Visitors trust other customers more than they trust your marketing. That’s not a knock on your copy,it’s just how people make decisions. When someone lands on your site and sees that others have bought, signed up, or left positive reviews, they’re far more likely to do the same.
Social proof tools automate this process by displaying real-time activity, testimonials, and reviews across your website. This guide covers the different types of social proof software, what to look for when choosing one, and 15 options worth considering for your business.
- Key selection criteria include no-code setup, multi-platform review import, and video collection capabilities: tools like Shapo import from 20+ platforms while others like TrustPulse specialize in simple WordPress pop-ups starting at $5/month.
- Social proof tools display real-time purchases, signups, reviews, and visitor counts to build trust: these automated widgets leverage the psychological principle that people look to others when making decisions.
- Products with reviews see 270% higher purchase likelihood than those without: displaying customer testimonials near CTAs and pricing sections directly impacts conversion rates.
- Video testimonials generate 2.9x higher add-to-cart rates than text alone: embedding video reviews above the fold builds trust faster because visitors see and hear real customers.
- 68% of consumers only consider businesses with 4+ star ratings: trust badges and aggregate star ratings provide instant reassurance without requiring visitors to read detailed reviews.
- Five main categories of social proof software exist: testimonial widgets, FOMO pop-ups, live visitor counters, trust badges, and user-generated content displays each serve different conversion goals.
What are social proof tools and why they matter
Social proof tools are software platforms that display real-time user activity,like recent purchases, signups, reviews, and live visitor counts,through pop-ups and widgets on your website. They automate the process of showing visitors that other people are buying from you, signing up, or leaving positive feedback.
The idea is straightforward: people look to others when making decisions. When a first-time visitor sees “Sarah from Austin just purchased this” or reads a five-star review, they’re far more likely to trust your business—review statistics consistently back this up.
Here’s what social proof tools typically display:
- Real-time activity notifications: Small pop-ups like “Maria from Chicago just bought this”
- Review aggregation: Widgets that pull star ratings from Google, Trustpilot, or Facebook
- Live visitor counts: Numbers showing how many people are browsing a product right now
- Testimonial displays: Customer quotes and video reviews embedded directly on your pages
Types of social proof software
Before looking at specific tools, it helps to understand the different categories. Each type serves a different purpose, and many businesses combine several.
Testimonial and review widgets
Testimonial widgets are embeddable components that display customer reviews on your site in formats like grids, carousels, and walls of love. They work well on landing pages and product pages where visitors are deciding whether to buy.
Social proof pop-ups and FOMO notifications
FOMO (fear of missing out) notifications are small pop-up messages showing recent purchases or signups. You’ve probably seen them,something like “John from NYC just signed up 2 minutes ago.” They create urgency by showing that other people are taking action right now.
Live visitor counters and activity feeds
Live visitor counters display how many people are currently viewing a product or page. They’re especially effective for limited-inventory items or time-sensitive offers where showing demand matters.
Trust badges and star ratings
Trust badges and aggregate star ratings are visual indicators that require no reading. Visitors can glance at a “4.8 stars from 500 reviews” badge and feel reassured in seconds68% will only consider businesses with 4+ stars according to BrightLocal’s 2026 survey.
User-generated content displays
User-generated content (UGC) displays pull photo reviews, social media mentions, and customer videos from platforms like Instagram. Seeing real customers using your product often feels more genuine than polished marketing copy.
How to choose the best social proof software for your business
With dozens of options available, picking the right tool comes down to a few key factors.
Ease of setup without developers
Look for no-code solutions with copy-paste embed codes. If you’re using Shopify, WordPress, Webflow, or Wix, check that the tool integrates without requiring custom development.
Customization and brand matching
Your social proof widgets will appear on your website, so they need to look like they belong there. Check if you can adjust colors, fonts, layouts, and timing to match your brand.
Review import from multiple platforms
If you already have reviews scattered across Google, G2, Trustpilot, and Facebook, you’ll want a tool that can centralize reviews from multiple platforms into one place. This saves you from manually copying testimonials.
Video testimonial collection
Video testimonials tend to convert better than text because they feel more authentic. If video matters to your strategy, make sure the tool can collect and display video reviews directly from customers’ phones or desktops.
Pricing and free plan options
Compare free tiers versus paid plans carefully. Some tools cap the number of testimonials, widgets, or monthly page views on lower tiers.
Pro Tip: Start with a tool that offers a generous free plan so you can test its impact before committing to a paid subscription.
15 Best social proof tools for websites
Here are the top tools available, starting with comprehensive platforms and moving through specialized options.
1. Shapo
Shapo is an all-in-one testimonial collection, management, and showcase platform. It’s well-suited for SaaS companies, e-commerce brands, and agencies that want to unify scattered reviews from multiple sources into one dashboard.
Key features include video testimonial capture from any device, import from 20+ platforms (Google, G2, Capterra, Trustpilot, and more), and customizable widgets like grids, carousels, walls of love, and floating toasts. The free plan includes unlimited forms and widgets with up to 10 testimonials.
2. ProveSource
ProveSource provides real-time activity notifications for purchases and signups. It works with 100+ platforms and is often recommended for beginners wanting quick setup.
3. TrustPulse
TrustPulse specializes in FOMO-driven pop-ups showing recent activity. It’s a good fit for bloggers and small businesses wanting simple notifications, and it integrates easily with WordPress.
4. Fomo
Fomo focuses on real-time notifications with high customization options and pre-built templates. E-commerce stores wanting urgency-driven pop-ups often choose Fomo for its Shopify integration.
5.Senja
Senja positions itself as an all-in-one testimonial suite for collecting and displaying both text and video testimonials. It’s particularly strong on collection forms and makes sharing testimonials to social media straightforward.
