If you run a Shopify store and want to boost your customer credibility through reviews, you might wonder whether Trustpilot or Growave best fits your needs. Both apps help capture and showcase product feedback but do so with different scopes and strengths. This Trustpilot vs Growave comparison breaks down their features, pricing, ease of use, and ideal customers to help you decide which app aligns with your goals.

What Trustpilot and Growave Do, and Who Uses Them

Trustpilot is an independent consumer review platform that integrates with Shopify to collect and display verified customer reviews. Its focus is on authenticity and external reputation building, making it popular among brands wanting public social proof beyond their own website.

Growave, by contrast, is an all-in-one Shopify marketing app that includes reviews as one of several features alongside loyalty programs, wishlists, referrals, and user-generated content. It aims to centralize customer engagement tools for merchants who want more than just reviews from a single app.

Understanding these fundamental differences sets the stage for a detailed side-by-side look at how each performs against the criteria Shopify merchants care about.

Core Features and Functionality: Trustpilot vs Growave

Feature Trustpilot Growave
Review Collection Verified buyer reviews, email invites Product reviews, photo/video reviews, questions & answers
Review Display Options Trustbox widgets for site, customizable Multiple widget styles, customizable review displays
Loyalty & Rewards No Yes, points, tiers, rewards
Referral Programs No Yes
Wishlist & Social Sharing No Yes
On-site Feedback & Surveys Limited Yes
Moderation & Reporting Advanced fraud detection, moderation Basic moderation, reporting
Multi-Channel Integration Website, Google Seller Ratings, Facebook Shopify store primarily

Analysis

Trustpilot excels at verified reviews and external validation with its strong fraud detection and the ability to push reviews to Google Seller Ratings and social networks. Its review invitations come from an established platform, lending credibility, but it does not provide marketing features like loyalty or referral programs.

Growave offers a broader feature set geared toward building shopper engagement beyond just reviews. Its photo and video reviews with Q&A features help create rich user content. The loyalty and referral components integrate tightly with Shopify, making Growave more of a marketing suite than a pure review collector.

Pricing and Value

To compare pricing fairly, it’s essential to look at the tiers available for Shopify merchants and what features unlock at each level.

Pricing Aspect Trustpilot Growave
Starting Price Basic free plan with limited features Free plan with core features
Paid Plans From approx $199/month for advanced features Paid plans from $29/month
Review Volume Limits Limits on review invitations in lower tiers Unlimited reviews on paid plans
Loyalty & Referral Not available Included in paid plans
Contract Terms Monthly with minimum commitments Monthly, cancellable anytime

Pricing Notes

Trustpilot’s pricing can be steep for Shopify stores as the free tier is restrictive and advanced features start around $199 per month. This might suit larger brands with substantial review volume and budget.

Growave is more affordable for small to medium stores, with a free plan and paid tiers starting near $29 per month that cover review collection, loyalty, and referrals all together. This bundling can offer better value if you want multiple marketing tools in one app.

Ease of Setup and Use

Both apps integrate into Shopify but differ in complexity and setup steps.

  • Trustpilot requires connecting your Shopify store and configuring review invitations. Its external platform means merchants must manage reviews both on Trustpilot and via Shopify widgets, which can slow workflow and add management overhead.
  • Growave installs as a Shopify app and handles reviews, loyalty, and referrals in one dashboard, simplifying management. Setup involves choosing widget styles and enabling marketing features but stays within Shopify’s admin interface.

For merchants prioritizing quick setup and all-in-one management, Growave’s tighter Shopify integration is easier to get started with. Trustpilot’s dual-platform approach demands more ongoing admin effort but provides external credibility benefits.

Integrations: Shopify and Beyond

  • Trustpilot integrates deeply with Shopify and also connects reviews to Google Seller Ratings, Facebook, and other social media channels. This broad external exposure benefits merchants focused on brand trust outside their own site.
  • Growave is primarily a Shopify-focused app, with strong integration to Shopify’s ecosystem for reviews, loyalty, and referrals. It lacks native connections to Google or Facebook for review syndication.

