When creating my own WordPress plugins, I found that gaining trust was often more challenging than developing the product. Even with excellent features and support, unfamiliarity can make users hesitant to click “Install” or “Buy.”
To address this, I suggest displaying real WordPress.org reviews and ratings on your website. Authentic feedback from current users can reassure new visitors about choosing your plugin or theme.
This simple addition can significantly enhance credibility and conversions.
In this guide, I’ll demonstrate how to showcase live WordPress.org plugin and theme reviews on your site without any coding.
Why Embed WordPress.org Reviews on Your WordPress Website?
Displaying WordPress.org reviews on your site is a straightforward way to increase installs and sales for your plugin or theme.
People trust user feedback more than marketing messages. When visitors see real ratings and feedback from WordPress.org on your site, it reassures them of your product’s legitimacy.
Additionally, visitors stay on your site to check reviews, leading to more pageviews and engagement.
Here are other benefits of embedding WordPress.org reviews:
Builds instant trust — Real reviews show that others already use and love your product, encouraging them to click “Install” or “Buy.”
Highlights your strengths — Reviews often mention ease of use, support quality, or performance, persuading new users.
Keeps social proof fresh — Reviews update automatically, indicating your product is active and reliable.
Now, I’ll guide you through displaying WordPress.org plugin and theme reviews on your site.
Here’s what I’ll cover in this guide:
Step 1: Install and Activate Smash Balloon’s Reviews Feed Pro
For this tutorial, I’ll use the Smash Balloon Reviews Feed plugin. It’s the best WordPress product review plugin, allowing you to easily display reviews from various sites, including WordPress.org, on your website.
At WPBeginner, we’ve extensively tested the plugin’s features. You can see our full results in our in-depth Smash Balloon review.
First, sign up for Reviews Feed Pro from the Smash Balloon website. Click ‘Get Started’ and follow the signup process to create an account.
Note: You’ll need the Smash Balloon Reviews Feed’s Elite plan or the All Access Bundle to embed WordPress.org reviews, as connecting to specialized sources like WordPress.org requires advanced features.
Once you’ve purchased a license, copy your Elite license key from your Smash Balloon account dashboard or the email you received upon signup.
Then, go to Plugins » Add New Plugin from your WordPress admin area to install the free Smash Balloon Reviews Feed plugin. Start by installing the free version, then use your license key to unlock the pro features.
On the next screen, use the search feature to find Smash Balloon Reviews Feed quickly.
In the search results, click ‘Install Now’ and then ‘Activate.’ For help, see our complete guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
After activation, you’ll see a new ‘Reviews Feed’ menu item in your WordPress admin.
In the ‘Settings’ section, enter your license key and click ‘Install Pro’ to unlock all the Reviews Feed Pro premium features.
Step 2: Create a New Review Feed
Now it’s time to set up your first review feed.
Navigate to Reviews Feed » All Feeds in your WordPress dashboard and click the ‘Add New’ button. This opens the feed creation wizard, guiding you through connecting to WordPress.org.
The plugin supports multiple review platforms, including Google, Facebook, and Yelp. But for this tutorial, I’m focusing on WordPress.org plugin and theme reviews.
Select ‘WordPress.org’ from the available review sources and click ‘Next.’
The setup wizard will prepare to connect your feed to WordPress.org’s review system.
This connection allows the plugin to automatically pull in fresh reviews from any WordPress.org plugin or theme page you specify.
Step 3: Add Your WordPress.org Plugin or Theme as a Source
To connect your review feed to specific WordPress.org reviews, provide the URL of the plugin or theme with the reviews you want to display.
Open a new browser tab and navigate to the WordPress.org page for your chosen plugin or theme.
For example, if you want to show reviews for a contact form plugin, go to that plugin’s official WordPress.org page and copy the complete URL from your browser’s address bar.
For WPForms, the correct URL is https://wordpress.org/plugins/wpforms-lite/.
Make sure to copy the link from the main page, not from the reviews or support tabs.
This URL acts as a map pointer, directing the plugin to the right reviews for your product.
Return to your WordPress dashboard, paste the URL into the ‘Page URL’ field, and click ‘Finish.’
Pro Tip: The process is the same for displaying plugin or theme reviews. Just ensure you copy the URL from the correct WordPress.org page.
Once connected, Reviews Feed Pro will automatically sync with WordPress.org to pull in the latest
