How to Add Google Reviews to Joomla (Free & Paid Methods)

I’ve added Google reviews to three Joomla sites in the last year, one on Joomla 4, one on Joomla 5, and a fresh install on Joomla 6 (released early 2026). The steps shifted slightly across versions, and the right extension depends on which version of Joomla you’re running.

So here’s what I learned. There are four real ways to put Google reviews on a Joomla site in 2026, ranked by how fast they ship and how much control you keep over design and the Google API key headache. I’ll walk through each, point out where they break, and tell you which one I’d pick.

4 ways to add Google reviews to Joomla (quick comparison)

Before the steps, the cheat sheet I wish I’d had on day one.

If you just want my pick: a Joomla-native JED extension if you want everything inside the Joomla admin panel, or the Custom HTML module embed if you want portability and richer design control. Both ship in under 20 minutes.

Quick note: API limits and the “5 reviews” cap

One thing that catches Joomla users off guard: most Google Reviews extensions can only display the 5 most recent reviews at a time.

That’s a hard cap imposed by Google’s Places API, not by the extension developer. If you want to show 20 or 50 reviews, you’ll need a third-party widget (Method 2 below) that pulls from a separate review database rather than directly from Google Places.

Worth knowing before you spend an hour configuring a JED extension and wondering why it stops at 5.

Quick note: Which Joomla version are you on?

This decides which extensions actually work for you.

• Joomla 3: still supported by older extensions, but most actively maintained Google Reviews modules have dropped J3 support or are wrapping up.
• Joomla 4: still widely supported in 2026.
• Joomla 5: current stable line. Most JED extensions explicitly list J5 compatibility.
• Joomla 6: released early 2026. Several JED Google Reviews extensions added native J6 support in February 2026. If you’re on J6, check the extension’s changelog before installing.

Check your version under System > System Information in the admin panel. The instructions below cover J4, J5, and J6.

Why add Google reviews to Joomla at all?

Quick gut check before you spend time. Joomla powers a fair share of small businesses and local service sites where trust signals do a lot of the conversion work.

Google review data show that 80% of consumers turn to Google reviews when evaluating local businesses, and 74% trust a business more after reading positive reviews.

Specific wins I’ve seen on Joomla sites:

• Higher inquiries on service pages. A health clinic I worked with added a Google reviews module above the contact form. Form submissions climbed across the entire site, with no other change.
• Better local SEO. Reviews embedded with proper schema markup support local search and help Google understand what your business actually does.
• Rich snippets in search results. When the extension outputs schema.org AggregateRating markup, your pages can earn star ratings in Google search, lifting organic CTR.
• Free social proof that updates itself. Set the widget once. New 5-star reviews appear automatically.

So yes, worth the hour. Let’s get into it.

Method 1: Install a Joomla-native JED extension

If you want a true Joomla-native feel where everything lives inside the admin panel, the Joomla Extensions Directory has several actively-maintained Google Reviews extensions in 2026.

You install them like any other Joomla module, configure them inside the admin, and assign them to module positions in your template.

The actively-maintained options in 2026:

• Google Reviews Pro by AllForJoomla (Oleg Micriucov). The most popular paid extension on the JED. Supports Joomla 3 through 6. No Google API key required, which is rare. Last update February 2026.
• AA Google Business Reviews. Free extension on the JED. Supports J3-J6. Requires a Google Place ID and your server to have cURL and allow_url_fopen enabled. Limited to 5 reviews (Google Places API limit).
• Dashbite Google Reviews. Paid extension with 6 layout themes and built-in schema markup. Requires a Google API key. Has an API cache system to minimize calls.

