Reviews
How to Show Google Reviews on Your Website — Widgets, Rules and What Google Allows (Review Stars, Schema)
Ways to display Google reviews on your business website, what the review policies allow, why "self-serving" review stars no longer show in Google results for local businesses, and best practices that build trust.
By Chamko Research Team Updated 2 min read
Quick answer
You can display your Google reviews on your website using an embed/widget service, Google's Places API (developer route), or by quoting selected reviews with the reviewer's first name and a link to your Google profile. But since 2019 Google doesn't show review stars in search results for reviews a LocalBusiness or Organization publishes about itself ("self-serving reviews"), even if you add review schema or a widget. Show reviews for trust and conversions — not for star snippets.
Quick answer: You can display your Google reviews on your website using an embed/widget service, Google's Places API (developer route), or by quoting selected reviews with the reviewer's first name and a link to your Google profile. But since 2019 Google doesn't show review stars in search results for reviews a LocalBusiness or Organization publishes about itself ("self-serving reviews"), even if you add review schema or a widget. Show reviews for trust and conversions — not for star snippets.
Why show reviews on your site
- Visitors trust third-party reviews more than your own claims.
- Recent reviews near your "Book" or "WhatsApp" button increase enquiries.
- They answer common questions in customers' words.
Options
1. Review widgets (easiest) Third-party widgets pull your Google reviews and display them in a slider or grid. Choose one that's lightweight (doesn't slow your page), shows recent reviews, and links to your Google profile.
2. Places API (developer) Developers can fetch a limited number of recent reviews via Google's Places API and display them following Google's attribution requirements.
3. Manual quotes Copy 4–6 short reviews (with permission where possible), show first name and date, and add a "Read all reviews on Google" link. Fast and lightweight.
The rules
- Don't edit customers' words to change meaning.
- Show genuine reviews, not only cherry-picked lines out of context.
- Attribute them to Google and link to the source.
- Don't invent reviews or ratings.
About review stars in Google results
Google treats reviews about a business published on that business's own site — via markup or embedded widgets — as self-serving and doesn't show star rich results for LocalBusiness and Organization types. Adding AggregateRating to your homepage won't bring stars back. Stars can still show for some other content types and for third-party review sites. Your Google Business Profile stars show in Maps regardless.
Best placement
- Homepage below the hero section.
- Service pages: reviews mentioning that service.
- Contact/booking page near the button.
- A "Review us" link to your Google review link.
Frequently asked questions
Will a reviews widget improve my SEO?
Not directly; it can improve conversions and dwell time.
Can I copy reviews from Google onto my site?
Quoting with attribution and a link is common practice; respect the reviewer and Google's terms.
Why did my review stars disappear from Google results?
Likely the self-serving review change. Focus on your Business Profile rating instead.