5 min 
Squarespace makes it easy to build a clean site, but reviews work very differently from what most store owners expect.
Yes, the product review feature is available in Squarespace for Commerce Basic or Advanced plans, allowing customers to leave reviews directly on product pages.
However, there’s a catch: it’s good for simple e-commerce, but it doesn’t work for service-based businesses, won’t import reviews from Google or Facebook, and won’t provide you with the level of control that many businesses require as they grow.
This gap matters if you want to maximize trust, conversions, or search rankings. This guide breaks down what Squarespace offers out of the box, where it falls short, and when it’s time to switch to a third-party review platform.
What Squarespace’s built-in reviews include
In 2026, Squarespace’s built-in reviews, officially called Product Reviews, include several automated collection and management tools primarily designed for e-commerce.
Collection & automation
- Automated Requests: Squarespace automatically sends a review request email to customers 14 days after an order is marked as fulfilled.
- Eligible Products: Reviews can be collected for physical, digital download, service, and subscription products.
- Time Limits: Customers have 120 days from the date of their order to submit a review.
- Subscription Handling: For subscription products, customers only receive one request email for the initial purchase, not for subsequent renewals.
Reviewer capabilities
- Star Ratings: Customers can rate from 1 to 5 stars.
- Written Content: Reviews can include a written message up to 1,500 characters.
- Single Review Policy: Customers can typically leave only one review per unique product within a 120-day window.
Management & display
- Visibility Control: You cannot delete reviews, but you can hide them from your public product pages through the Customer reviews panel.
- Display Options: You can choose to show only specific product reviews, aggregate store-wide reviews, or both, divided into separate tabs.
- Etsy Integration: There is a built-in feature to import reviews from Etsy, though these do not update automatically and must be re-imported to show new feedback.
- Notifications: You can toggle on email notifications to be alerted whenever a new customer review is submitted.
Major exclusions
No Native Response: There is no built-in way to reply publicly to reviews; you must contact the customer via email instead.
No External Aggregation: The native tool does not pull or sync reviews from Google, Facebook, or Yelp.
No Gift Cards: Gift card purchases are excluded from automated review requests.
All your reviews in one place
Collect reviews, manage every response, and display them where they matter most.
When Squarespace reviews are “good enough.”
Squarespace’s built-in reviews are “good enough” if your primary goal is simple, automatic social proof for an online store without the cost or complexity of third-party plugins. They are a sufficient choice in the following scenarios:
➔ You run a straightforward e-commerce shop
If you sell standard physical or digital products and only need a basic 5-star rating and text feedback on your product pages, the native tool is sufficient. It handles the basics, like automated email requests, without any manual setup once enabled.
➔ You prioritize all-in-one simplicity
The native tool is ideal if you want to avoid managing multiple subscriptions or dealing with custom code. It integrates seamlessly with your dashboard, meaning you don’t have to worry about plugin updates, security patches, or compatibility issues.
➔ You are just starting out
For new businesses or solo entrepreneurs with a limited product line, the built-in system provides immediate credibility at no extra cost. It allows you to build trust with early customers before your volume justifies a paid third-party platform.
➔ You already have an Etsy following
If you are moving your business from Etsy to Squarespace, the built-in tool is “good enough” because it allows you to import your existing Etsy reviews to maintain your established reputation immediately.
➔ You want zero transaction fees for reviews
Using the native tool keeps you within the Commerce Basic or Advanced plans (Core or higher in 2026 tiers), which already offer 0% transaction fees on sales.
Some third-party review widgets may require you to upgrade to higher site plans to use “Code Blocks” or “Embed Blocks”.
When you’ll need a third-party review tool
As your business grows or if you operate outside ecommerce, Squarespace’s built-in system shows its limits quickly. You should consider a third-party platform when;
1. You need social proof from external sites
Squarespace cannot natively pull reviews from Google, Facebook, Yelp, or Trustpilot. To show a unified rating from these platforms, you need a tool like WiserReview.
External reviews often carry more weight for first-time visitors. Showing them on your site helps transfer trust from known platforms and reduces hesitation.
2. You run a service-based business
The built-in system is tied strictly to product orders. If you are a consultant, agency, or photographer, you’ll need a tool like WiserReview to collect and display general business testimonials.
Service reviews are usually triggered by completed work or appointments, not checkouts.
3. You want to publicly respond to reviews
Squarespace does not allow you to reply to reviews on your site. Third-party tools provide a dashboard for managing and publicly responding to feedback, which is essential for brand reputation management.
Public replies show accountability and improve trust, especially when handling neutral or negative reviews.
4. You need advanced automation or reminders
The built-in feature allows only one follow-up reminder to be sent after a purchase, which is sent 14 days after the purchase.
Other features, such as WiserReview, allow multiple reminders to be sent, the ability to set the time (for example, 3 days versus 14 days), and even the option to provide incentives, such as discount codes, for leaving a review.
The more reminders sent, the better the response rate, especially among customers with lower engagement levels.
5. You want video or photo reviews
Squarespace’s native options are only text and star ratings. To allow customers to upload media-rich social proof on your product pages, you will need an extension such as WiserReview.
Picture and video reviews increase conversions by showing how the product has been used.
6. You require interactive features (Q&A)
If your products are complex and customers often have questions, tools like WiserReview add a Product Q&A section alongside reviews, allowing you to build an on-page knowledge base.
Answering questions also helps future buyers and reduces repetitive pre-sale support inquiries.
7. You are focused on technical SEO (Rich Snippets)
While Squarespace includes basic markup, third-party tools often offer more robust support for Google Rich Snippets (Schema.org), increasing the likelihood that your star ratings will appear prominently in organic search results.
Rich snippets can improve click-through rates even when rankings stay the same.
All your reviews in one place
Collect reviews, manage every response, and display them where they matter most.Wrap up
Squarespace does include built-in product reviews, but only at a basic level. They work well for simple online stores that need star ratings and short feedback without extra setup.
Once your needs grow, the limits show fast. Service businesses, external reviews, replies, media reviews, and deeper control are not supported by the native system.
That is where WiserReview fits in. It helps you collect, manage, and show reviews from one place, add photo and video reviews, reply publicly, and improve trust and search visibility without relying on workarounds.
Frequently asked questions
No. Native reviews work only for ecommerce products. Service businesses need a third-party tool like WiserReview.
No. It supports only a one-time Etsy import. Squarespace doesn't natively import Google or Facebook reviews.
No. Reviews cannot be edited or deleted. Store owners can only hide them.
Customers receive a request 14 days after fulfillment, and they have 120 days to submit a review.
WiserReview is a strong option for multi-channel collection, automation, and clean on-site display.
Krunal