Steps (using any JED extension that follows the standard install pattern):

1. Buy or download the extension’s ZIP file. Most paid extensions are $20 to $40 one-time. Free options exist on the JED.
2. In your Joomla admin, go to System > Install > Extensions. Click Upload Package File and upload the ZIP.
3. For extensions that need an API key, get a Google Maps Platform API key from the Google Cloud Console. Some extensions (like Google Reviews Pro) skip this step entirely.
4. Open the extension’s settings via Components or Extensions > Modules. Paste your API key and Place ID if needed.
5. Pick a layout (list, grid, slider, gallery), set filters (minimum star rating, review count), and enable schema markup for rich snippets.
6. Assign the module to a position in your template (sidebar, footer, content-bottom, or a custom position).
7. Save and clear the Joomla cache. Refresh your site to see the reviews live.

Honest take: this is the most “Joomla-native” feel of the four methods. The trade-off is the 5-review API cap for most extensions and the need to set up an API key for those that require it. Google Reviews Pro is the standout option if you want to skip the API key entirely.

Good for: Joomla site owners who want everything inside the admin panel and don’t mind a one-time extension cost.

Method 2: Custom HTML module + embed widget (my recommended path)

This is what I use across most Joomla client sites because it doesn’t lock you into the Google Places API 5-review cap. You generate a widget code in a review tool, then paste it into Joomla’s built-in Custom HTML module.

The widget pulls reviews live from Google in real time, with full design control on the widget side and no 5-review limit.

The benefit over Method 1: portable embed code (works if you ever move off Joomla), no Joomla version compatibility worries, and the ability to display 20, 50, or 100+ reviews if needed.

For this walkthrough, I’ll use WiserReview’s Google review widget, which is what I built. Free plan covers up to 10 reviews. Paid plans start at $9 per month, or $6.75 if you go yearly.

Embedding the widget in Joomla

Once you have your embed code, here’s how to drop it into Joomla. The steps are nearly identical on J4, J5, and J6.

1. Log in to your Joomla admin panel.
2. Go to Content > Site Modules (or Extensions > Modules on older versions).
3. Click + New. From the module type list, pick Custom.
4. Give the module a title (or untick “Show Title” to hide it).
5. In the editor, switch to Code view (the </> button or “Toggle editor” link). Paste your WiserReview embed code.
6. Under Module Assignment, pick which pages should show the widget (all pages, only selected pages, or all except certain ones).
7. Under Position, select where in your template the widget appears (sidebar, footer, content-top, content-bottom, or a custom position your template supports).
8. Set Status to Published. Click Save & Close.
9. Clear the Joomla cache under System > Maintenance > Clear Cache. Refresh your site.

If you don’t switch to Code view before pasting, Joomla’s editor (TinyMCE or JCE) strips iframe and script tags as a security measure. The widget will save but render as plain text.

Make sure the embed URL starts withhttps://, since modern browsers block HTTP iframes as mixed content.

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Method 3: Embed Google Maps (for local businesses)

If your Joomla site is for a physical location (a clinic, a restaurant, a service business), this is a sneaky, useful workaround. You embed a Google Maps link for your business, and visitors see your star rating right in the preview card when they click the pin.

Steps:

1. Go to maps.google.com and search for your business by name.
2. Click Share > Embed a map. Copy the iframe code.
3. In Joomla, create a new Custom HTML module (same as Method 2).
4. Switch to Code view and paste the iframe.
5. Assign it to the position you want (typically a contact or location page).
6. Publish and clear the cache.

What you get: a live map showing your business name, address, star rating (visible when visitors click the pin), and a link to the full review list on Google Maps.

What you don’t get: review text on your site. The star rating only shows after a click, so this is a trust signal, not a conversion driver.

Good combo: pair this with Method 1 or 2. Use the JED extension or widget on your homepage and drop the Google Maps widget on your contact page.

Method 4: Add Google reviews manually (free, but high-maintenance)

Sometimes you only need three glowing reviews on your About page. No live feed, no extension, no monthly cost. Two ways to do this inside Joomla.

Option A: Screenshot the reviews

Open your Google Business Profile, take a clean screenshot of each review (including the reviewer’s name and photo), and add them as images inside a Joomla article or Custom HTML module.

