How To Add Google Review Widget to WordPress Website: A Complete Guide

In today’s competitive online landscape, customer reviews are more than just feedback — they are social proof that builds trust, credibility, and conversions. One of the most impactful ways to showcase your business reputation is by adding a Google review widget to your WordPress website. If you’re wondering how to do it effectively, you’re in the right place.

This guide will walk you through the process of integrating Google reviews widgets into your WordPress site, explain why it matters, and offer the best tools to get started quickly.

Why Add Google Review Widget to WordPress?

Before we get into the “how,” let’s talk about the “why.”

Google reviews carry weight. According to studies, over 90% of customers read online reviews before making a purchase decision. Embedding Google reviews on your website:

Enhances trust and credibility
Improves SEO (search engines love fresh, user-generated content)
Increases engagement and conversions
Offers real-time social proof of your product or service quality

In short, when you add Google review widget to WordPress, you’re not just showcasing happy customers — you’re building a stronger brand presence online.

What is a Google Review Widget?

A Google review widget is a small, embedded section of your website that displays real-time reviews from your Google Business Profile. Rather than asking customers to search for your business online to read your reviews, a widget brings them directly to your site.

This can take the form of:

A sidebar widget showing the latest reviews
A review carousel on your homepage
A dedicated testimonial section with star ratings and user comments

Now, let’s get into how to embed Google reviews into your WordPress site.

How to Add Google Review Widget to WordPress Website

There are a few ways to embed Google reviews in WordPress, but the most popular and user-friendly method is using a plugin. Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough.

1. Choose a WordPress Plugin

Several plugins make it easy to add Google reviews widget to your website. Here are some of the top options:

Tagbox
Tagbox offers a simple and powerful way to display Google reviews on your website. With user-friendly customization options, responsive layouts, and real-time sync, it’s a top choice for businesses that want a sleek and professional reviews widget. It supports easy WordPress integration and is optimized for performance.
Widget for Google Reviews by Trustindex
One of the most popular plugins in the WordPress directory, it allows you to connect your Google Business Profile, filter reviews, and display them in a variety of templates. It offers both free and premium plans with advanced styling and review filtering.
Tagembed
Tagembed provides a robust platform to embed Google review widgets using a lightweight and customizable interface. It supports multiple themes, automatic syncing, and even allows you to add reviews from other platforms like Facebook and Yelp. Perfect for businesses looking for an all-in-one social proof solution.
WP Google Review Slider
This plugin allows you to display reviews in a slider format that can be placed anywhere on your site using shortcodes. It offers filtering, design options, and automatic updates for Google reviews.
Elfsight Google Reviews Widget
Elfsight is a premium tool that allows for beautifully designed review widgets. It offers multiple layouts, language support, and seamless integration with WordPress, even without a plugin.

Steps to Embed Google Reviews in WordPress

Here’s a step-by-step process for embedding the widget using a plugin:

Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin

Go to your WordPress dashboard.
Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
Search for the plugin of your choice (e.g., Tagbox or Tagembed).
Click Install Now, then Activate.

Step 2: Connect to Your Google Business Account

Most plugins will ask you to:

Enter your Google Place ID
Connect your Google account securely via OAuth
Allow access to your reviews and profile

This process is generally secure and straightforward.

Step 3: Customize Your Widget

Customize your widget to align with your brand. You can typically:

Choose a layout (grid, list, carousel)
Filter reviews (e.g., only 4-star and above)
Customize colors, fonts, and styles
Set auto-refresh intervals for updated reviews

Step 4: Add the Widget to Your Site

Most plugins provide a shortcode or Gutenberg block. You can:

Add the shortcode to any page or post
Use the widget area (sidebar/footer)
Insert into the theme using PHP if needed

This will instantly embed Google reviews on the desired page.

Best Practices for Using Google Review Widgets

✅ Keep It Updated

Ensure your reviews are automatically synced to reflect recent customer feedback.

✅ Use Strategic Placement

Place widgets where they make the most impact — like your homepage, product pages, or landing pages.

✅ Highlight the Best Reviews

Many plugins let you pin or prioritize certain reviews. Use this to show glowing customer feedback front and center.

✅ Make It Mobile Friendly

Choose a plugin that is responsive to ensure your review widget looks good on all devices.

✅ Optimize for SEO

Some plugins include schema markup which can help your review content appear as rich snippets in Google search results.

Manual Option: Embed Google Reviews Without a Plugin

Prefer not to use a plugin? You can still add Google review widget to WordPress manually:

Go to your Google Business Profile
Copy your reviews page URL
Use tools like Tagembed or Elfsight to generate a custom HTML embed code
Paste it into an HTML block on your WordPress page or post

While this method offers fewer customization options, it’s quick and lightweight.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a local business, online brand, or service provider, displaying reviews builds trust — fast. By choosing the right plugin like Tagbox, Tagembed, or Trustindex, you can add Google review widget to WordPress in minutes and start leveraging the power of social proof right on your site.

From enhanced user engagement to improved search rankings and higher conversions, Google reviews are a game-changer. Take the step today and embed Google review content where it matters most.