Title: GR Widget
Author: GR Widget
Published: <strong>July 11, 2026</strong>
Last modified: July 11, 2026

---

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# GR Widget

 By [GR Widget](https://profiles.wordpress.org/grwidget/)

[Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/gr-widget.1.0.0.zip)

 * [Details](https://wordpress.org/plugins/gr-widget/#description)
 * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/plugins/gr-widget/#reviews)
 *  [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/gr-widget/#installation)
 * [Development](https://wordpress.org/plugins/gr-widget/#developers)

 [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/gr-widget/)

## Description

⭐ **Show Google reviews on your WordPress site in minutes** — no Google API keys,
no Google sign-in, and no review data stored in your database.

**GR Widget** is a Google reviews embed plugin for WordPress: search for your business
in wp-admin, pick a layout, and publish with a shortcode or Gutenberg block. Reviews
stay fresh because they sync on the GR Widget platform.

Want more control over look and feel? Link a free [GRWidget.com](https://grwidget.com)
account to use the full-featured web builder to manage your WordPress widgets. Upgrade
to paid to unlock more widgets and features.

🚀 **Unlimited views on every plan** — including free. Your widgets are not metered
by page views.

#### Why site owners choose this Google reviews widget

 * 🔑 **No Google API keys** — search by business name; we handle Google data on
   our servers
 * 🧩 **Shortcode + Gutenberg block** — `[grwi_widget id="your-key"]` or the **GR
   Widget** block to embed Google reviews
 * 🎨 **5 free layouts** — badge, list, grid, carousel, and more (paid plans unlock
   the full set)
 * 🎛️ **Hosted builder** — link a free account and customise plugin widgets in the
   full builder on GRWidget.com
 * 🔄 **Reviews stay fresh** — synced on GRWidget.com (weekly on free, daily on 
   paid)
 * 🛡️ **No local review storage** — your WordPress database stays clean
 * ✨ **Works standalone** — create widgets without an account; link or upgrade 
   when you need more

#### Free WordPress plugin (no account required)

 * ✅ Up to **3** Google review widgets per site
 * ✅ **5** layouts with local miniature previews in wp-admin
 * ✅ Up to **10** reviews displayed per widget
 * ✅ **Weekly** review sync
 * ✅ Shortcode and Gutenberg block embeds
 * ✅ Embed script loads **only** on pages that contain a widget
 * ✅ **Unlimited views** — no view caps on free or paid

The free tier is a complete, ongoing product — not a time-limited trial. Existing
widgets keep working if you hit the free widget limit.

#### What upgrading unlocks 💎

Link a GRWidget.com account when you outgrow free. Paid plans are domain-based (
clear pricing — not charged per page view):

 * ♾️ **Unlimited widgets** (Site plan and above)
 * 📈 **More reviews displayed & synced** — up to 100 on Site, unlimited on Business/
   Agency
 * ⏱️ **Daily sync** instead of weekly
 * 🎨 **All layouts** (13+ styles: badges, feeds, stickers, and more)
 * 🪄 **Filters** — highlight the reviews that matter
 * 👤 **Reviewer photos** (and review photos on Business+)
 * 🧠 **AI review summary** (Business+)
 * 🔍 **JSON-LD / review structured data** for search engines (eligibility for rich
   results is never guaranteed)
 * 🏷️ **Remove branding** on paid web plans; Agency adds **white-label** and team
   workspaces
 * 🎛️ **Advanced style options** — colours, fonts, spacing, floating badges, and
   more in the hosted builder

Compare plans on GRWidget.com when you are ready to upgrade.

#### How it works

 1. Install and activate GR Widget
 2. Open **GR Widget** in wp-admin and search for your business
 3. Pick a layout and create your Google review widget
 4. Paste the shortcode or insert the block — done
 5. (Optional) Link a free GRWidget.com account to customise widgets in the full hosted
    builder

Widget HTML/CSS/JS is served by the hosted `grwidget.js` embed and the GRWidget.
com API. This plugin is a thin, Plugin Check–friendly client.

