How to add Google reviews to BigCommerce (2026 free guide)

BigCommerce doesn’t show Google reviews out of the box. You’ll need an app, a widget, or a Google Maps embed to get them on your storefront.

Below are three methods that work in 2026, ranked by setup time.

I’ve flagged the parts that usually trip BigCommerce store owners up (theme integration, Stencil vs Page Builder, Place ID setup).

Why Google reviews matter for BigCommerce stores

BigCommerce stores live or die on trust. Most shoppers haven’t heard of your store before, and they need proof that real people buy from you.

Google reviews work harder than testimonials because they’re verified by Google itself. Three specific wins:

• Higher conversion on product pages. Star ratings near the Add to Cart button shorten the decision time.
• Rich snippets in search results. With proper schema markup, Google can show star ratings under your product listings. More on rich snippets for BigCommerce.
• Google Seller Ratings eligibility. A consistent flow of new reviews unlocks the seller rating badge on Google Ads, which lifts CTR. How Google Seller Ratings work.

What you’ll need before you start

• A verified Google Business Profile with at least one published review. Claim it at business.google.com if you haven’t.
• BigCommerce admin access with permission to install apps or edit theme files.
• Stencil or Page Builder theme (both supported, with slightly different placement steps).
• 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the method.

If your theme uses a heavily customized Stencil build, ask your developer where to add the widget before you start. Some custom themes hide the standard placement zones.

Method 1: BigCommerce App Marketplace (fastest)

Install an app from inside your BigCommerce control panel, connect your Google Business Profile, and the widget appears on your storefront.

Four apps from the BigCommerce App Marketplace handle Google reviews well in 2026:

App	Free tier	Google import	Schema markup	Paid from
WiserReview	100 requests/mo	Yes (native)	Yes	$9/mo
Yotpo Product Reviews	50 orders/mo	Yes (paid)	Yes	$15/mo
Stamped Reviews & UGC	50 orders/mo	Yes (Business+)	Yes	$23/mo
Reviews.io	14-day trial	Yes	Yes	$45/mo

Most ecommerce review apps charge per order volume rather than per review, so traffic and sales drive your tier. For a full breakdown, see our best BigCommerce review apps roundup.

Step-by-step: Install an app from BigCommerce App Marketplace

The flow is the same regardless of which app you pick:

1. Log into your BigCommerce control panel at store-yourname.mybigcommerce.com/manage.
2. In the left sidebar, click Apps → Marketplace.
3. Type Google reviews in the search bar, or search for the specific app (WiserReview, Yotpo, Stamped, Reviews.io).
4. Click the app, review permissions, and click Install.
5. The app opens inside your BigCommerce dashboard. Sign up for the free tier or paid plan.
6. In settings, click Connect Google Business Profile.
7. Sign in with the Google account tied to your business and grant the requested permissions.
8. Pick a widget style and customize colors.
9. Pick placement (product pages, homepage, footer, or all three).
10. Click Save changes. The widget activates on your storefront.

Most apps cache reviews server-side, so a quick refresh on your storefront should show the latest ones pulled from your Google Business Profile.

Method 2: Free widget builder + BigCommerce HTML widget

If you don’t want to commit to a full review app subscription, several free widget builders generate a copy-paste HTML embed that works inside BigCommerce’s Page Builder or Stencil theme.

Free widget builders include Elfsight, EmbedSocial, Tagembed, Trustmary, and WiserReview. Pattern is the same across all of them: sign up, connect Google, generate embed code, paste into BigCommerce.

Step-by-step: Generate the widget code (WiserReview example)

1. Go to app.wiserreview.com/signup. Create a free account, no credit card needed.
2. On your dashboard, scroll to Import Reviews and click Visit Import Reviews Section.

3. You’ll see all integration sources (Google, Trustpilot, Facebook, Yelp, CSV). Click Google.

4. Search your business by name or paste your Google Place ID. Click Import Reviews.
5. Wait 15-30 seconds for the sync.
6. In the left menu, click Widgets. Browse the gallery and pick a layout.

7. Open Filter Review Options to set rules (minimum star rating, reviews with text only, last 30/60/90 days).
8. Adjust colors, fonts, and call-to-action text in the right panel.

9. Click Install in the upper-left corner.
10. Copy the JavaScript embed code.

Step-by-step: Paste the widget code into BigCommerce

BigCommerce supports two ways to embed external HTML: Page Builder’s HTML widget (easiest) and Stencil theme template files (for sitewide placement).

