If you’ve been trying to set up Google Customer Reviews in Shopify and running into issues, you’re not alone. In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly why the old method stopped working, what your options are today, and how to get it running for free using the Google & YouTube app.
Why the Old Method No Longer Works
Until August 2025, you could add the Google Customer Reviews script directly to Shopify’s pixels or modify it to work in the checkout. The script would trigger a pop-up at the end of checkout, asking customers whether they’d like to receive an email prompting them to leave a review after a set number of days.
That no longer works. In August 2025, Shopify changed how checkout functions, and pop-ups are no longer supported. Since the Google Customer Reviews widget relies on a pop-up prompt, the entire script-based approach became obsolete overnight.
Should You Even Use Google Customer Reviews?
Before jumping into the setup, I want to be honest with you: Google Customer Reviews is not my first recommendation for most merchants.
Here’s why:
You have very little control over your reviews. If a customer leaves an unfair or false review, it is extremely difficult to get it removed. Google holds a very high bar for what qualifies as a removal-worthy review, and unlike third-party platforms, you can’t easily manage or respond to reviews (though limited reply functionality has been rolling out).
Third-party solutions give you more control. Apps like Judge.me or Loox put more power in your hands. If something goes wrong, you have actual recourse. For most of my clients, I recommend going with a third-party for this reason alone.
That said, many merchants specifically want Google Customer Reviews because they come directly from Google and can appear in Google Ads and Shopping listings. If that’s your goal, here’s how to set it up for free.
Option 1: Third-Party App (Not Recommended)
There are third-party apps available that handle Google Customer Reviews integration for you. The one I’ve seen recommended most often charges around $20 per month.
In my opinion, that’s not worth it. The main selling point is that it handles the setup and adds the Trusted Store badge, but you can add the badge to Shopify yourself for free without paying a monthly fee. Given that the Google Customer Reviews system itself has the limitations I mentioned above, I wouldn’t spend $20/month on it.
Option 2: Google & YouTube App (Free, Recommended)
This is the method I recommend. Here’s how to set it up step by step.
Step 1: Enable Google Customer Reviews in Merchant Center
- Open Google Merchant Center and navigate to Add-ons > Discover.
- Find Google Customer Reviews and click Add (if it’s not already enabled).
- Confirm it shows as enabled under your active add-ons.
Step 2: Make Sure the Google & YouTube App Is Installed in Shopify
In your Shopify admin, make sure you have the Google & YouTube app installed and connected to your Google Merchant Center account.
Step 3: Add the Block to Your Thank You Page
- In Shopify, go to Online Store > Themes and click Edit Theme.
- On the top dropdown (which defaults to Homepage), switch it to Checkout and Customer Account.
- Click on Checkout, then select Thank You.
- In the left panel under Sections > Main, click Add Block.
- You’ll see Google Customer Reviews listed as an option under the Google & YouTube section — click it to add it.
Step 4: Set Your Estimated Delivery Days
Once the block is added, set your estimated delivery days (for example, 7 days). This tells Google when to send the review request email to your customer.
Click Save and you’re done.
What’s Different Now?
The key change in this new setup is that the review opt-in no longer appears as a pop-up. Instead, it’s embedded directly into the Thank You page as a section block. Customers see it naturally as part of the post-purchase experience, which is cleaner and less intrusive anyway.