### Support

🛟 **Something not working?** Please ask — GR Widget is actively improving, and 
we address reported issues very quickly.

 * 🐞 **Report bug** — open a widget in **Customize**, then click **Report bug**
   in the top bar. That sends the issue to our team with useful context.
 * 💬 **Community (WordPress Plugin)** — [grwidget.com/community/c/wordpress-plugin](https://grwidget.com/community/c/wordpress-plugin)
   for install, shortcode, block, and linking questions
 * 📘 **WordPress.org support forum** — [wordpress.org/support/plugin/gr-widget](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/gr-widget/)

### External services

This plugin relies on external services to work. By installing and activating it,
you authorize the connections below (similar to Akismet or other SaaS-connected 
plugins — no separate opt-in checkbox is required because the plugin cannot function
without GRWidget.com).

#### GRWidget.com

**What it is:** [GRWidget.com](https://grwidget.com) (operated by EXTHUS LTD) hosts
the Google review widget service — API, embed script, review sync, and wp-admin 
tools.

**Used for:** Site registration, business search, review sync, widget creation and
configuration, plan limits, hosted previews, the style editor, the hosted builder(
when you link an account), and serving live embeds on your public site.

**When it is contacted:**

 * **Plugin activation** — registers your WordPress site and retrieves plan limits
 * **wp-admin (GR Widget)** — business search, widget create/delete, account linking,
   plan refresh; layout cards use local miniature previews (no iframes); live preview
   loads `grw-preview.js`; widget style editor runs entirely in wp-admin
 * **Widget customisation** — colours, fonts, and display options are edited on 
   the native **Customise** screen in wp-admin (API-backed; no external tabs or 
   iframes). After linking an account, you can also customise the same widgets in
   the full-featured web builder
 * **Public site** — loads `grwidget.com/v1/grwidget.js` only on pages that contain
   a GR Widget shortcode or block (not site-wide); the script fetches widget JSON
   to render review embeds
 * **Background** — plan limits may refresh twice daily via WordPress cron

**Data sent to GRWidget.com:**

 * Site URL and hostname
 * Plugin version
 * Site credentials issued at registration (stored locally in WordPress options)
 * Business place IDs, names, addresses, ratings, and review counts you select in
   wp-admin
 * Widget layout and style configuration choices
 * API token (only when you choose to link a GRWidget.com account)
 * Referrer hostname when a visitor loads a widget embed (to verify the widget is
   used on an allowed domain)

**Data not sent by this plugin:**

 * WordPress user passwords or wp-admin login credentials
 * Unrelated site content or visitor analytics
 * Payment or billing details (checkout happens on GRWidget.com, not inside the 
   plugin)

**Terms and privacy:**

 * Service: https://grwidget.com
 * Privacy policy: https://grwidget.com/privacy
 * Terms of use: https://grwidget.com/terms

#### Google (business data and review links)

**What it is:** Google Maps / Google Business Profile — the source of business listings
and public Google reviews displayed in widgets.

**Used for:** Business search results and review content are fetched by GRWidget.
com from Google on your behalf. Widgets may also show links such as “View on Google”
or “Write a review” that open Google in the visitor’s browser.

**When it is involved:**

 * **wp-admin** — when you search for a business or trigger review sync, your search
   terms and selected place ID are sent to GRWidget.com, which queries Google server-
   side (your WordPress site never stores or sends Google API keys)
 * **Public site** — review text, ratings, and business details are served from 
   GRWidget.com (originally sourced from Google). Optional Google links appear in
   the widget UI; data is sent to Google only if a visitor clicks those links and
   leaves your site

**Data sent:**

 * To GRWidget.com (then to Google server-side): business search queries, Google
   place IDs, and business metadata needed to sync reviews
 * To Google directly from the visitor’s browser: only when a visitor clicks a Google
   link in a widget (standard browser navigation; may include referrer URL per the
   browser’s normal behaviour). The plugin does not call Google APIs from WordPress.