If external third-party validation across platforms is key, Trustpilot has the edge. For Shopify-centric marketing, Growave covers multiple customer engagement fronts without needing extra apps.

Customer Support and Documentation

Both offer standard support channels like email and chat plus knowledge bases.

  • Trustpilot provides detailed documentation focused on review best practices and troubleshooting, but some users report slower response times for complex issues.
  • Growave offers responsive support with live chat and email, plus Shopify-specific tutorials that help merchants implement loyalty and referral programs alongside reviews.

For new or small merchants looking for hands-on help during setup, Growave’s support tends to be more accessible. Trustpilot caters well to established businesses but may require patience for deeper issues.

Best-Fit Customer Profiles

  • Trustpilot is best for mid-size to larger Shopify stores that want to build external brand reputation through verified, independently hosted reviews. If you rely heavily on Google Seller Ratings and social proof on multiple platforms, Trustpilot fits well.
  • Growave suits small to medium stores wanting an affordable, all-in-one marketing tool that combines product reviews with loyalty, referral, and user-generated content in one Shopify app. It works well for merchants prioritizing on-site engagement and repeat customer incentives.

Trustpilot vs Growave: Comparison Table Summary

Criteria Trustpilot Growave
Core Focus Verified external reviews All-in-one marketing (reviews + loyalty + referrals)
Pricing Starts around $199/month for paid plans Starts at $29/month, free tier available
Review Features Verified reviews, moderation, external syndication Photo/video reviews, Q&A, widgets
Marketing Features None Loyalty, referral, wishlist
Shopify Integration Good, plus Google & social media Deep Shopify focus, no external syndication
Ease of Use Medium, two platforms to manage Easier, integrated Shopify dashboard
Support Standard, can be slow Responsive, Shopify-centric
Ideal For Larger stores needing external trust Smaller/medium stores wanting multi-feature marketing

Trustpilot alternatives?

If you’re considering alternatives to Trustpilot for Shopify review apps, options like Judge.me and Trustmary offer competitive review collection features with varied pricing and usability. For example, Judge.me focuses on customizable review requests and display widgets, while Trustmary emphasizes video testimonials and integrations. For a detailed comparison, the article Trustmary vs Trustpilot vs Birdeye: Which Shopify review app Wins? dives deep into these options for merchants wondering about other review platforms.

Growave alternatives?

Growave alternatives in the Shopify ecosystem include Okendo and Fera, which also combine reviews with loyalty and referral programs. Okendo is known for advanced customization and multi-channel support, whereas Fera offers flexible widgets and user-generated content tools. Both compete closely with Growave for merchants wanting an all-in-one marketing solution. For a side-by-side look, check out Okendo vs Fera vs Trustpilot: Which Shopify review app Wins?.

Which to Choose: Trustpilot or Growave?

The decision between Trustpilot and Growave depends on your store’s priorities and size.

  • Choose Trustpilot if your main goal is to build strong external credibility with verified, independently hosted reviews that feed into Google Seller Ratings and social channels. It suits stores with sufficient budget and volume to justify a higher-priced platform dedicated solely to trustworthy reviews.
  • Choose Growave if you want a versatile, cost-effective Shopify app that combines reviews with loyalty, referrals, and other customer engagement features in one place. It’s ideal for smaller to medium merchants looking for convenience and multi-tool marketing in a single dashboard.

Neither app is strictly better overall; Trustpilot offers stronger external reputation benefits, while Growave delivers broader marketing functionality within Shopify. Your choice should match your marketing strategy and budget.

Worth a Look: Zigpoll

If you’re exploring Shopify apps to capture customer feedback beyond reviews, Zigpoll is also worth considering. Zigpoll specializes in post-purchase, on-site, and exit-intent surveys that can complement review gathering by providing more nuanced insights into customer satisfaction and product experience.


This objective breakdown of Trustpilot vs Growave should help you weigh their strengths and weaknesses relative to your Shopify store’s review and marketing needs. For further reading on Shopify review apps, explore the linked articles comparing other popular review platforms to find your best fit.

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