6. Testimonial.to
Testimonial.to offers video and text testimonial collection with a popular “Wall of Love” display format. Simple sharing links make it easy to request reviews from customers.
7. Famewall
Famewall is a lightweight testimonial tool for collecting and embedding customer quotes. Its free tier makes it attractive for solopreneurs and small businesses just getting started.
8. Boast.io
Boast.io specializes in video testimonial collection with automated request campaigns. Service businesses wanting video reviews often find it useful.
9. WiserNotify
WiserNotify offers both pop-up notifications and review widgets with analytics. It’s versatile enough to handle multiple social proof approaches.
10. Nudgify
Nudgify creates urgency with live visitor and purchase data. Its behavioral triggers like low-stock alerts work well for e-commerce stores with limited inventory.
11. Yotpo
Yotpo is an enterprise-grade reviews and user-generated content platform. Larger e-commerce brands with high review volume often choose it for its comprehensive feature set.
12. Loox
Loox is a photo reviews tool built specifically for Shopify stores. Customers can submit photos with their reviews, adding visual proof that products look as advertised.
13. Trustpilot
Trustpilot is a reputation management platform for collecting and responding to reviews. It’s particularly strong for SEO and overall brand credibility.
14. Social Proofy
Social Proofy is an all-in-one social proof app with multiple notification types covering sales, signups, and reviews. Its budget-friendly pricing appeals to smaller businesses.
15. Evidence
Evidence is designed for SaaS conversions with real-time notifications. B2B software companies appreciate its A/B testing capabilities for optimizing notification performance.
Social proof platform comparison table
| Tool | Best For | Key Feature | Free Plan | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shapo | All-in-one testimonials | Video + 20+ imports | Yes | $19/mo |
| ProveSource | Quick setup | 100+ integrations | Yes | $21/mo |
| Senja | Testimonial collection | Collection forms | Yes | $29/mo |
| TrustPulse | Simple pop-ups | WordPress integration | No | $5/mo |
| Fomo | E-commerce urgency | Shopify integration | No | $25/mo |
| Testimonial.to | Video testimonials | Wall of Love | Yes | $20/mo |
| Famewall | Solopreneurs | Lightweight embeds | Yes | $9/mo |
| Boast.io | Video collection | Automated requests | No | $50/mo |
| WiserNotify | Analytics | Multi-format widgets | Yes | $16/mo |
| Nudgify | Urgency triggers | Low-stock alerts | No | $9/mo |
Ready to centralize your testimonials?
Shapo makes it easy to collect, manage, and display customer reviews from 20+ platforms—no coding required.
How to implement a social proof app for maximum conversions
Having the right tool is only half the equation. Where and how you display social proof matters just as much.
Add testimonials to landing pages and product pages
Place your strongest testimonials near CTAs and pricing sections—the moments when visitors are deciding whether to take action. A mix of text and video testimonials tends to work better than text alone.
Most tools let you embed widgets with a single line of code, so you can test different placements without developer help.
Use social proof pop-ups on checkout and pricing pages
Configure timing so pop-ups appear when visitors hesitate—for example, after 5 seconds on a pricing page. However, don’t overdo the frequency. Once per session is often enough to create urgency without annoying visitors.
Display video testimonials above the fold
Video testimonials build trust faster than text because visitors can see and hear real customersZebracat reports 2.9x higher add-to-cart rates for products featuring them. Embed them prominently on your homepage or key landing pages where first impressions matter.
Enable review schema for rich search results
Schema markup is code that helps search engines understand your reviews, which can display star ratings directly in Google search results. Many social proof tools include this feature automatically—check your settings to make sure it’s enabled.
Pro Tip: A/B test pages with and without social proof to measure the actual conversion lift for your audience.
What ROI to expect from social proof messaging software
Results vary depending on your industry, traffic volume, and implementation. That said, businesses commonly report several benefits after adding social proof, and measuring testimonial ROI helps you quantify the impact:
- Higher conversion rates: Products displaying reviews see 270% greater purchase likelihood compared to those with none
- Reduced purchase hesitation: Real customer activity validates the decision to buy
- Improved trust signals: New visitors see your business is active and legitimate
- Better SEO: Review schema can improve click-through rates from search results
Start turning customer love into more sales
Social proof tools make it straightforward to collect, manage, and display testimonials and customer activity. Whether you’re looking for simple pop-up notifications or a comprehensive testimonial platform, there’s an option that fits your budget and technical comfort level.
The best approach is to start with a free plan, test the impact on your conversion rates, and scale up from there.
Frequently asked questions about social proof tools
What are some examples of social proof?
Common social proof examples include customer testimonials, star ratings, recent purchase notifications, live visitor counts, social media follower counts, expert endorsements, and “as seen in” media logos.
What is the social proof method?
The social proof method is a persuasion technique where people look to others’ actions and opinions to guide their own decisions. Showing that customers trust your business encourages new visitors to do the same.
What is the difference between a social proof app and a social proof platform?
A social proof app typically refers to a single-purpose tool like pop-up notifications. A social proof platform is a more comprehensive solution combining testimonial collection, review management, and multiple display options.
Do social proof tools work with Shopify, WordPress, and Webflow?
Most social proof tools offer embed codes or plugins that work with popular website builders including Shopify, WordPress, Webflow, Wix, and Squarespace. Check compatibility before choosing.
How do you collect testimonials if you do not have any customer reviews yet?
Start by sending personalized requests to your happiest customers via email or a shareable testimonial collection link. Tools like Shapo let you create collection forms in seconds and share them via email, SMS, or social media.
