If you need one feature such as Google Reviews, an Instagram feed, a contact form or WhatsApp Chat, Elfsight is a practical managed widget service. The Free plan is enough for a small test, while Basic or Pro fits a live site with regular traffic. The main tradeoff is that every app has a monthly view limit, and reaching it can temporarily turn that app off.
Elfsight does not replace your web host, domain registrar, email provider or website builder. Keep hosting, backups, domain registration and email with the relevant provider, and check those services separately. Before paying, count the widgets, websites and likely monthly loads, then compare the allowance and renewal price at checkout.
Key takeaways
- Use Elfsight when you want managed reviews, social feeds, forms, chats or similar features without custom development.
- The permanent Free plan includes one widget and 200 monthly views per app, but may show Elfsight branding.
- Basic, Pro and Premium cost $6, $12 and $24 per month for one app, with annual billing available at lower effective monthly figures.
- Views are shared across the widgets and websites using the same app, so a site-wide widget can use its allowance quickly.
- Test the exact widget on desktop and mobile, check consent and accessibility needs, and save the checkout price and invoice.
What Elfsight does and which widget fits the job
When you are adding one missing feature to a website, Elfsight gives you a hosted widget instead of requiring you to build and maintain that feature yourself. Its current home page lists 97 widgets across Social, Reviews, E-commerce, Chats, Forms, Video, Audio and Tools.
For reviews, the catalog includes Google Reviews, Facebook Reviews, Tripadvisor Reviews and All-in-One Reviews. A Google Reviews widget connects to one Google location. If you need several review sources, you may need multiple widgets or the All-in-One Reviews app. Reviews submitted directly through the All-in-One widget stay in that widget and are not automatically published to Google or another review platform.
For social content, Elfsight lists Instagram Feed, Facebook Feed, LinkedIn Feed, TikTok Feed, YouTube Gallery and Social Feed. Social feeds use caching, so a new post may appear after a delay. Forms and lead tools include Contact Form, Form Builder, Subscription Form, Poll, Calculator and Appointment Booking. Chat tools include WhatsApp Chat, Facebook Chat, Instagram Chat, Telegram Chat, Click to Call and All-in-One Chat.
The catalog also includes AI Chatbot, Pricing Table, PayPal Button, a timer widget, Event Calendar, Google Maps, Store Locator, Accessibility, Website Translator and Cookie Consent. The widget interface can appear in other languages, while translated review text depends on the app and plan. Pro and higher plans can use AI translation for review text, with the original review still available in the visitor’s view.
Choose the smallest app that solves the actual problem. If you only need one Google Reviews display, a single-app plan is easier to control. If you expect several unrelated features across client sites, the All Apps Pack may fit better, but its allowance still applies separately to each app.
Elfsight on client sites since 2020
We placed our first Elfsight widget in 2020, and nine Google Reviews widgets are live across client sites today. They mostly sit on a home page, on a dedicated reviews page, or on a local landing page that needed proof the services work.
Setup on WordPress is easy: you paste a short embed code into a code or HTML block on the page. After that, the reviews are set up and adjusted in the Elfsight dashboard, and changes reach the live site on their own, with no need to re-add or re-paste the widget.
What the Free plan and paid plans allow
Start by creating the exact widget on the Free plan. Connect the required account or content source, inspect it on desktop and mobile, and confirm that your builder accepts custom HTML or JavaScript. This separates a layout or integration problem from a plan decision.
The Free plan is permanent, not a trial. It costs $0, includes one widget per app and allows 200 monthly views per app. Elfsight may retain its branding on the Free plan, and it has no separate cloud subscription trial, so do not confuse the free tier with the 14-day paid refund window.
The regular single-app plans below show the published amounts read November 11, 2026. Annual billing is paid upfront, and renewal uses the selected or current price for the same billing cycle. Treat the amount on the checkout screen as the price you pay.
The All Apps Pack applies the selected allowance to each app. That matters if you need a Google Reviews widget, an Instagram Feed and a Contact Form, because each app has its own view and widget allowance. The pack also covers the catalog and upcoming apps.
A single-app subscription upgrades only that app. Other apps stay on their Free limits. Check the specific app’s pricing tab before assuming the regular single-app price applies, because Social Feed and All-in-One Reviews can have special pricing.
