From free WordPress plugin to a paid GR Widget plan

Thousands of WordPress sites run the free GR Widget plugin without ever signing up at GRWidget.com. That is by design: you can search for your business, pick a layout, and embed Google reviews in minutes. This guide explains what the free plugin tier includes, what linking your WordPress site to a GR Widget account unlocks, and how paid plans compare to staying on the anonymous plugin.

What the free WordPress plugin includes

When you install the plugin and activate it, your site registers anonymously with GRWidget.com. You do not need a password or credit card. The standalone tier is tuned for a single WordPress site getting started:

• 3 widgets on one domain
• 8 layouts — badge, list, grid feed, carousel, and sticker styles from our core set
• Up to 10 reviews synced and displayed per widget
• Weekly sync — reviews refresh on a fixed schedule
• Gutenberg block, shortcode, and wp-admin builder for layout and colours
• No Google API key — search by business name inside the plugin

These limits come from our plan matrix WordPress column and may be updated as we improve the free tier. Paid web plans are separate — see the comparison below.

What linking your account enables

Linking connects your anonymous WordPress site to a GRWidget.com account via an API token. It is free and reversible in spirit — your widgets migrate into your dashboard rather than living only inside wp-admin.

• Unified dashboard — manage WordPress and embed widgets in one place
• Web builder access — manage widgets in the GRWidget.com builder (layout, style, content)
• Plugin limits preserved — on a free account, you keep at least '.$linkedMaxWidgets.' widgets and '.$linkedMaxReviews.' reviews (never less than the anonymous plugin)
• Paid plan upgrades — Site, Business, or Agency for filters, JSON-LD, advanced customisations, and daily sync on Business and Agency
• Existing shortcodes keep working — visitors see no disruption after linking

Even on a free GRWidget.com account, linking merges your plugin widgets into the web dashboard and opens the web builder. Your effective limits match the better of the free plugin and free web tiers — '.$linkedMaxWidgets.' widgets, '.$linkedLayoutCount.' layouts, and up to '.$linkedMaxReviews.' reviews — so you never lose capacity by linking.

Link your WordPress site

Free plugin vs linked account vs paid plans

Staying on the anonymous plugin is fine for a quick trial. Linking plus upgrading makes sense when you need more capacity, client work, or advanced customisation. The Free (GRWidget account) column below is the same Free plan listed on our pricing page — the standalone plugin is a separate, anonymous product with its own limits.

When to upgrade from the free plugin

Consider a paid plan when you hit any of these walls:

• You need more than 3 widgets or layouts beyond the free plugin set
• You want more reviews stored server-side (30 on Site, unlimited on Business, unlimited on Agency) or daily sync on Business and Agency
• You need star, keyword, or reviewer filters for cleaner testimonial walls
• You want Review structured data (JSON-LD) for search-ready markup
• You manage multiple client sites and need domain-based Agency pricing

How to upgrade — three steps

1. Install the plugin (if you have not already) from WordPress.org or Plugins → Add New.
2. Link your site — create a free GRWidget.com account, open Account → WordPress, generate an API token, and paste it in the plugin settings.
3. Choose a plan on our pricing page when you need paid limits. Your linked widgets inherit the new plan immediately.

Frequently asked questions

What does the free GR Widget WordPress plugin include?

The standalone plugin works without a GRWidget.com account. You get 3 widgets on one domain, 8 core layouts, up to 10 reviews synced and displayed, and Weekly sync — ideal for trying GR Widget on a single WordPress site.

What happens when I link my WordPress site to a GR Widget account?

Linking merges your anonymous plugin widgets into your web dashboard and unlocks the web builder. On a free web account, your effective limits are the best of the free plugin tier and free web plan — at least 3 widgets and 10 reviews — so linking never downgrades what you had in wp-admin.

Do I need to pay to link my WordPress plugin?

No. Linking is free. Create a GRWidget.com account (or sign in), generate an API token under Account → WordPress, and paste it in the plugin settings. Paid upgrades are optional when you need more widgets, layouts, filters, daily sync on Business and Agency, or the full web builder.

Which plan should WordPress users choose?

Site ($5.99/month) suits a single business site with unlimited widgets, weekly sync, filters, and JSON-LD. Business ($14.99/month) adds five domains, daily sync, unlimited review sync, and AI summaries. Agency ($49.99/month) covers up to 30 client domains with white-label options.

Can I customise widgets in the WordPress plugin without upgrading?

The plugin includes a streamlined builder for layout and colours. After linking, you can use the full web builder on GRWidget.com. Advanced customisations — elements, margins, and custom CSS — unlock on the Site plan and above.

Where do I download the WordPress plugin?

Search for “GR Widget — Google Reviews” under Plugins → Add New in wp-admin, or install from the WordPress.org plugin directory. No account is required to create your first widgets.

New to WordPress? Read our guide to embedding Google reviews in WordPress, or browse all pricing plans for embed-only sites.