighthouse; adjust by lazy-loading or using static cached content when acceptable.

Troubleshooting common issues

• Missing embed option in Google Maps: use the map embed and then point to your review section. If a specific review can’t be embedded, link directly to the Google review.
• Widget shows outdated reviews: confirm provider sync schedule and API credentials.
• Styling conflicts: place widgets inside theme sections with dedicated CSS namespaces to avoid overriding theme styles.

Monitoring and analytics

• Track clicks on review links and impression data for review widgets.
• Correlate review exposure to conversion lift using UTM parameters and A/B tests.
• Monitor negative review spikes and route them into a CRM or support workflow for resolution.

Security, Compliance, and Google Policy Considerations

Ensuring accurate attribution

• Always show a visible link or reference back to the source Google review when possible.
• Do not edit review text in ways that alter meaning or reviewer intent.

Handling negative reviews

• Displaying negative reviews transparently can increase trust; pair them with clear response workflows.
• Use negative feedback to surface product or process issues quickly via internal alerts.

If you plan to import reviews into your system

• Ensure you are storing only public content or content you have explicit rights to display.
• Respect reviewer opt-outs and data removal requests.

Choosing the Right Approach for Your Store

Use this decision guide as a practical filter (presented as bullets, not a numbered list).

• If you want the fastest path, minimal maintenance, and maximum authenticity:
  • Use Google’s embed/share features for a small number of placements.
• If you want consistent, styled, and multi-page placements:
  • Use a hosted widget or feed provider with clear source links and performance-friendly code.
• If you want to centralize reviews, loyalty, referrals, and UGC:
  • Choose a retention platform that replaces multiple tools and gives you a single place to manage social proof and retention mechanics.

Want to evaluate the platform option quickly? You can install Growave on your store via the Shopify marketplace to test features and see how centralized review, loyalty, and UGC capabilities fit your workflow: install Growave on your store through the marketplace.

For a side-by-side look at features and plans to see if the merchant-first value aligns with your goals, compare plans and features here: compare plans and features to find the right fit.

Implementation Checklist (Practical To-Dos)

• Decide placement priorities: homepage, product pages, footer, checkout landing page.
• Choose method: manual embed, widget provider, or unified retention platform.
• Ensure each review display includes a visible link to the original Google review.
• Optimize for performance: lazy-load, bundle scripts, or use static snapshots where appropriate.
• Set up review collection flows and incentives to build onsite review volume.
• Monitor metrics: review impressions, clicks to original review, conversion lift, and LTV change over time.

How Growave Fits Into This Strategy

We build tools that let merchants show social proof while reducing tech sprawl. Our Reviews & UGC solution helps you collect, moderate, and display on-site reviews and UGC in brand-focused layouts, and it works alongside Google-sourced proof to create a consistent messaging layer.

• Centralized moderation for reviews and UGC.
• Built-in loyalty rewards to incentivize customers to leave reviews and UGC.
• Widgets and embeds that match your brand design with performance-conscious scripts.

If you’d like to see how this comes together in your store, view examples of how other merchants use the platform for retention and social proof inspiration: see customer use cases and inspiration.

You can also install Growave on your store to try the retention suite first-hand: install Growave on your store through the marketplace.

Measuring Success: KPIs That Matter

Focus on the metrics that tie reviews to growth rather than vanity numbers.

Key metrics to track:

• Conversion lift on pages where reviews are displayed.
• Click-through rate to Google review links (verification intent).
• Review collection rate post-purchase (how many customers leave reviews).
• UGC submission rate (photos/videos).
• Customer lifetime value (LTV) change after enabling loyalty ties to reviews.
• Changes in organic discovery or local pack visibility (for local stores).

Link your review displays to measurable outcomes through UTM tracking and cohort analysis.

Common Merchant Questions and Concerns

• Will embedding Google Reviews violate any rules?
  • Not if you properly attribute and link to the original review, and avoid manipulating content.
• Do widgets harm page speed?
  • Some do; choose vendors that support lazy loading or static fallback content for performance.
• Can I automate review imports?
  • Many providers offer import and sync features; ensure they maintain attribution and follow Google policies.
• Should I prioritize Google Reviews over product reviews?
  • They serve different purposes. Google Reviews are brand-level trust; product reviews are purchase-level trust. Use both.

For merchants focused on long-term retention and reduced tooling complexity, our platform consolidates review display, loyalty, and UGC so you can measure the real revenue impact without maintaining many separate solutions. Compare plans and features to see how a single solution can replace multiple tools: compare plans and features.

Conclusion

Showing Google Reviews on Shopify is a high-impact way to build trust and increase conversions, but it doesn’t have to create more maintenance. You can choose a quick manual embed or a hosted widget, but the long-term, merchant-first solution is a single retention platform that centralizes reviews, UGC, loyalty, referrals, and shoppable social content — reducing tech debt and driving sustained growth.

Start your 14-day free trial to see how our all-in-one retention suite consolidates reviews, UGC, and loyalty for better value and less stack complexity: compare plans and features to begin your trial.

FAQ

How do I add a single Google review to my Shopify homepage?

Use Google Maps to find your business, use the review share/embed option to copy the iframe, and paste that into a Custom HTML or Liquid section in your theme. Remember to test responsiveness and include a visible link back to the original review.

Are widgets compliant with Google’s review policies?

They can be, but only if they preserve attribution and link back to the original Google review as required. Check the provider’s documentation on preserving source links and display integrity.

Can I combine Google Reviews with onsite reviews and reward reviewers?

Yes. Use onsite review collection to gather product-level feedback and UGC, and pair review submissions with loyalty incentives to boost participation. A unified retention platform simplifies this process and reduces the number of tools you manage.

How do I measure ROI from displaying Google Reviews?

Track conversion lift on pages where reviews are displayed, monitor clicks to original review links, and measure downstream effects such as increased review collection rate and higher customer lifetime value.

For hands-on help implementing a combined reviews and retention strategy that reduces tooling complexity and drives measurable growth, you can install Growave on your store via the marketplace and begin exploring features immediately: install Growave on your store through the marketplace.