The Ultimate Guide to Adding Google Reviews to Shopify (Step-by-Step Tutorial)

Why Trust Me When You Can Trust Google?

Let’s be real—when was the last time you bought something online without checking the reviews first? Exactly. In the age of e-commerce, customer trust is currency, and Google Reviews is the gold standard. If you’re running a Shopify store and haven’t yet added Google Reviews, you’re missing out on a massive trust-boosting opportunity.

Think about it: Would you rather buy from a store with glowing 5-star Google Reviews displayed front and center or a store with crickets in the review section? Customers are skeptical, and rightfully so. Scammers and low-quality stores have made online shopping a risky game. But the easiest way to eliminate doubts? Showcase real, verified customer reviews directly from Google!

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to add Google Reviews to Shopify—step by step, without tech headaches. Whether you want to do it manually, use an app, or go full developer mode, I’ve got you covered. Let’s get started!

Why Are Google Reviews Important for Your Shopify Store?

Before we dive into the technical stuff, let’s talk about why this even matters. Adding Google Reviews to Shopify isn’t just a “nice-to-have” feature—it’s a business growth hack.

Builds Trust and Credibility

According to BrightLocal, 98% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchase. Google Reviews are seen as more reliable than reviews left directly on your website because they can’t be tampered with.

Improves SEO and Visibility

Google Reviews contribute to local SEO rankings. More positive reviews mean better visibility in Google searches, which translates to more organic traffic to your store.

Increases Conversion Rates

Adding social proof can boost conversions by up to 270% (Spiegel Research Center). If visitors see others have had a great experience, they’re far more likely to hit the “Buy Now” button.

Competitive Advantage

If your competitors aren’t displaying Google Reviews, you automatically gain an edge over them. Transparency wins in e-commerce.

Now that you’re convinced (hopefully), let’s get into how to add Google Reviews to Shopify the right way.

Adding Google Reviews to Shopify Manually (Free but Tedious)

If you’re comfortable with a little coding and want to avoid using third-party apps, you can embed Google Reviews manually. Here’s how:

Find Your Google Place ID

1. Go to the Google Place ID Finder.
2. Enter your business name in the search bar.
3. Copy the Place ID that appears.

Generate the Google Reviews Embed Code

1. Open Google Maps and search for your business.
2. Click on Share → Embed a Map.
3. Copy the generated iframe code.

Embed It in Shopify

1. Go to Shopify Admin → Online Store → Themes.
2. Click Customize → Edit Code.
3. Open the theme.liquid file and paste the embed code where you want the reviews to appear (e.g., homepage, product pages).

🚨 Warning: This method only shows static reviews, meaning it won’t update automatically when new reviews come in. If you want a dynamic, auto-updating review section, check out the next method.

Using a Shopify App (Recommended for Non-Techies)

If you don’t want to mess with code, Shopify has several Google Reviews apps that handle everything for you. Here’s how to set it up:

Choose a Google Reviews App

Some of the best Shopify apps for adding Google Reviews include:

• Judge.me (Free & Paid)
• Google Reviews by Reputon (Paid)
• Loox (for visual reviews)

Install the App

1. Go to Shopify App Store and search for your chosen app.
2. Click Add app → Install.

Connect Your Google Business Profile

1. Log in to your Google Business account.
2. Allow the app to access your Google Reviews.
3. Configure how the reviews will display (carousel, grid, widget, etc.).

Customize the Display

Most apps let you:
✅ Show only 4+ star reviews
✅ Filter specific keywords
✅ Add a “Write a Review” button to collect more reviews

Once configured, the reviews will auto-update in real-time. No manual work needed!

Advanced API Integration (For Developers & Custom Stores)

If you have a custom Shopify setup and want full control, you can use the Google Places API to fetch and display reviews dynamically.

Get a Google Places API Key

1. Go to Google Cloud Console and create a new project.
2. Enable the Google Places API.
3. Generate an API key and restrict it to your Shopify domain.

Fetch Reviews Using API

Use the following URL format:

htmlCopyEdithttps://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/details/json?placeid=YOUR_PLACE_ID&key=YOUR_API_KEY

This will return a JSON object containing your reviews.

Display Reviews on Shopify

1. Use JavaScript to parse the JSON data.
2. Format the reviews in HTML and CSS.
3. Embed the script in your Shopify theme.

This method is fully customizable but requires coding skills. If you’re not comfortable with that, stick with an app!

Best Practices for Displaying Google Reviews on Shopify

• Showcase recent reviews (within the last 6 months).
• Highlight top-rated reviews for credibility.
• Respond to negative reviews—it shows professionalism.
• Encourage customers to leave reviews by adding a Google Review link in order confirmation emails.

FAQs

Don’t Just Sell, Build Trust!

Adding Google Reviews to Shopify isn’t just a design choice—it’s a business decision. Customers trust businesses with real, unfiltered feedback. By displaying Google Reviews, you build credibility, increase conversions, and boost SEO all at once.

Now that you know how to do it, what are you waiting for? Set it up today and watch your Shopify store gain instant social proof!