Whether you’re a business owner or a marketer, choosing the right platform for collecting customer feedback is crucial. The aim of this article is to guide you in deciding between Trustpilot and Google Reviews.
Trustpilot Overview
Trustpilot offers various features, but we’ll focus on those specifically relevant to collecting reviews.
Trustpilot’s Open Directory
Reviews collected on Trustpilot do not appear on Google Maps. If you require local reviews to enhance your Google Maps rankings, using Google Reviews is recommended.
Here is Trustpilot’s directory for the category ‘Florist’: https://www.trustpilot.com/categories/florist
Trustpilot’s directory offers minimal assistance with SEO rankings. The primary advantage of this directory is the ability to display reviews on your site using Trustpilot’s Trustbox Widget. However, if you collect reviews on Google Reviews (Google Business Profile), you can similarly showcase them on your site for free using software like Taggbox, just like the TrustBox Widget.
Trustpilot Trustbox on your site
Google Reviews on your site
If you own an eCommerce company without a local presence, Trustpilot might be a suitable choice. However, for everyone else, Google Reviews is recommended due to its greater authority and ability to drive local business through Google Maps.
Other Trustpilot Features to Collect Reviews
These features are addons from Trustpilot. You can get these features directly from Google if you have a programmer, or from a Trustpilot competitor (shown below in the comparison table). We only cover these briefly to compare Trustpilot and Google Reviews. All Trustpilot does is feed your ratings & reviews into the 3 Google programs.
Google Store Ratings
Trustpilot offers a feature called Google Store Ratings. This feature allows reviews collected by Trustpilot to be displayed in Google Ads.
These reviews appear under your search ads and in Google Shopping, providing additional visibility and credibility.
Google Product Ratings
Google Product Ratings are primarily designed for eCommerce websites that utilize Google Shopping ads (PLAs).
Trustpilot gathers reviews from your eCommerce site and syndicates them into Google Merchants. These reviews then appear directly on your Google Shopping Ads and on Google Shopping itself.
Google Structured Data Product Reviews
This process can indirectly boost your products’ organic rankings in Google search.
Trustpilot integrates seamlessly with various eCommerce platforms such as Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce. You can use Trustpilot’s integration or set it up yourself by learning more about Google review snippets here.
Google Reviews Overview
Google Reviews is specific to collecting reviews via Google Business Profile. Google Business Profile is what controls your company’s Google profile. It also controls Google Maps. In other words, Google reviews show on Google Maps and on your Google company profile.
Google Maps and on your Google Business Profile
While Trustpilot gives a website little to no SEO help, Google Reviews on the other hand gives a BIG boost to organic rankings. It’s much harder to leave a fake Google review because a phone number needs to be verified in order to be tied to a Google User; while on the Trustpilot directory, anyone can leave a fake review.
Customer reviews can be helpful for assessing the reputation of a store or businesses.
2.6.3 Customer Reviews of Stores/Businesses
Companies that need Google Reviews
Side note: If you need to collect Google reviews fast, look at our local SEO software.
Google Reviews is often confused with other Google-related review platforms. Here are some programs that may sound similar but are entirely different.
All of Google’s Platforms for Reviews
| Google Reviews | As shown in a couple of images above, these reviews are shown on your Google company profile and Google Maps. |
| Google Store Ratings | As shown in the image above, Google Store Ratings show directly under your Google ads, mainly CPC ads. We have written extensively on Google Store Ratings here. |
| Google Product Ratings | As shown in the image above, Google Product Ratings show directly under your Google Shopping ads. |
| Google Structured Data Product Reviews | As shown above, in an image, this is markup that goes onto your product pages. These reviews will show in Google organic search results. |
| Google Customer Reviews | You’ll NEVER hear Trustpilot mention Google Customer Reviews. This is a free service that enables Google to get reviews from customers who made a purchase on your site. It’s basically for eCommerce websites. Google Customer Reviews will send product reviews data to your Google Merchant Center account and show it directly on your Google Shopping ads. |
Trustpilot Alternatives
Shopper Approved
Shopper Approved does the same thing as Trustpilot, but at a much cheaper cost. Shopper Approved is a Google-approved 3rd party review partner. It is built for small to medium-sized businesses.
Yotpo
Yotpo also does a lot of what Trustpilot does but also has many robust features that are useful for large enterprise-sized businesses.
Trustpilot vs Google Reviews vs Alternatives Comparison
Trustpilot
$599/mo
- Google Store Ratings
- Product Reviews
- For Enterprise Businesses
- For Service-Based Companies
- For Ecommerce Companies
$599/mo starting for Product Reviews.
The Trustpilot Directory is free.
Google Reviews
$0/mo*
- Google Store Ratings
- Product Ratings
- For Enterprise Businesses
- For Ecommerce Companies Only
- Not for Service-Based Companies
Shopper Approved
$199/mo
- Google Store Ratings
- Product Ratings
- For Small/Medium Businesses
- For Service-Based Companies
- For Ecommerce Companies
- Unlimited Reviews for Locked-In Rate
Yotpo
$799/mo
- Google Store Ratings
- Product Reviews
- For Enterprise Businesses
- For Ecommerce Companies
- Not for Service-Based Companies
Conclusion
For local businesses aiming to improve their Google Maps rankings, Google Reviews is the clear choice—Trustpilot simply doesn’t compete in this area.
However, if you manage an eCommerce site and are seeking Store Ratings, product ratings, or Google organic product reviews, consider using Trustpilot along with Shopper Approved. While Trustpilot’s free directory is available, it won’t enhance local Google Maps rankings for local businesses.
