Getting Started with BuddyPress Member Reviews
Add a review and rating system to your BuddyPress community. Members can rate each other using star ratings, write reviews, and build reputation within your community.
Requirements
- WordPress 5.0 or higher
- BuddyPress 5.0 or higher (or BuddyBoss Platform)
- PHP 7.4 or higher
Installation
From WordPress.org
- Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress admin
- Search for “BuddyPress Member Reviews”
- Click Install Now, then Activate
Manual Installation
- Download the plugin ZIP from WordPress.org
- Go to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin
- Choose the ZIP file and click Install Now
- Activate the plugin
Initial Setup
After activation, configure the plugin at Settings > Member Reviews.
Step 1: Configure Who Can Review
In the General tab:
- Select member roles to write reviews — Choose which user roles can submit reviews (e.g., Subscriber, Editor)
- User roles to accept reviews — Choose which roles can receive reviews
Common configurations:
| Community Type | Who Writes | Who Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Freelancer Marketplace | All Members | Service Providers |
| Professional Network | All Members | All Members |
| Service Directory | Customers | Business Owners |
Step 2: Set Up Review Criteria
In the Criteria tab:
- Enable Allow Multiple Criteria to rate on specific aspects
- Click Add Criteria to create rating fields (e.g., “Communication”, “Quality”, “Timeliness”)
- Drag to reorder criteria as needed
If you skip this step, members will see a single overall rating field.
Step 3: Configure Moderation
In the General tab:
| Setting | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Auto approve reviews | Off — Review before publishing |
| Enable owner replies | On — Let members respond to reviews |
| Enable review flagging | On — Let users report issues |
| Auto-hide flag threshold | 5 flags |
How Reviews Work
For Members Writing Reviews
- Visit another member’s profile
- Click the Reviews tab
- Click Add Review (or the profile header button)
- Rate each criterion using stars (1-5)
- Write an optional text review
- Submit
Editing Your Review
If editing is enabled (Settings > General > Update Review), you can edit reviews you’ve written:
- Go to the member’s profile where you left a review
- Find your review in the Reviews tab
- Click Edit Review button (appears only on your own reviews)
- A modal opens with your existing rating and text
- Adjust the star ratings or update your written feedback
- Click Update Review
Reporting Inappropriate Reviews
Members can report reviews that violate community guidelines using the Report button. Four report reasons are available (spam, harassment, inappropriate content, conflict of interest). Reviews reaching the flag threshold are automatically hidden for admin review.
See Review Reporting & Moderation for details.
For Members Receiving Reviews
- Get notified when someone reviews your profile (email + BuddyPress notification)
- View reviews on your Reviews tab
- Reply to reviews using the Owner Reply feature
Replying to Reviews (Owner Reply)
Profile owners can respond to reviews with an inline reply. See Owner Replies for details.
For Administrators
- Pending reviews appear in Reviews > All Reviews (if moderation enabled)
- Approve, edit, or trash reviews from the admin
- Reported reviews show a report count for easy identification
What’s Next
- Admin Settings Reference — Complete settings documentation
- Pro Features Overview — Testimonials, Endorsements, Verified Badges
- Shortcodes & Widgets — Display reviews anywhere
- Review Modes — Choose the right mode for your community