What's going on with the Product Reviews app it's no longer available?

Topic summary

Shopify discontinued its free Product Reviews app on September 5, 2023, directing users to third-party alternatives. Merchants who had the app installed can access and export their reviews until January 2024.

Key concerns raised:

  • Migration challenges: Users with thousands of existing reviews face technical difficulties transferring data and custom coding to new platforms
  • Cost implications: Third-party review apps typically charge $10-20/month, adding to Shopify’s base subscription fees
  • Theme compatibility: Older themes may not work seamlessly with new review apps, requiring expensive updates

Community reaction:

  • Strong negative sentiment from merchants who valued the simple, free solution
  • At least one user decided to close their Shopify store and return to WooCommerce due to increasing costs
  • Multiple users expressed willingness to pay a small fee to keep the original app rather than migrate

Shopify’s rationale:
Third-party apps offer more robust features like review verification and provide more complete solutions.

Suggested alternatives:
Judge.me, Stamped.io, Yotpo, Loox, Okendo, and Kooee Reviews (free option with migration guide).

The discussion remains unresolved, with Shopify staff acknowledging feedback but making no commitments to reverse the decision.

Summarized with AI on October 27. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.

Anyone looking for a free alternative to Product Reviews should also try Kooee Reviews. You can export the Product Reviews and import them straight into Kooee Reviews. Here is a guide on how to do that https://resources.kooee.reviews/en-US/move-from-shopify-product-reviews-to-kooee-reviews-321306

The theme blocks are compatible with Shopify 2.0 themes only.