Before paying, confirm the project allowance for the selected app and tier in the checkout comparison, save the invoice, and remember that the Terms allow later price changes with notice.
How views work and what happens when they run out
Your key question is not only how many widgets you can create. It is how often those widgets will load. Elfsight counts a view each time a widget loads on a page, and the allowance applies per app rather than per visitor.
The allowance is shared across all widgets in the same app and across all websites where those widgets are installed. A Google Reviews widget placed on one contact page may use views slowly. The same widget placed site-wide in a footer or sidebar can use them much faster.
When the limit is exceeded, Elfsight temporarily deactivates the app until the allowance refreshes or you upgrade. That can remove several placements at once if they use the same app. Check the dashboard during the first month, especially after a marketing campaign or a traffic increase.
Elfsight says current widget code uses lazy loading by default. Lazy loading can delay loading until a visitor reaches or interacts with the widget, but it is an implementation feature, not a speed or availability promise. Older code and iframe installations may need separate lazy-loading settings, and no independent page-speed result should be assumed.
How to install Elfsight on WordPress, Wix, Shopify and other builders
Once the widget looks right, installation usually follows the same pattern. Elfsight also provides a share link for most widgets and a free installation-request service.
For WordPress, the code can go into an HTML block or a compatible builder element. Elementor has its own HTML area. On Wix, Custom Code may require a Premium plan with a connected custom domain for iframe-free installation. Confirm that requirement in the Wix project before planning the layout.
Shopify uses a Custom Liquid or HTML area, but Shopify App Store apps are a separate billing channel. Elfsight says those apps have a seven-day free trial followed by monthly or yearly billing through Shopify. There is no single Shopify price that applies to every app, so check the specific Shopify App Store listing before installing and confirm whether Shopify or Elfsight will issue the charge.
Squarespace supports a Code block or Code Injection. Webflow, Google Sites, GoDaddy, Hostinger, Weebly, BigCommerce, Joomla and ordinary HTML sites have their own embed locations. Google Sites supports embedded code but does not reliably support floating or popup widgets.
For Google Reviews, confirm that you control or manage the relevant business listing. Check that attribution and links meet Google’s requirements. A native platform embed may be enough for one simple item, while Elfsight makes more sense when you need a reusable layout, filtering or several placements.
Support, privacy, cookie consent and the 14-day refund window
If the widget affects customer contact, reviews or consent notices, test the full visitor experience before paying. Elfsight support is available through a support form, email and a community forum. The Help Center says email replies are expected between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Central European Time, Monday through Friday. Paid tiers add higher-priority support, and some higher tiers include live chat.
Paid subscriptions renew automatically at the end of the selected monthly or annual cycle. Cancellation stops the next charge and normally leaves paid features active until the current period ends. You can cancel from the Elfsight Dashboard or Paddle’s customer portal. Decide who will cancel renewal if the widget is installed for a client.
The 14-day money-back guarantee is separate from the permanent Free plan. A paid customer can request a full refund during the first 14 days. After that, refunds are limited to cases such as an unsupported use case or a bug that developers cannot fix within two weeks. Forgetting to cancel, changing your mind mid-period or requesting infeasible customization does not qualify.
Elfsight’s privacy policy says it collects an IP address, operating system and browser type for service operation, stores that information for seven days and evaluates it without identifying you by name. Form Builder, Contact Form, Subscription Form, Popup, Banner, Slider and Announcement Bar submissions can contain personal information stored on protected Google Cloud Platform servers. Elfsight says the data is encrypted, while the widget owner remains responsible for handling submissions under the owner’s privacy policy.
Cookie Consent can display an Allow or Decline notice, but Elfsight says it does not add, enable or disable cookies. You remain responsible for actual cookie blocking and consent implementation. Ask Elfsight and your privacy adviser whether the planned form or tracking use requires a separate DPA or consent-management tool.
User complaints, service limits and who Elfsight fits
Elfsight fits a small business that wants a managed widget, a freelancer making quick client sites, or a site owner replacing manual embeds and screenshots. It is also a reasonable choice when several unrelated features need a similar editor and installation method.