**Terms and privacy:**

 * Google Terms of Service: https://policies.google.com/terms
 * Google Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

#### Google Fonts (optional, visitor browsers)

**What it is:** Google’s hosted web font service (`fonts.googleapis.com`), used 
only when a widget is configured to use a Google Font rather than the site’s inherited/
system font.

**Used for:** Loading the font files that style widget text on the public site.

**When it is contacted:** When a visitor views a page containing a widget whose 
style uses a Google Font preset — the hosted `grwidget.js` embed script injects 
a stylesheet request to Google Fonts.

**Data sent:** The visitor’s browser requests font CSS from Google; Google may log
the request per its own policies (typically IP address and user-agent). No WordPress
user or site-admin data is sent by the plugin for this purpose.

**Terms and privacy:**

 * Google Fonts FAQ (privacy): https://developers.google.com/fonts/faq#what_does_using_the_google_fonts_api_mean_for_the_privacy_of_my_users
 * Google Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

#### Other third parties

This plugin does not load third-party advertising or analytics trackers on your 
public site. Scripts and styles for wp-admin UI (except the GRWidget.com connections
above) are bundled in the plugin. Upgrade and account links open GRWidget.com in
your browser only when you click them.

## Screenshots

[⌊Search for your Google Business listing and choose a layout to create your Google
reviews widget — no API keys⌉⌊Search for your Google Business listing and choose
a layout to create your Google reviews widget — no API keys⌉[

Search for your Google Business listing and choose a layout to create your Google
reviews widget — no API keys

[⌊Your widget is ready — preview it and open Customise to fine-tune it in the builder⌉⌊
Your widget is ready — preview it and open Customise to fine-tune it in the builder⌉[

Your widget is ready — preview it and open Customise to fine-tune it in the builder

[⌊Options tab — set theme, display mode, alignment, and spacing with a live preview⌉⌊
Options tab — set theme, display mode, alignment, and spacing with a live preview⌉[

Options tab — set theme, display mode, alignment, and spacing with a live preview

[⌊Style tab — customise colours and typography while the live preview updates instantly⌉⌊
Style tab — customise colours and typography while the live preview updates instantly⌉[

Style tab — customise colours and typography while the live preview updates instantly

[⌊Install tab — copy the shortcode or HTML embed code to place the widget on your
site⌉⌊Install tab — copy the shortcode or HTML embed code to place the widget on
your site⌉[

Install tab — copy the shortcode or HTML embed code to place the widget on your 
site

## Blocks

This plugin provides 1 block.

 *   GR Widget

## Installation

 1. Install **GR Widget** from Plugins  Add New (search “GR Widget” or “Google reviews”),
    or upload the ZIP.
 2. Activate the plugin — it registers your site with GRWidget.com automatically.
 3. Go to **GR Widget** in the WordPress admin menu.
 4. Search for your business, choose a layout, and click **Create widget**.
 5. Copy `[grwi_widget id="your-embed-key"]` into a page or post, or insert the **GR
    Widget** block.
 6. Optional: link a free GRWidget.com account under **GR Widget  Account** to open
    the full-featured web builder.

The plugin loads the embed script automatically on pages that contain a widget —
no manual `<script>` tag needed.

## FAQ

### Do I need a GR Widget account?

No. The free WordPress plan works standalone (up to 3 widgets, one domain, weekly
sync, 5 layouts, up to 10 reviews per widget, unlimited views). Link a free GRWidget.
com account when you want to customise widgets in the full-featured web builder,
manage them in the web dashboard, or upgrade for more capacity. Linking does not
require a paid plan.

### Can I customise plugin widgets in the GRWidget.com builder?

Yes. Link your WordPress site to a GRWidget.com account (Account  WordPress), then
open any widget in the hosted builder. Upgrade to paid to unlock more widgets and
features.

### Do I need a Google API key or Google sign-in?

No. Search for your business by name in wp-admin. GR Widget handles Google data 
on our servers — your WordPress site never stores API keys.

### Are views limited?

No. **Unlimited views** on free and paid plans. Plans are based on domains and features—
not page-view metering.

