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WordPress Guide → Plugins → Floating Google Reviews
Floating Google reviews plugin for WordPress: Top 3 options and how to choose
A well-placed Google review can be the nudge that turns a curious visitor into a loyal customer. But when those reviews float across your website at just the right time, they do more than build trust—they grab attention and drive action.
Let’s look at how floating Google Reviews work on WordPress, what to look for in a plugin, and which ones are worth using.
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What is a floating Google review?
A floating Google review is a real customer testimonial from your Google Business Profile that appears on your website in a sticky or pop-up format. These reviews can “float” at the bottom, side, or corner of the screen as visitors scroll through your content.
Unlike static testimonial sections or widgets placed in a sidebar, floating reviews are designed to stay visible and stand out—without interrupting the user experience.
Most floating review plugins allow you to customize the location, animation, timing, and styling of the reviews so they fit naturally with your site’s design while still grabbing attention.
Benefits of floating Google reviews on your site
Floating reviews are more than just eye-catching. They serve multiple purposes when integrated thoughtfully into your website.
- Build trust fast. Floating reviews pull in verified testimonials from your Google profile, giving visitors social proof from real people, right when they’re considering a product or service.
- Improve conversion rates. Seeing positive feedback at critical decision-making moments, like on a pricing or checkout page, can help reduce hesitation and increase purchases or signups.
- Enhance user engagement. When reviews are animated or subtly sticky, they’re more likely to be read than a static testimonial buried in a footer or sidebar.
- Boost SEO indirectly. While Google doesn’t index these reviews twice, a higher engagement and conversion rate can lead to lower bounce rates and improved site performance.
- Promote specific services or offerings. You can display a curated review related to a product, location, or service page so each testimonial is contextually relevant.
Key features to look for
When evaluating a floating Google Reviews plugin, it’s important to go beyond aesthetics. Look for these practical and performance-based features.
- Direct integration with Google Business. The plugin should fetch reviews directly via the Google Places API to ensure accuracy and real-time updates.
- Floating layout and position control. Look for customization options for where and how the review floats—bottom left, sticky right, timed popup, etc.
- Filtering and moderation. You should be able to filter by star rating, keyword, or manually select which reviews to show.
- Responsive design. Floating reviews should look just as good on mobile as they do on desktop.
- Style and branding options. You’ll want control over fonts, colors, animation effects, and display elements like avatars or star ratings.
- Performance optimization. Lightweight plugins that are optimized for speed help preserve your Core Web Vitals.
Top plugins for floating Google reviews
Each of the following plugins offers floating display options for Google Reviews, but they differ in customizability, pricing, and ease of use.
| Plugin Name | Google Integration | Floating Layout | Filtering Options | Free Version | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Widgets for Google Reviews | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | $29/year |
| Reviews Feed by Smashballoon | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | $49/year |
1. Widgets for Google Reviews
Widgets for Google Reviews is a lightweight plugin that integrates directly with your Google Business Profile. It offers multiple display formats including floating badges, sliders, and pop-up styles.
You can manually select which reviews to show, filter by rating, and adjust the timing and animation of the floating review widgets. Customization options include layout position, fonts, star display, and review length.
- Easy setup with step-by-step Google API connection
- Great for customizing review visibility and layout
- Multiple display options including carousel and grid views
- Floating badge is responsive and can be positioned anywhere on the screen
Best for: Beginners who want a fast, no-fuss plugin with excellent floating layouts
Starting at $29/year
2. Reviews Feed by Smashballoon
Reviews Feed by Smashballoon provides a sleek, professional way to embed floating Google reviews with dynamic styling and animations. It supports Google Places integration and includes auto-syncing, review filtering, and layout controls.
The floating layout can be timed, positioned, and styled to match your theme perfectly. Smashballoon also offers caching and speed optimizations to keep performance strong.
- Built-in templates for floating and inline views
- Moderation tools to hide low-rated or off-brand reviews
- Compatible with Elementor, Divi, and other page builders
- Trusted brand known for their social feed plugins
Best for: Design-focused users and agencies who want polished, fast-loading feeds
Starting at $49/year
3. WP Social Ninja
WP Social Ninja is a powerful all-in-one review and social feed plugin that pulls reviews from Google, Facebook, Yelp, and more. Its floating layout features include sticky sidebars, scroll-triggered popups, and animation effects.
It’s ideal for those looking to display multiple types of content and social proof in one interface. You can filter by platform, rating, or manually select individual reviews, then style them with advanced design options.
- Supports 30+ social platforms including Google
- Highly customizable floating badge and widget layouts
- Review sync, filtering, and manual curation
- Built-in templates for ecommerce, service, and local business sites
Best for: Power users and marketers who want total control over social proof
Starting at $89/year
How to use a floating Google review plugin on WordPress
Adding floating Google reviews to your site is a straightforward process with the right plugin.
Choose and install your plugin. Go to Plugins > Add New, search for the plugin (e.g. Widgets for Google Reviews), and install it.
- Connect to Google. Most plugins require a Google API key and your Business Place ID. These are free to generate in the Google Cloud Console and Places platform.
- Customize your layout. Select the floating review format, choose position (like bottom-left), set filters (such as 4 stars and up), and adjust styling.
- Embed using shortcode or widget. Most plugins provide a shortcode or block you can insert into any page, or they let you auto-inject the floating review globally.
- Test on mobile. Floating reviews need to be mobile-responsive, so always preview and tweak placement on phones and tablets.
Next steps for floating Google reviews plugins for WordPress
Floating Google Reviews can play a major role in earning trust and improving conversions on your WordPress site. With the right plugin, you can highlight glowing customer feedback exactly when and where it matters most.
Pick the plugin that matches your design needs and budget, then start experimenting with placement and filters for the best results.
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