When you import reviews from another platform into REVIEWS.io, it's important to understand that not all imported reviews will appear the same way as reviews collected directly through REVIEWS.io. This article explains the key differences between Verified Reviews and 3rd Party Reviews, and what to expect when migrating.
Available on paid plans only
Verified Reviews
A Verified Review is one that was collected directly through REVIEWS.io — by invitation (e.g. a post-purchase email)
Verified reviews display:
The reviewer's name
A Verified Buyer badge (confirming the review came from a real customer)
Any attributes the reviewer completed (e.g. custom questions like "What was your primary goal?")
Star rating and written comment
Note: Only reviews collected directly through REVIEWS.io can carry the Verified Buyer badge. Imported reviews from other platforms cannot be converted into verified reviews.
3rd Party Reviews
A 3rd Party Review is one that was originally collected on another platform (e.g. Okendo, Yotpo, Stamped.io) and imported into REVIEWS.io. Due to Google guidelines, company reviews imported from external platforms are categorised as 3rd party reviews.
3rd party reviews display:
The reviewer's name (as included in the import file — not listed as "Anonymous" unless the name was missing from the source data)
Star rating and written comment
The platform they were originally collected from (e.g. shown under a "3rd Party" label on the timeline)
3rd party reviews do not display:
A Verified Buyer badge
Attributes (custom question responses) — unless attributes were included in the import file and set up in your dashboard beforehand
These reviews cannot be converted into Company Reviews
Important: Reviewer names will appear as submitted in the import file. If names are missing from the source data, they may display as "Anonymous." We recommend checking your export file from your previous platform to confirm name data is present before importing.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| ✅ Verified Review | 📥 3rd Party Review |
Reviewer name shown | Yes | Yes (if included in import file) |
Verified Buyer badge | Yes | No |
Star rating & comment | Yes | Yes |
Attributes (custom questions) | Yes (if collected) | Only if included in import file and set up in dashboard |
Shown on widgets | Yes | Yes |
Shown on timeline | Yes | Yes (labelled as 3rd Party) |
Can be converted to Company Review | Yes | No |
Where do 3rd Party Reviews appear on my site?
3rd party reviews can be displayed on your website widgets — they are not hidden from customers. However, they will appear without a Verified Buyer badge, and on the REVIEWS.io timeline they are grouped under a "3rd Party" label to distinguish them from reviews collected natively.
If you are on the Grow plan or above, you also have access to Attributes — custom questions that can be added to your review widget. If attributes were included in your import file and you have the same questions set up in your dashboard, those responses can be displayed alongside the review.
To learn how to set up attribute questions in your dashboard, see this guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my imported reviews show as "Anonymous"?
Will my imported reviews show as "Anonymous"?
No — reviewer names will appear as provided in the import file. If names are missing from your export file (from your previous platform), those reviews may show as "Anonymous." We recommend reviewing your CSV before importing to confirm name data is present.
Can I get a Verified Buyer badge on imported reviews?
Can I get a Verified Buyer badge on imported reviews?
No. The Verified Buyer badge is only available on reviews collected directly through REVIEWS.io. Imported reviews from third-party platforms cannot carry this badge, as the review was not originally verified by REVIEWS.io.
Will my customers see a difference between verified and 3rd party reviews?
Will my customers see a difference between verified and 3rd party reviews?
On your widgets, 3rd party reviews display similarly to verified ones — with reviewer name, star rating, and comment. The main visual difference is the absence of the Verified Buyer badge. On your REVIEWS.io timeline (your internal dashboard view), 3rd party reviews are grouped separately under a "3rd Party" label.
What happens to attributes from my old platform?
What happens to attributes from my old platform?
Attributes (custom question responses, e.g. "Verified Buyer", "What was your primary goal?") can only be imported if they were included in the import file
If these conditions aren't met, attribute data will not be imported. The review itself (name, rating, comment) will still be imported.
Can I import both product and company reviews from one file?
Can I import both product and company reviews from one file?
No — product reviews and company reviews must be submitted in separate files. If you have a combined export from your previous platform, please separate the files so we can import them
Need help with your import? Contact our team via Live Chat from your REVIEWS.io dashboard.