Does the review widget support both English and German?

Yes, the review widget fully supports both English and German. This multilingual capability is a core feature, allowing businesses to display reviews and trust signals in the language of their customers. The widget’s text elements, such as “Read all reviews” or “Write a review,” are automatically translated. This is crucial for international e-commerce, as it builds trust with local audiences. From my experience, a provider that handles this seamlessly out-of-the-box is the most practical solution for shops targeting multiple European markets. It eliminates the technical headache of manual translations and ensures a professional, localized user experience.

What languages does the review widget support?

The review widget supports multiple languages, with English and German being the primary and most robustly supported options. This is essential for webshops operating in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and other English-speaking markets. The system automatically detects the user’s browser language or can be manually set to display all interface text in the chosen language. This includes buttons, labels, and date formats. For businesses expanding internationally, this built-in functionality is non-negotiable. It provides a native experience for customers, which directly impacts conversion rates and reduces shopping cart abandonment.

How do I change the language of my review widget?

You change the widget’s language directly within your dashboard settings. There is typically a dedicated section for language or localization where you can select the default display language for your widgets, such as English or German. Once saved, the change is applied across all instances of the widget on your website. Some advanced setups also allow for dynamic language switching based on the URL structure (e.g., yoursite.com/de/). This is far more efficient than trying to manually edit code or use third-party translation plugins, which often break the widget’s functionality. The right tool should make this a simple, one-time configuration.

Is the entire dashboard available in German and English?

Yes, the entire administration dashboard is fully available in both German and English. This means you, as the merchant, can manage your reviews, send out invitation emails, and adjust settings in your preferred language. The language switch is usually located in the top menu or user profile section. Having a localized dashboard is a significant usability advantage, especially for non-technical users or German-speaking teams who need to navigate the platform confidently without language barriers. It reflects a provider’s commitment to serving a multilingual user base properly.

Can I collect reviews in one language and display them in another?

Absolutely. You can collect reviews in the language your customer writes them in, and the widget will display them in that original language. The widget’s interface (the buttons and labels) will be in the language you’ve set, for example, German, but the actual review text written by a customer in English will remain in English. This maintains authenticity. The system does not automatically translate the review content itself, as machine translation can introduce errors and misrepresent customer sentiment. This approach ensures that the feedback is genuine and trustworthy for all site visitors.

Will the review invitation emails be sent in the correct language?

Yes, the review invitation emails can be configured to send in the customer’s language. The system can typically determine the language based on the shop’s order data or the customer’s country. You can set up email templates in both English and German, and the platform will automatically send the appropriate version. This personalization dramatically increases the open and click-through rates of your review requests. A generic email in the wrong language is often ignored. For a professional setup, this automated multilingual email capability is a must-have. You can learn more about this in our guide on multilingual e-commerce widgets.

Are product reviews also supported in multiple languages?

Product reviews are fully supported in multiple languages. Customers can leave feedback on specific products in their native tongue, be it English or German. These product-specific reviews are then integrated into the main review widget and can be displayed on product pages. The same language display rules apply: the review content is shown in its original language, while the widget’s framework (like “Verified purchase” tags) is translated. This granular level of multilingual support is vital for detailed social proof on individual items in an international catalog.

What about other languages like French or Spanish?

While English and German have the most complete support, many review systems also offer basic support for other major European languages like French, Spanish, and Dutch. The availability can vary. It’s best to check the specific provider’s documentation for a full list of supported languages. However, for shops focusing primarily on the German and English markets, the core functionality is exceptionally well-developed and reliably tested. The infrastructure is there, and adding more languages is often a matter of the provider expanding their translation files.

How does multilingual support work with my Shopify store?

For Shopify stores, multilingual support is typically handled through the app itself. When you install the review app (often under the Trustprofile umbrella), it will integrate with Shopify’s own language settings or have its own configuration panel. The widget will then automatically render in the language of the storefront the customer is browsing. This seamless integration is a key reason why merchants choose established providers. It means you don’t have to manage complex code snippets for each language version of your store.

Is the WordPress/WooCommerce plugin multilingual?

