ReviewStars
Displays a modern Google Places rating badge with style controls, caching, auto refresh, and optional preview mode.
Consider an alternative
ReviewStars shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 10+ sites and was last updated 4 months ago, and scores 40/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where ReviewStars stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| badge | >100 |
| Google Reviews | >100 |
| rating | >100 |
| shortcode | >100 |
| stars | >100 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
About ReviewStars
From the official readme · v2.0.2Description
ReviewStars displays a Google Places star rating and total review count via a shortcode: [reviewstars].
It is built as a design tool: you can style the output in the admin and use Preview Mode to design without an API key or Place ID, which is useful for staging sites, page builders, and client approval.
Free build features
- Shortcode:
[reviewstars] - Google Places rating and review count using your own API key
- Caching via WordPress transients
- Configurable front-end auto-refresh
- Preview Mode with custom preview rating and review count
- On-click behavior: open your Google listing or “Write a review”
- Optional language parameter for the Google Places API
- Style controls for spacing, typography, review count background, Google icon placement, and separators
The WordPress.org build includes only the free functionality listed here. Additional paid functionality is delivered in a separate plugin package outside WordPress.org and is not included in this package.
Style editor
Control spacing, typography and icon placement without custom CSS:
- Toggle: show/hide review count and review text
- Stars font size
- Review text font size and font weight
- Optional review text color
- Number spacing: padding, margin, and vertical adjustment
- Number typography: font size, font weight, and optional color
- Optional number background: solid or gradient background, padding, radius, and border width
- Google icon: show/hide, position, gap, icon size, and separator styling
External Services
This plugin connects to the following third-party services:
1) Google Places API (Google Maps Platform)
Used to retrieve the rating and review count for the configured Place ID. Requests are made when the shortcode is rendered, when the admin “Test API settings” button is used, and when live refresh is enabled.
Service: https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/places/web-service/overview
Terms: https://cloud.google.com/maps-platform/terms
Privacy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
2) Freemius SDK (optional)
The plugin bundles the Freemius SDK for optional account, opt-in, and commercial upgrade flows. The free plugin functionality works without opting in to Freemius. If you opt in or use Freemius account features, data may be processed by Freemius according to their policies.
Privacy: https://freemius.com/privacy/
Terms: https://freemius.com/terms/
Shortcodes
[reviewstars]
Optional attributes:
refresh_ms="300000"– override refresh interval in millisecondspreview="1"– force preview output without API callsrating="4.8"– preview ratingreviews="1250"– preview review count
Installation
- Upload the plugin folder to
/wp-content/plugins/. - Activate “ReviewStars” through the Plugins menu.
- Go to Settings -> ReviewStars.
- Enter your Google Places API key and default Place ID, or enable Preview Mode.
- Add shortcode:
[reviewstars]
Frequently asked questions
Where do I get a Google Places API key?
Create one in Google Cloud Console and enable the Places API.
Does this plugin store reviews?
No. It retrieves and displays the rating and total review count.
Does this plugin send data to the plugin author?
No. ReviewStars does not send data to the plugin author’s servers.
Is the WordPress.org build complete?
Yes. The WordPress.org build contains the complete free plugin described above. Paid functionality is delivered separately and is not included in this package.
Why is there a Preview Mode?
So you can design the output without needing an API key or Place ID.
How can I support development?
You can support via the Donate link at the top of this page.
Changelog
2.0.2
- Reworked the Freemius build split so the WordPress.org/free package contains only free, fully functional code.
- Moved paid-package runtime code and paid-package assets into files excluded from the generated free build.
- Removed disabled paid-feature controls and dormant paid-feature JavaScript from the public/free package.
- Clarified external service documentation and free-build behavior.
2.0.1
- Initial public release.
- Added style editor to customize spacing, typography, and icon layout.
- Added preview mode to render output without an API key or Place ID.
- Added click actions for opening the Google listing or write-review screen.
- Added number background styling controls.
- Improved caching controls using WordPress transients and configurable cache duration.
- Improved admin UX with live preview updates and reset controls.
- General performance and compatibility improvements.
Screenshots
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
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FAQ
ReviewStars: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 14, 2026
Is ReviewStars free?
Yes. ReviewStars is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is ReviewStars safe to use in 2026?
ReviewStars shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 10+ sites and was last updated 4 months ago, and scores 40/100 on our health check.
How many websites use ReviewStars?
ReviewStars is active on 10+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 258 times since it launched in June 2026. It was downloaded 63 times in the last 30 days.
Does ReviewStars work with WordPress 7.1?
ReviewStars is officially tested up to WordPress 7.0.7, while the latest release is 7.1.3. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does ReviewStars need?
ReviewStars requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was ReviewStars last updated?
The latest version, 2.0.2, was released on June 3, 2026 (4 months ago).
Who makes ReviewStars?
ReviewStars is developed and maintained by designplug.
What are the best alternatives to ReviewStars?
The most popular alternatives to ReviewStars are YITH WooCommerce Badge Mana… (10K+ installs), Sold Out Badge for WooComme… (8K+ installs) and Trusted Shops Easy Integrat… (6K+ installs).
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