Shopify questionAnswer3 min read
How to Migrate Product Reviews to Shopify
Your reviews are some of the most valuable content you own. Moving them to Shopify is mostly a matching job, and it's worth doing carefully.
Key takeaways
- Reviews move as a CSV file: export from the old platform or app, then import into a Shopify reviews app.
- Most of the work is matching each review to the right product in the new store, using URLs, handles or SKUs.
- In Judge.me, reviews imported from other apps aren't marked verified and don't appear in its Google Shopping product ratings feed.
- Move every genuine review, including negative ones, and only to the product it was written about.
- Who it is for
- Stores moving to Shopify or switching apps
- Time needed
- 4 minutes to read
- What you need
- A CSV export of your reviews
To import reviews to Shopify, export them as a CSV from your old platform or reviews app, install a Shopify reviews app that supports imports, and upload the file so each review lands on the right product. Most of the effort is in the matching, because product URLs or handles often change during a migration. Expect imported reviews to show as unverified, and keep every genuine review, good or bad, on the product it was written for.
Review migration is part of most platform moves I handle. Here's the process, with Judge.me's import steps as checked on 7 November 2026.
The process, step by step
- Export everything. Download all reviews from the old platform or app as a CSV, with dates, ratings, names and any photo links.
- Pick your Shopify reviews app before cleaning the file, since each app expects slightly different columns. My Judge.me vs Okendo comparison helps you choose.
- Map old products to new ones. Build a simple list of old product URL to new Shopify handle.
- Clean the file. Fix the product column, check date formats and remove test entries or spam.
- Import a small batch first, five or ten reviews, and check they appear on the right products.
- Import the rest, then check the import log for rows that failed.
- Turn on the widgets so stars and reviews show on product pages.
What the CSV needs
| Field | Why it matters | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Product handle or URL | Matches the product | Use the new store's URLs |
| Rating | Star average | Whole numbers, 1 to 5 |
| Review text | The content shoppers read | Don't edit the wording |
| Reviewer name | Shown publicly | Keep as written |
| Date | Keeps the history honest | Check the date format |
| Photo links | Media reviews | Must be publicly reachable |
Exact column names differ by app, so download your chosen app's template or check its import guide before you edit anything.
Example: importing into Judge.me
Judge.me's help center describes the import under Settings > Import reviews > Import from apps, where you pick the old app and upload its export. It has guides for apps including Okendo, Klaviyo, Stamped, Growave and Vitals, and the import is available on its free plan. It runs in the background and emails you the results, which also appear in the Reviews Import Log. Two limits worth knowing from its guides:
- Imported reviews from these apps won't be marked as verified, because the export doesn't carry verification data that meets Judge.me's standards.
- Imported reviews don't appear in Judge.me's Google Shopping product ratings feed, and videos aren't imported by default.
Moving from another platform
When you move from WooCommerce, Magento or another platform, product URLs usually change. That's the biggest cause of failed rows. Build the old-to-new product map before the import, and keep it, since you'll also need it for redirects. My Shopify migration service includes reviews in the move, and every migration gets a fixed quote after a free review.
Keep it honest
Import every genuine review, including the critical ones, with original dates and wording. Never move reviews onto a different product to fill an empty page; that misleads shoppers about what the reviews describe. In the US, the FTC's reviews rule bans fake reviews and the use of threats to suppress genuine ones. In the UK, the Competition and Markets Authority names false or misleading review information, including ratings based on fake reviews, among the banned practices, and expects businesses that publish reviews to take reasonable steps to prevent it. Apply the same standard in the EU and Australia.
What to do next
- Export all reviews now, before you cancel the old platform or app.
- Choose your Shopify reviews app and download its import template.
- Build the product map, then test with a small batch.
- Read how many reviews you need to build trust in my answer on how many reviews a product should have.
Free tools
Check your own store
Free, no sign-up. Each one runs a part of this guide for you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I import reviews to Shopify for free?
Often, yes. Judge.me's help center says its imports from other apps are available on the free plan. Check your chosen app's pricing before you start.
How do I export reviews from my old store?
Most reviews apps and ecommerce platforms offer a CSV export in their settings. Export everything, with dates, ratings, names and photo links, before you cancel the old service.
Will imported reviews show as verified?
Not always. Judge.me says reviews imported from other apps such as Okendo and Klaviyo won't be marked verified, because the exports don't carry verification data that meets its standards.
Why did some reviews fail to import?
Usually because the product in the CSV doesn't match a product in the new store. Fix the product URLs or handles, then reimport the failed rows.
Can I import reviews from Amazon or AliExpress?
Only bring over reviews written about the exact product you sell, and check the source platform's terms and your reviews app's rules first. Reviews of someone else's product mislead shoppers.
Should I import negative reviews?
Yes. Keep every genuine review with its original wording and date. A believable mix of ratings builds more trust than a perfect score.
Sources
- Importing reviews from Okendo, Judge.me Help Center
- Importing reviews from other apps, Judge.me Help Center
- Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule: questions and answers, Federal Trade Commission
- Short guide for businesses: publishing consumer reviews, GOV.UK (Competition and Markets Authority)
Related services and work
I'm a Shopify developer and CRO specialist. I have built and improved Shopify stores since 2018, completed more than 1,000 projects, and hold a 4.96 average rating across 719 client reviews.
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