Testimonial plugins allow you to easily collect, manage and display customer reviews and testimonials on your WordPress site. Implementing testimonials can boost conversions by building trust and social proof.
But with so many testimonial plugins to choose from, how do you pick the right one for your needs?
In this post, we’ll compare the top WordPress testimonial plugins across key factors like features, pricing, design flexibility and ease of use. I’ll also provide specific recommendations based on use case.
Let‘s dive in!
Why Testimonials Matter for Boosting Conversions
Displaying credible testimonials from satisfied customers is crucial for establishing trust and validating product/service claims you make on your site.
According to research by BrightLocal:
- 97% of customers read online reviews before making purchasing decisions.
- Testimonials can increase conversions by over 15%.
Testimonial plugins make the process of managing and displaying testimonials much easier compared to adding them manually.
Key Features of Testimonial Plugins
When evaluating testimonial plugins, here are some key features to look for:
Collecting Testimonials: Allow website visitors to submit testimonials via forms, integrate with review platforms, import from comments etc.
Moderation Tools: Review, edit, approve or reject submitted testimonials before publishing. Prevents fake or inappropriate testimonials.
Display Options: Shortcodes, widgets and templates to showcase testimonials in different layouts – grids, sliders, columns etc.
Design Customization: Customize look and feel – fonts, colors, backgrounds etc. Either natively or by adding custom CSS.
Ratings & Reviews: Collect star ratings and reviews for products/services to display as testimonials.
Social Sharing: Encourage visitors to share published testimonials on social media platforms.
Performance & Security: Optimized code, regular updates, protection against spam testimonial submissions.
Now let’s take a look at the top plugins available…
1. Thrive Ovation – Best Overall Testimonial Plugin
Thrive Ovation is my pick for the best overall WordPress testimonial plugin thanks to its great combination of features, flexible designs and easy integration with other Thrive products.
Key Features
- Collect testimonials from forms, comments, social media and more
- 100+ designer templates for display
- Moderation and management tools
- Social sharing options
- Create quizzes and surveys to generate testimonials
- Native integration with other Thrive plugins
Pros
- Very powerful and feature-rich
- Beautiful modern templates
- Easy to use editor to customize styles
- Great support and regular updates
Cons
- Expensive (part of Thrive membership)
- Can be overwhelming for simple needs
Pricing
$49/month billed annually or $299/year for full Thrive membership
Verdict
Thrive Ovation is perfect for marketers already using other Thrive plugins who want a centralized platform to manage testimonials.
The combination of features, flexible designs and ease of use make it our #1 choice.
2. Strong Testimonials – Best Free Option
Strong Testimonials is a popular free testimonial plugin with impressive features and a free forever plan. It‘s a great option if you want to get started without paying.
Key Features
- Free version available
- Collect testimonials via forms
- 100+ templates to display testimonials
- Shortcode and widget options
- Basic moderation capability
Pros
- Free version has good features
- Easy to use and set up
- Lots of templates and options
Cons
- Limited features compared to paid version
- Basic styling and customization capability
Pricing
Free or paid between $29 – $99 per year
Verdict
If you want a free plugin to get started, Strong Testimonials is definitely the way to go. It beats the free versions of other plugins hands down.
3. WP Testimonials – Most Testimonial Display Options
WP Testimonials focuses heavily on testimonial display functionality, offering tons of options to showcase testimonials attractively.
Key Features
- 20+ grid layout designs
- 20+ slider options
- Shortcode system for placement
- Category/tag organization
- Basic styling options
Pros
- Hundreds of styled templates
- Easy to get testimonials on site
- Lightweight code
Cons
- Weak moderation capability
- Requires technical knowledge
- Limited customization capability
Pricing
Free or paid $119/year – $299 lifetime
Verdict
WP Testimonials shines when you want the maximum testimonial display options without much hassle.
But be prepared to get your hands dirty with shortcodes if you want more advanced features.
4. Testimonial Pro – Most Features
Testimonial Pro is a premium all-in-one testimonials manager with one of the most exhaustive feature sets.
Key Features
- Forms, polls, surveys to collect testimonials
- Sliders, grids, lists to display
- Filters, sorting, categories, tags
- Email notifications and alerts
- Review management capability
Pros
- Very powerful set of features
- Lots of options for collecting testimonials
- Easy customization with styles and options
Cons
- Expensive
- Steep learning curve
Pricing
From $99/year
Verdict
Testimonial Pro is feature packed but demands high technical knowledge. Best for dev-friendly users wanting advanced and complex testimonial functionality.
5. Stamped.io – Best for Review Sites
Stamped.io is tailored for sites focusing heavily on customer reviews – allowing granular management based on products/services.
Key Features
- Review widgets for products
- Photos, ratings and long-form review collection
- In-depth analytics on testimonial performance
- Flexible display with widgets, badges and more
Pros
- Perfect for product/service review sites
- Powerful analytics
- Nice looking badges and widgets
Cons
- Expensive
- Overkill for simple testimonial needs
Pricing
From $19/month
Verdict
Stamped.io is ideal for eCommerce sites and directories wanting to deeply integrate customer reviews and testimonials.
For simple testimonial display needs, it’s over engineered.
Plugin Recommendations By Use Case
Here are my recommendations for the best testimonial plugins based on specific use cases:
- Overall Best Plugin: Thrive Ovation
- Best Free Option: Strong Testimonials
- Most Display Flexibility: WP Testimonials
- Most Features & Power: Testimonial Pro
- Best For Review Sites: Stamped.io
- For Product Ratings: Grade.us
- For Local Businesses: Testimonials by Content Egg
Hopefully this gives you a good overview of the WordPress testimonials landscape and helps you decide on the right plugin!
Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions.
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