• Why it works: Zero cost, no extension, you pick exactly which reviews show.
• Where it breaks: Reviews never refresh automatically. Screenshots aren’t readable by Google or screen-readers, so you lose any SEO benefit.

Option B: Copy review text into a Joomla article

Open a review on your Google Business Profile, copy the text and reviewer name, then paste it into a Joomla article styled as a testimonial. Add a small “Source: Google Reviews” link below each one so visitors can verify the original.

• Why it works: Searchable, accessible, brand-matched styling.
• Where it breaks: Visitors can’t verify the review without the link. Some shoppers default to assuming hand-typed reviews are fake.

Use these manual methods only for 3 to 5 evergreen reviews per page. Above that, the JED extension or widget methods win on every axis.

Real Google review widget examples on live sites

Here are three setups I came across recently, each in a different category. Steal the layout ideas.

Best practices that actually move the needle

Five things I’ve tested across Joomla sites that consistently improve engagement and SEO.

1. Enable schema markup for rich snippets. If your extension or widget supports schema.org AggregateRating or Review markup, turn it on. Google can then show star ratings next to your page in search results, lifting organic CTR. Validate using Google’s Rich Results Test after publishing.
2. Place reviews next to the conversion action. One module directly above a contact form or “Book Now” button works harder than five reviews scattered across the site. Use Joomla’s module positions to anchor reviews where decisions happen.
3. Show recency, not just stars. A 4.8 average with the newest review from six months ago raises eyebrows. Filter to show reviews from the last 60 to 90 days, where allowed by the extension.
4. Cache aggressively. Many JED extensions hit Google’s API on every page load by default, which slows your site. Set the cache duration to 24 hours or longer in the extension settings. Most extensions support this; some require manual configuration of Joomla’s cache.
5. Test on mobile. Joomla templates handle responsive design well, but third-party embed widgets can introduce extra spacing or scrollbars on phones. Test on a real device before going live.

Also see: How to add Google reviews on a website in 5 minutes

Mistakes I see Joomla users make over and over

Three patterns worth avoiding:

Pasting embed code into the WYSIWYG editor without switching to Code view. Joomla’s default editor (TinyMCE or JCE) strips iframe and script tags as a security measure. If your widget shows as plain text on the live site, this is the cause. Always switch to Code view before pasting.

Forgetting to clear the Joomla cache. After publishing a new Custom HTML module or extension, Joomla often serves the cached version of your page. The widget exists but doesn’t render until you clear the cache under System > Maintenance > Clear Cache. This is the most-asked question in Joomla support forums.

Installing two review extensions at once. Each extension loads its own scripts and styles, and they can conflict in the module positions you assign. Pick one tool and commit. If you need more layouts, look for an extension with multiple built-in themes rather than stacking plugins.

Which method should you actually pick?

Short version:

• Pick a Joomla-native JED extension if you want everything inside the admin panel and don’t mind the 5-review Google API cap. Google Reviews Pro by AllForJoomla is the standout if you want to skip setting up an API key.
• Pick the Custom HTML module embed (like WiserReview) if you want full design control, want to display more than 5 reviews, plan to run multiple sites, care about photo and video reviews, or want a portable embed that survives a CMS change. The free plan covers 10 reviews; paid plans are $9/month or $6.75/month annually.
• Pick the Google Maps embed if you’re a brick-and-mortar Joomla site and want a star rating on the contact page without showing review text.
• Pick the manual method if you have fewer than five reviews and want to feature specific ones on a single page.

For most Joomla users I work with, the right answer is either the Custom HTML module embed (portable, no 5-review cap, no API setup) or a JED extension if you live inside the Joomla admin and prefer keeping everything native. Both ship in under 20 minutes.

If you want to try the embed widget path, the WiserReview free plan covers 10 reviews and works with Joomla 4, 5, and 6. No credit card to start.