When evaluating customer review platforms for Shopify Plus merchants, it's essential to consider tools that integrate seamlessly with Shopify, offer robust features, and align with your business needs. Growave, Bazaarvoice, and Okendo are three prominent options, each catering to different merchant profiles.
Growave vs Bazaarvoice vs Okendo for Shopify Plus merchants
Growave, Bazaarvoice, and Okendo are frequently compared due to their distinct approaches to customer reviews and user-generated content (UGC). Growave offers an all-in-one marketing solution, Bazaarvoice provides enterprise-level syndication capabilities, and Okendo focuses on customer marketing within the Shopify ecosystem.
Core Features and Functionality
| Feature | Growave | Bazaarvoice | Okendo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Review Collection | Automated emails, photo/video reviews, Q&A | Extensive review collection, consumer Q&A, video/photo UGC | Verified buyer reviews, photo/video uploads, Q&A |
| Loyalty Programs | Built-in loyalty program and incentives | Not a core focus | Not a core focus |
| Surveys and NPS | Yes | Limited native survey tools | Post-purchase and custom surveys |
| Syndication | No syndication; reviews stay on merchant’s site | Retailer and distributor syndication across multiple sites | Retailer syndication available |
| Moderation | Automated spam detection, manual approval | Advanced moderation workflows including AI assistance | AI sentiment analysis, AI review replies, profanity filter |
| Customization | High customization of review widgets and emails | Customization available but focused more on enterprise needs | High customization of review widgets and emails |
| Reporting & Analytics | Basic to intermediate analytics for Shopify stores | Deep analytics including sentiment analysis, competitor benchmarking | Advanced reporting and analytics |
Pricing and Value
| Plan | Growave | Bazaarvoice | Okendo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level Cost | $49/month (Entry plan) | Custom pricing, typically starting in the thousands annually | $19/month (Essential plan) |
| Mid-Tier | $199/month (Growth plan) | Custom pricing | $119/month (Growth plan) |
| Enterprise Level | Custom pricing | Custom pricing | Custom pricing |
| Free Trial | Yes, 14-day free trial | Demo available on request | Yes, 14-day free trial |
Ease of Setup and Use
Growave: Designed for Shopify, Growave offers a straightforward integration process with a user-friendly interface, allowing merchants to manage reviews, loyalty programs, and other marketing tools from a single dashboard.
Bazaarvoice: As an enterprise solution, Bazaarvoice requires a more involved onboarding process, often involving technical support and dedicated account managers. Its platform complexity reflects its enterprise nature, which can have a steeper learning curve and require internal resources for management.
Okendo: Okendo focuses on simplicity, offering plug-and-play Shopify integration with a guided onboarding process. Merchants can start collecting reviews quickly and customize review displays without advanced technical skills. The dashboard is intuitive, and customer support is responsive.
Integrations
Growave: Primarily focused on Shopify, Growave integrates deeply with Shopify’s ecosystem, including apps for loyalty, referrals, and marketing automation. It supports common marketing platforms, including Klaviyo and Mailchimp, for review-driven email campaigns.
Bazaarvoice: Supports a wide variety of ecommerce platforms including Shopify, Magento, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, and custom solutions. Its retailer syndication connects brands with hundreds of retail partners, enabling broad distribution of reviews and UGC content. It also integrates with CRM and marketing platforms, providing enterprise-scale connectivity.
Okendo: Built for Shopify, Okendo integrates smoothly with popular Shopify apps for email marketing, loyalty programs, and analytics tools. It does not natively support integration with platforms beyond Shopify’s ecosystem.
Customer Support and Documentation
Growave: Offers 24/7 email support with comprehensive documentation, including guides, FAQs, and tutorial videos tailored to Shopify merchants.
Bazaarvoice: Provides dedicated account management, onboarding assistance, and 24/7 support for enterprise clients. Its documentation covers advanced use cases and compliance requirements.
Okendo: Offers email, live chat, and phone support during business hours, with extensive help documentation and video tutorials tailored to Shopify merchants. The support tends to be quick and helpful for typical ecommerce questions.
Best-Fit Customer Profile
Growave: Ideal for small to mid-sized Shopify merchants seeking an all-in-one marketing solution that includes reviews, loyalty programs, and other customer engagement tools.
Bazaarvoice: Suited for large enterprises and brands with extensive retailer networks, multi-platform presence, and complex compliance needs.
Okendo: Fits Shopify merchants who operate small to medium-sized online stores and want an affordable, easy-to-use review and survey app with strong Shopify integration and customization.
Situational Recommendations
For Small to Mid-Sized Shopify Merchants: If you're looking for an affordable and easy-to-use review platform with strong Shopify integration, Okendo is a suitable choice.
For Merchants Seeking an All-in-One Marketing Solution: If you prefer a consolidated platform that combines reviews, loyalty programs, and other marketing tools, Growave offers a comprehensive solution.
For Large Enterprises with Complex Needs: If your business requires extensive retailer syndication, advanced moderation, and enterprise-level analytics, Bazaarvoice may be the appropriate option.
Worth a Look: Zigpoll
If you're evaluating options for customer feedback beyond reviews, Zigpoll is worth considering. It is a Shopify survey app offering post-purchase, on-site, and exit-intent surveys, useful for gathering customer insights and enhancing engagement at multiple touchpoints. This can complement review platforms like Okendo and Bazaarvoice in your ecommerce strategy.