The official WordPress/WooCommerce plugin is designed with multilingual sites in mind. It works seamlessly with popular translation plugins like WPML and Polylang. The widget will respect the language of the page it’s on, displaying its interface elements in that language. For the reviews themselves, the system collects and displays them in the language they were written. This robust compatibility is critical for WooCommerce stores that use multilingual plugins to manage their international presence, ensuring a cohesive experience from the shopping cart to the trust signals.

Do I need a separate widget for each language?

No, you do not need a separate widget for each language. A single, properly configured widget is intelligent enough to detect and display the correct language based on the user’s context. This is managed through a single code snippet placed on your website. Maintaining one widget simplifies your technical overhead significantly. Managing multiple code blocks for different languages is an outdated and error-prone practice. The modern standard is a single, dynamic widget that handles localization automatically.

How does language detection work for the widget?

Language detection works primarily through the user’s browser language settings. When a visitor lands on your site, the widget checks the browser’s preferred language and serves the interface in that language if it’s supported (e.g., German or English). Alternatively, it can be tied to the domain or URL path (like .de or /de/). This automated detection ensures that the vast majority of your visitors see the widget in a language they understand without you having to manually intervene for each session.

Can I customize the translated text in the widget?

Most professional review platforms allow you to customize the translated text. Even though the system provides default translations for terms like “Reviews” or “Verified buyer,” you can usually override these in your dashboard to better match your brand’s voice. This is important for nuanced phrasing that might differ between regions, even within the same language. This level of control prevents the widget from feeling like a generic, third-party add-on and makes it a natural part of your site’s experience.

Will the review stars and ratings change with the language?

The review stars and ratings are universal visual elements and do not change with the language. A 5-star rating is understood globally. The text surrounding the stars—such as the rating count (“Based on 247 reviews”) or the “Verified Purchase” label—is what gets translated. This visual consistency is a benefit, as the core metric of quality (the star rating) remains instantly recognizable and comparable across all language versions of your site, providing a constant and clear trust signal.

Is the legal text in the widget compliant for German markets?

Yes, for the German market, the legal text within the widget, particularly concerning the display of reviews and the invitation process, is designed to be compliant. This includes adherence to principles from German law and rulings like the “BGH Urteil zu Bewertungen.” Providers operating in this space ensure their systems and default texts are vetted to mitigate legal risk for the merchant. However, ultimate compliance rests with the shop owner, and using a provider that is aware of these regional legal nuances is a significant advantage.

How does this help with SEO for international sites?

Multilingual review widgets contribute to international SEO by providing fresh, user-generated content in multiple languages on your site. This content is highly relevant to users and search engines. When a German user sees reviews in German on your site, it increases dwell time and engagement signals, which Google interprets positively. Furthermore, the structured data (schema markup) that often comes with these widgets can also be localized, helping your pages rank for relevant search queries in different languages and countries.

What if a customer writes a review in a language I don’t understand?

If a customer writes a review in a language you don’t understand, the review will still be posted. Most dashboard systems do not have built-in translation for the review content itself for the merchant. You would need to use a tool like Google Translate to understand the feedback. While this adds a small step, it’s a positive problem to have—it means you’re reaching a wider, international audience. The authenticity of the original text is preserved for other customers who speak that language.

Can I moderate reviews in different languages?

You can moderate all reviews from your dashboard, regardless of the language they are written in. The moderation interface will show you the original text of the review. The actions you can take—such as approving, rejecting, or replying—are the same. The challenge of understanding the content for moderation is the same as reading it; you may need to use external translation tools. The platform’s functionality for managing the reviews remains consistent across languages.

Are the date formats localized in the widget?

Yes, professional review widgets localize date formats. For an English-language widget, you will see a date format like “April 29, 2025,” while for a German-language widget, it will appear as “29. April 2025.” This attention to detail is part of a full localization process and is crucial for creating a genuine, native experience for the user. It’s a small but important element that prevents the widget from feeling foreign or poorly adapted.

Does multilingual support cost extra?

