Raise Your Hands if you’re a Trustpilot Customer

Tom Goodwin

December 5, 2025

6 min read

How much control do you actually have over your online reputation? It shouldn’t be a question you need to ask. But when the tools meant to help you build trust become the focus of public criticism, it’s only natural to look more closely at how these systems work and what influence they hold.

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Over the past few months, media outlets have reported concerns about “mafia-style tactics” and questionable practices by a major player within the review-platform industry.

Allegations, rebuttals, and heated debates have created uncertainty for businesses that rely on third-party platforms to build trust with consumers.

We won’t comment on those claims. That conversation has already played out in the public eye.

What we will do is answer the questions we know many of you are quietly weighing up right now. Questions about the integrity of the wider industry, how review platforms operate behind the scenes, and what that means for your brand.

Our goal is to provide clarity, and help you feel confident about the tools you choose.

Summary

Public debate around review platforms has prompted many brands to reassess how their reviews are handled.
Businesses are looking more closely at who controls their review data and how it can be used.
There’s renewed focus on whether review scores truly reflect genuine customer experience.
Many brands want reassurance that their review platform supports compliance and transparency.
REVIEWS.io offers a clear, flexible and trustworthy approach for businesses seeking greater control.

Take control of your reputation.

A transparent alternative for brands that want full control of their reviews.

Switch to REVIEWS.io →

1. Do I actually own the reviews my customers write?

Reviews aren't just feedback - they’re a valuable source of customer data that supports everything from product discovery to conversion.

Because of that, it’s important to understand review control and portability - i.e., whether you can access and reuse your reviews whenever you need to.

Some platforms make this difficult by limiting exports or tying data access to certain plans. When that happens, you may feel dependent on your provider in ways you didn’t expect, especially if you want to switch platforms or use your reviews across multiple channels.

Why it matters:

If you don’t have full ownership, you can’t confidently build long-term strategies around email, ads, SEO or on-site trust. You’re working within someone else’s system - not your own.

REVIEWS.io gives you full, unrestricted ownership of your content and data. You can export everything at any time and use reviews across your entire customer journey. Your customer feedback always stays in your control.

2. Does the plan I’m on change how my reviews are shown?

A review platform should present your brand based on customer experience - not on the plan you pay for.

But in the industry, some core features such as visibility settings, response tools or moderation options can vary between tiers.

That can make businesses wonder whether certain plans allow their reviews to be shown more favourably or with more control than others.

Why it matters:

If your visibility or ability to manage feedback changes depending on price, it becomes harder to know what your customers truly see.

Reputation management needs to be consistent; otherwise, you lose clarity on how your brand is being perceived.

With REVIEWS.io, your essential review presentation does not depend on your subscription.

Your score, your visibility and your ability to respond stay the same across all plans, ensuring customer perception is guided only by real experience, not by platform tiers.

3. Is my review score genuinely based on real customer experience?

With more fake reviews and AI-generated content appearing online, it’s natural for businesses to question how their scores are calculated and moderated.

If a platform allows submissions from unknown sources or lacks transparent moderation, the final score may not represent real customer interactions.

Why it matters:

Your review score influences conversion rates, customer confidence and your brand’s overall credibility. If the inputs behind that score are unclear, both you and your customers lose trust in the numbers.

REVIEWS.io accepts reviews only from verified buyers and uses FTC/ASA-aligned moderation. Every action is logged, and every review is linked to a genuine order.

This gives you confidence that your score accurately reflects customer experience.

4. Could issues with my review platform affect how customers see my brand?

Customers don’t always think about the technology behind reviews - they simply assume the information is fair and reliable.

But when a review platform becomes the subject of public debate, brands sometimes worry that this could influence how customers view the tools they use or the reviews displayed on their site.

Why it matters:

Even if a business is doing everything right, uncertainty around a platform can create doubt.

Brands want assurance that their review management remains clear, stable and unaffected by wider conversations.

REVIEWS.io keeps trust where it belongs - with your customers and your brand. Because our processes are transparent and review quality is clear, shoppers can trust your feedback on its own merits.

Your reputation isn’t influenced by what’s happening elsewhere in the industry.

5. Are our reviews being collected and displayed in a compliant way?

Regulators are focusing more closely on how reviews are collected, moderated and displayed - especially around review verification and transparency.

Businesses want to ensure that their platform supports these requirements rather than leaving compliance in their hands alone.

Why it matters:

Non-compliant reviews not only risk regulatory consequences; they can also undermine customer trust.

A compliant process protects both your brand and your buyers by ensuring reviews reflect real, verified experiences.

REVIEWS.io includes compliance-ready tools as standard. Verified purchaser tags, structured moderation, and disclosure of review incentives, helping you meet FTC, ASA and DSA rules without additional effort.

6. If I wanted to leave my review provider, would it be straightforward?

The ability to make changes without disruption is an important part of running a modern business. That includes migrating from your existing review platform.

But many require long-term contracts or use strict cancellation terms that make it difficult to move on when your needs grow or shift.

Why it matters:

When you feel locked into a platform, it affects your agility. Your tech stack should be able to grow with you - not hold you in place - and switching tools shouldn’t come with penalties or delays.

At REVIEWS.io, there are no long-term commitments. Billing is monthly, pricing is predictable and leaving is simple.

If your requirements change, you have complete freedom to adjust your plan or switch tools on your own timeline.

Choose a review platform you can trust

The recent industry conversation has highlighted something important: trust works best when the tools behind it are clear, reliable and fully aligned with your brand.

Your reviews should belong to you. Your score should reflect real experiences. And your platform should make it easy to support that trust, not complicate it.

REVIEWS.io is built to give you that foundation. No lock-ins. No hidden mechanics. Just straightforward review management you can depend on.

‍Take back ownership of your reputation. Switch to REVIEWS.io today.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Review platforms affect how reviews are collected, displayed and understood by customers. Platforms that prioritise transparency and verified feedback help ensure customer perception reflects real experiences.

Trust depends on how transparent the platform is about ownership, moderation and verification. Platforms that give businesses control over their data and use clear, compliant processes are generally more reliable.

Switching review platforms is often simpler than businesses expect. With REVIEWS.io, migration is supported, flexible and designed to minimise disruption while giving you full control from day one.

REVIEWS.io is a strong alternative for businesses looking for more transparency, flexibility and control over their reviews. It focuses on verified feedback, clear pricing and merchant ownership without long-term lock-ins.