Widgets for Google Reviews: Is It Worth It? (2026)

What Is Widgets for Google Reviews?

Widgets for Google Reviews is a free WordPress plugin by Trustindex that lets you display Google Business Profile reviews directly on your website. With over 900,000 active installations and a 4.9-star rating from 2,490+ reviews, it is one of the most popular Google review plugins in the WordPress ecosystem. The plugin focuses on doing one thing well: pulling in your Google reviews and displaying them in attractive, customizable widgets.

Key Features

• 40+ widget layouts — choose from slider, grid, list, badge, floating, and button-style layouts to match your site design.
• 25+ pre-designed styles — each layout comes with multiple color schemes and design variations, including dark mode support.
• Rating-based filtering — show only 4- and 5-star reviews to put your best foot forward.
• Review reply display — show your responses to customer reviews, demonstrating that you engage with feedback.
• Works with all page builders — fully compatible with Gutenberg, Elementor, Divi, WPBakery, Beaver Builder, and others via shortcode.
• 35+ language support — the widget automatically adapts to your site language, covering English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, and many more.
• Lightweight and fast — assets are CDN-hosted with lazy loading, so the plugin does not slow down your site.

Free vs Premium

The free version is generous for small businesses. You get one review widget displaying up to 10 Google reviews, with access to all 40+ layouts and 25+ styles. For most small business websites, that is plenty.

The premium version runs through Trustindex.io and unlocks reviews from 133+ platforms (Google, Facebook, Yelp, Tripadvisor, Booking.com, and more), unlimited widgets, and automated review invitations. Pricing is annual only:

• Single — $65/year (1 domain)
• Pro — $125/year (5 domains) — most popular
• Ultimate — $349/year (unlimited domains)

All paid plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Completely free for basic use — no forced upsells in the dashboard.
• Excellent design options out of the box with 40+ layouts.
• Very lightweight — CDN-hosted assets with lazy loading keep page speed high.
• Setup takes under five minutes with the built-in wizard.
• Actively maintained — updated regularly and tested with WordPress 6.9.

Cons

• Free version limited to 10 reviews and a single widget.
• Premium requires a separate Trustindex.io account (not managed inside WordPress).
• No free multi-platform support — you need a paid plan to pull Yelp or Facebook reviews.
• Annual billing only — no monthly payment option for the premium plans.

Who Should Use Widgets for Google Reviews?

This plugin is ideal for local businesses, restaurants, agencies, and service providers who want to showcase their Google reviews on WordPress. If you only need Google reviews and want a free, fast, and well-designed solution, this is one of the best options available. Businesses managing multiple review platforms or needing unlimited widgets should consider the paid Trustindex plans or look at the alternatives below.

Best Alternatives

• Rich Showcase for Google Reviews — another free plugin by Suspended Starter that focuses specifically on Google reviews with a clean interface and multiple display options.
• WP Review Slider Pro — a premium plugin ($29 one-time) that supports Google, Facebook, Yelp, and Tripadvisor reviews with slider and grid layouts.
• EmbedSocial — a SaaS platform starting at $29/month that aggregates reviews from Google, Facebook, and other platforms with advanced widget customization.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Widgets for Google Reviews really free?

Yes, the core plugin is 100% free. You can display up to 10 Google reviews in one widget with full access to all layouts and styles. The premium features (multiple platforms, unlimited widgets) require a paid Trustindex.io subscription starting at $65/year.

Do I need a Google API key to use this plugin?

No. The plugin connects to your Google Business Profile through the Trustindex platform, so you do not need to set up a Google API key or deal with any technical configuration.

Will this plugin slow down my website?

No. The plugin uses CDN-hosted assets and lazy loading by default. Reviews are cached in your WordPress database, so there are no external API calls on every page load that would affect performance.

Can I filter out negative reviews?

Yes. The plugin lets you filter reviews by star rating, so you can choose to display only 4- and 5-star reviews. You can also hide specific individual reviews from the widget.

Does it work with Elementor and other page builders?

Yes. The plugin generates a shortcode that works in Gutenberg, Elementor, Divi, WPBakery, Beaver Builder, and any other builder that supports shortcodes. You can place the widget anywhere on your site.