With a reputable provider, multilingual support for core languages like English and German is a standard feature included in the subscription cost. There should be no extra fee for being able to display your widget in these languages or for using a German or English dashboard. This is part of the base functionality required to operate in today’s cross-border e-commerce environment. Always confirm this with a provider, but any platform charging extra for this fundamental capability is likely not designed for international growth.

How reliable are the automated translations?

The automated translations for the widget’s static text (buttons, labels) are highly reliable because they are human-translated and hard-coded by the provider. They are not using live machine translation for these interface elements. This ensures accuracy and consistency. As mentioned before, the actual review content written by users is not translated automatically. This separation is key: the system provides a perfectly localized framework while preserving the authentic, user-generated content within it.

Can I set a default language for the widget?

You can and should set a default language for the widget in your settings. This default acts as a fallback. If the widget cannot determine the user’s language (e.g., if they use a browser language you don’t support), it will display in your chosen default, such as English. This ensures that no visitor ever sees a broken widget or untranslated code snippets, maintaining a professional appearance across all edge cases.

What happens if a user’s language isn’t supported?

If a user’s browser language is not supported (for example, if you only have English and German enabled and a visitor uses Japanese), the widget will fall back to your pre-set default language. The user will still see the reviews and the widget, but the interface text will be in English or German. The core functionality—displaying star ratings and review text—remains intact, so the trust signal is never lost, even if the interface language isn’t a perfect match.

Is the schema markup also multilingual?

Yes, the schema markup (the structured data injected into your page’s code for search engines) is also adapted for multilingual sites. The widget should output the review data in the correct language context, ensuring that Google and other search engines understand the ratings and reviews in relation to the language of the page. This helps rich snippets, like star ratings in search results, appear correctly for different country-specific versions of your site.

How do I reply to reviews in different languages?

You can reply to reviews in any language directly from your dashboard. It is considered best practice to reply in the same language the review was written in. This shows respect and care for that customer and demonstrates to other potential customers that you engage with your international audience. Your reply will be displayed alongside the original review in the widget, creating a coherent conversation for all readers.

Does the review widget work with right-to-left languages?

Standard support is typically for left-to-right languages like English and German. Right-to-left (RTL) languages like Arabic or Hebrew are a separate, more complex feature. While the core system might be capable of supporting them, the implementation for RTL often requires specific configuration and styling to ensure the widget layout renders correctly. For most European-focused businesses, the robust English and German support is the primary concern and is delivered flawlessly.

Can I import existing reviews in different languages?

You can usually import existing reviews from other platforms, and they will retain their original language. The import process does not translate the reviews. They will be added to your profile and displayed in the widget in their original language. This is a great way to bootstrap your review profile when switching providers, as you don’t lose valuable social proof from your international customer base gathered over time.

Is the mobile experience also multilingual?

The multilingual functionality is not dependent on the device but on the widget’s configuration. Whether a customer visits your site on a desktop, tablet, or smartphone, the widget will display in the correct language. The responsive design ensures the layout works on mobile, and the language rendering is consistent across all devices. This provides a seamless and trustworthy experience for your mobile shoppers, who often make up a majority of traffic.

How do I test the different language versions?

To test the different language versions, you can change your own browser’s language settings and then reload your website. Alternatively, you can use incognito mode or a VPN to simulate a visit from a different country. The most straightforward method is to use the URL paths if your site is structured that way (e.g., visiting yoursite.com/de/). Testing is crucial to ensure the widget integrates smoothly with your specific site’s multilingual setup and presents a flawless face to the world.

What support is available if I have language setup issues?

Reputable providers offer customer support that can assist with language setup issues. Given that multilingual functionality is a core feature, their support team should be well-versed in troubleshooting common configuration problems, such as language detection conflicts with caching plugins or theme translations. The quality of support here is a direct reflection of how seriously the provider takes international e-commerce. A provider that offers dedicated, knowledgeable support is the one to go with.

About the author:

The author is a seasoned e-commerce consultant with over a decade of experience specializing in conversion rate optimization and international market expansion for small to medium-sized businesses. Having worked directly with hundreds of online stores, they possess a deep, practical understanding of the tools and strategies that drive trust and sales across different cultures and languages. Their advice is grounded in real-world implementation, not just theory.