### How do I embed Google reviews on a WordPress page?

After creating a Google review widget, paste the shortcode into any page, post, 
or widget area, or use the **GR Widget** Gutenberg block and enter your widget key.
That is the simplest way to embed Google reviews on WordPress without writing code.

### Where are reviews stored?

On GRWidget.com. The plugin does not download or store review content in WordPress.

### What happens when I reach the free widget limit?

You cannot create additional widgets until you link a paid plan, but existing widgets
and shortcodes keep working. There is no trial expiry and no lockout of widgets 
you already created.

### Why do some layouts show as paid plan previews?

The free tier includes five layouts. Additional layouts are available on paid GRWidget.
com plans. Locked layout cards in wp-admin are marketing previews only — they are
not disabled plugin code. Upgrade links open GRWidget.com in your browser; no in-
plugin payments are offered.

### How do I upgrade?

Open **GR Widget  Account**. Generate an API token at GRWidget.com, paste it in 
the plugin, and your site will be linked to your paid plan. Or use the **View plans**
link to compare plans on GRWidget.com.

### What if GRWidget.com is temporarily unavailable?

Existing embeds on your public site continue to load from GRWidget.com when visitors
view pages. wp-admin may show a connection notice until the service is reachable
again. Cached plan limits are used when available.

### How do I get help or report a bug?

Use **Report bug** in the widget **Customize** screen (top bar). For questions, 
post in the [WordPress Plugin community](https://grwidget.com/community/c/wordpress-plugin)
or the [WordPress.org support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/gr-widget/).
We’re actively improving the plugin and respond quickly.

## Reviews

There are no reviews for this plugin.

## Contributors & Developers

“GR Widget” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this
plugin.

Contributors

 *   [ GR Widget ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/grwidget/)

[Translate “GR Widget” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/gr-widget)

### Interested in development?

[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/gr-widget/), check 
out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/gr-widget/), or subscribe
to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/gr-widget/) by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/gr-widget/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).

## Changelog

#### 1.0.0

 * Initial public release on WordPress.org (first SVN / directory release).
 * Embed Google reviews with a shortcode or Gutenberg block — no Google API keys
   or sign-in required.
 * Search for your business in wp-admin, pick from five free layouts, and create
   up to three widgets per site.
 * Local layout picker previews and live preview in wp-admin (no external iframes);
   native style editor with API-backed save.
 * Reviews sync on GRWidget.com — your WordPress database does not store review 
   content.
 * Optional GRWidget.com account linking for paid plans, more widgets, and daily
   sync.
 * Embed script loads only on pages that contain a widget (not site-wide).
 * Plugin Check compliant: escaped output, nonces, uninstall cleanup, and contextual
   upgrade notices in wp-admin only.
 * Prefix compliance — options, cron hooks, AJAX actions, script/style handles, 
   and localized JS objects use `grwi_` / `GRWI_`; legacy `grw_*` options migrate
   automatically on upgrade.
 * Tested up to WordPress 7.0; view-template and uninstall loop variables prefixed
   for Plugin Check; mock CSS enqueue versioned; core `sidebars_widgets` filter 
   usage documented.

## Meta

 *  Version **1.0.0**
 *  Last updated **18 hours ago**
 *  Active installations **Fewer than 10**
 *  WordPress version ** 6.0 or higher **
 *  Tested up to **7.0.1**
 *  PHP version ** 7.4 or higher **
 * Tags
 * [google business](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/google-business/)[Google Reviews](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/google-reviews/)
   [google reviews widget](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/google-reviews-widget/)
   [rating](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/rating/)[testimonials](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/testimonials/)
 *  [Advanced View](https://wordpress.org/plugins/gr-widget/advanced/)

## Ratings

No reviews have been submitted yet.

[Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/gr-widget/reviews/#new-post)

[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/gr-widget/reviews/)

## Contributors

 *   [ GR Widget ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/grwidget/)

## Support

Got something to say? Need help?

 [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/gr-widget/)