Using Page Builder (recommended for most stores):

1. In your BigCommerce control panel, go to Storefront → My Themes.
2. Click Customize on your active theme to open Page Builder.
3. Pick the page where you want the widget (home page, product page template, custom page).
4. Drag the HTML widget from the left panel into the layout.
5. Paste the JavaScript embed code into the HTML widget’s content field.
6. Click Save, then Publish.

Using Stencil theme files (for sitewide placement):

1. Download your active theme via Storefront → My Themes → Download current theme.
2. Open the theme folder and find templates/components/common/footer.html (or another template based on where you want the widget).
3. Paste the embed code where you want the widget to appear.
4. Save the file, then upload the modified theme back through My Themes → Upload theme.
5. Apply the updated theme.

How to find your Google Place ID

Some widget builders ask for a Place ID instead of a business name:

1. Open Google’s Place ID finder at developers.google.com/maps/documentation/places/web-service/place-id.
2. Type your business name in the map search box.
3. Click your business marker on the map.
4. Copy the Place ID string (starts with “ChIJ”).

If your business doesn’t appear, your Google Business Profile is unverified. Claim and verify it at business.google.com first.

Method 3: Embed Google Maps (lightweight option)

If you run a brick-and-mortar store with a BigCommerce site (think a coffee shop with online ordering, or a salon selling products), embedding a Google Maps iframe is a stripped-down alternative.

Visitors see your business marker with a star rating in the preview, and clicking through takes them to your full Google reviews on Maps.

1. Search your business on maps.google.com.
2. Click Share → Embed a map and copy the iframe code.
3. In Page Builder, drag an HTML widget onto your contact page.
4. Paste the iframe code and click Save, then Publish.

The trade-off: visitors see a map preview, not curated review cards. Clicks leave your site to read full reviews on Google. Good for trust on a Contact page, weaker for product page conversion.

Where to place reviews on your BigCommerce store

Placement matters more than design. Reviews near the buying decision convert harder than reviews tucked into a footer.

• Product pages, above Add to Cart: a badge or small grid with 3-5 reviews lifts product page conversion most.
• Homepage hero: a slider with rotating reviews builds first-visit trust.
• Cart and checkout: a small badge with the overall star count reduces last-minute abandonment.
• Dedicated reviews page: a Wall of Love layout works here, plus a CTA to leave a review.
• Footer: a small rating badge keeps the trust signal visible without crowding any single page.

Test product page placement first. That’s where the highest-intent shoppers are, and where placement moves the conversion rate dial the most.

Keep your widget from slowing down BigCommerce

Review widgets are JavaScript-heavy. A poorly built widget adds 200-500ms to your page load, which hurts Core Web Vitals and conversion.

• Lazy load the widget: Most modern apps do this automatically. Check app settings for a lazy-load toggle.
• Cache the review data: Look for apps that cache reviews 6-24 hours, not on every page load.
• Limit initial reviews shown: Display 3-5 up front with “load more” for the rest.
• Use one app, not three: Stacking review apps creates duplicate API calls and CSS conflicts.

Run your store through PageSpeed Insights before and after adding the widget. A measurable drop means you should switch to a lighter app.

Common problems and fixes

“No reviews to display:” Your Google Business Profile is unverified, has zero reviews, or the Place ID is wrong. Verify the profile first, then double-check the Place ID using Google’s official finder.

Widget shows but reviews don’t update: The app is caching old data. Look for a “Refresh reviews” button in the admin panel.

Stars don’t appear in Google search results: Schema markup is missing or invalid. Test your product page in Google’s Rich Results Test tool. If schema is missing, switch to an app that ships working schema (WiserReview and Yotpo both do).

Widget breaks on mobile: The widget’s responsive CSS isn’t kicking in. Use BigCommerce’s mobile preview before publishing, and switch apps if the layout doesn’t reflow.

App not appearing in BigCommerce App Marketplace: Your BigCommerce plan may be on a regional restriction. Contact BigCommerce support to enable third-party apps.

How to ask BigCommerce customers for Google reviews

Showing reviews is half the work. Getting new ones flowing matters more for long-term ranking and trust.

• Post-purchase email or SMS with a direct review link to your Google Business Profile. Most review apps automate this from order data.
• Order confirmation page CTA asking for a review once the order ships. Highest-conversion moment.
• QR code on packaging linking to your review page. Easy for mobile shoppers who don’t open emails.

Picking the right method for your store

Small store, under 100 orders/month. Method 2 (free widget builder + Page Builder HTML widget). No subscription needed, full design control, takes 15 minutes.

Growing store with regular order volume. Method 1 with WiserReview or Yotpo. Native BigCommerce integration, automated review requests, schema markup that triggers rich snippets.

Local business with a BigCommerce storefront. Method 3 (Google Maps embed) on the Contact page, plus Method 1 or 2 on product pages.