User reports on G2 often describe the interface and copy-paste installation as easy. Trustpilot users frequently praise support agents for setup and customization. Reddit users describe the service as useful for quick client deployments and social or review embeds.
The recurring complaints are practical. Users report that lower-tier view or message limits can pause a widget after an unexpected traffic increase. Other reports mention a page-speed hit, accessibility concerns, JavaScript weight or a price that feels high for one small feature. These reports are individual experiences, not a measured result for every site.
Trustpilot’s 2024 transparency report says Trustpilot obtained a judgment prohibiting Elfsight from selling unauthorized TrustBox widgets in the UK and other key markets. If you plan to display Trustpilot content, use an authorized integration and preserve the required attribution. For any review source, confirm that the connection and displayed content meet that platform’s rules.
Elfsight’s Terms say the service is provided “as is” and is not guaranteed to be uninterrupted, error-free or secure. The Terms also prohibit modifying or self-hosting its scripts, avoiding usage limits, reverse engineering and reselling the service. External scripts can be blocked by a site’s Content Security Policy, browser extensions or privacy tools.
Do not make Elfsight the only copy of important reviews, form submissions or configuration data. Ask what content can be exported and keep independent copies. After ordinary termination, Elfsight says it will not erase customer content for 30 days and may provide its standard data-retrieval assistance, subject to amounts owed. Review the Terms and ask Elfsight before using unusually high-volume, automated or multi-client deployments.
If you need to compare the main Google Reviews options, use Best Google Reviews Widgets for Small Business Websites. For the complete plan details, see Elfsight Pricing: Plans, View Limits and What a Small Business Actually Needs. If the view model or recurring price does not fit, compare Elfsight Alternatives: Other Widget Tools, Free Options and When to Switch.
Frequently asked questions
Is Elfsight trustworthy?
Elfsight is an established widget provider with a broad catalog, support channels and many positive user reports about setup. Its Terms still say the service is not guaranteed to be uninterrupted, error-free or secure, so keep independent copies of important data and treat the view limit as an operating condition.
Is Elfsight really free?
Yes. Elfsight’s cloud Free plan costs $0, has no time limit and includes one widget with 200 monthly views per app. It is a permanent free tier, not a trial, and it may retain Elfsight branding. Prices checked November 11, 2026.
How much does Elfsight cost?
A regular single app costs $6 per month or $60 billed yearly on Basic, $12 per month or $120 yearly on Pro, and $24 per month or $240 yearly on Premium. The All Apps Pack starts at $18 per month or $180 billed yearly for Basic, with higher tiers available.
Is there a free Google Reviews widget?
Yes. Elfsight’s Google Reviews app has a Free plan with one widget and 200 monthly views. You still need access to the relevant business listing and must follow Google’s attribution and review requirements.
What is Elfsight used for?
Elfsight adds hosted reviews, social feeds, forms, chats, AI chatbots, calendars, maps, pricing tables, media players and cookie notices to websites. It is intended to reduce the need for custom development or manually maintained embeds.
Do Elfsight views count per visitor?
Views count when the widget loads, not simply by the number of unique visitors. The monthly allowance is shared across widgets in the same app and across websites using them.
What happens when an Elfsight view limit is reached?
Elfsight temporarily deactivates the app when its monthly allowance is exceeded. The app returns when the limit refreshes or when the plan is upgraded.
Does Elfsight replace web hosting?
No. Elfsight provides widget services, not hosting. Hosting, backups, domains, email mailboxes, SSL certificates and migrations must be handled and checked through the relevant website provider.
Does Elfsight Cookie Consent block cookies?
No. The widget displays a consent notice and Allow or Decline buttons, but Elfsight says it does not add, enable or disable cookies. The site owner remains responsible for blocking scripts and meeting applicable privacy requirements.
What are some good alternatives to Elfsight?
A native platform embed may fit one simple post or map. A custom API integration gives more control but requires development and maintenance, while a specialist review-management service may fit businesses that need review requests, moderation or platform-specific compliance.
Can I get a refund after cancelling Elfsight?
A paid subscription has a 14-day full money-back window when the refund is requested during the first 14 days. After that, refunds are limited to cases such as unsupported use or an unresolved qualifying bug, and cancelling after renewal does not normally qualify.
Glossary
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