Loox vs Judge.me: Which Shopify Review App Should You Use?
By DTCStack · Updated 2026-06-12
Loox and Judge.me compete most directly in the $0-$50/mo price band, and the choice between them comes down to a single trade-off: predictability versus visual quality. Judge.me is the budget-safe default - a genuinely useful free tier and a flat $15/mo paid plan that never changes with order volume. Loox is the visual specialist - better photo and video collection, cleaner widgets, and a bundled referral program, at a higher and more variable price.
This comparison is based on current pricing and feature research as of June 2026. Some review-app entry tiers conflict between sources, so treat figures as a guide and verify live rates before committing.
Quick verdict
Choose Loox if your conversion depends on photos and videos from real customers, you want the cleanest widget designs with minimal setup, and you would value a referral program bundled in. For visual-first DTC brands, Loox's collection experience is worth the higher, more variable cost.
Choose Judge.me if you want predictable, flat pricing that scales to any order volume, a free tier that is actually usable at scale, and solid feature depth without surprise bills. For budget-conscious stores at any stage, Judge.me is the safe, sensible default.
Quick comparison
| Loox | Judge.me | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Visual-first DTC brands | Budget-conscious stores, any stage |
| Free plan | Limited entry tier (capped) | Genuinely functional, no order cap |
| Paid entry | Around $12.99-$49.99/mo | $15/mo flat (Awesome) |
| Pricing basis | Order volume (Convert plan) | Flat - no order scaling |
| Photo/video reviews | Yes - core strength | Yes, even on free |
| Widget design | Best-in-class for visual brands | Functional, less polished |
| Referrals | Bundled (Convert+) | Basic referrals (Awesome) |
| Platforms | Shopify only | Shopify only (since late 2024) |
Best for different seller stages
New stores / proving the model. Judge.me wins on cost. Its free plan gives you unlimited review requests, unlimited photo and video reviews, and Google Rich Snippets with no order cap - you can build real review volume before paying anything. Loox's entry tier is more limited and oriented toward getting visual reviews flowing.
Growing visual-first brands. Loox earns its keep here. The Convert plan ($49.99/mo) bundles video reviews, AI smart sorting, auto-translation across 38 languages, AI Review Stories, and a referral program. If your category is fashion, beauty, or home décor, the higher visual-collection rate can pay for itself.
Scaling stores with high order volume. Judge.me's flat $15/mo becomes a major advantage. Loox's per-block overages mean a high-volume month can climb toward $999.99/mo before its Unlimited plan makes sense, while Judge.me stays at $15/mo no matter how many orders you process.
Pricing comparison
Both keep entry costs low, but the cost curves diverge sharply (all figures as of June 2026, verify current rates):
- Loox has a limited free entry tier (App Store shows $0/mo with caps; some sources show $12.99/mo instead). The Convert plan is $49.99/mo base plus $50 per additional 300-order block, capping around $999.99/mo at 6,000+ orders, with an Unlimited plan around $299.99/mo flat. Pricing scales on order volume.
- Judge.me is free forever for core features (with a widget badge), or $15/mo flat on the Awesome plan - no order-volume scaling, no overages, no tiers. The price is identical at 100 orders or 100,000.
The practical takeaway: if your order volume is variable or high, Judge.me's flat pricing removes a real source of bill anxiety. If you are a smaller visual-first brand where photo collection drives conversion, Loox's spend is justified - just model your peak-season order pattern first.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Loox | Judge.me |
|---|---|---|
| Photo reviews | Yes (optimized) | Yes (free) |
| Video reviews | Convert+ | Yes (free) |
| AI features | Smart sorting, Review Stories (Convert+) | AI replies, summaries (Awesome) |
| Auto-translation | 38 languages (Convert+) | Yes (Awesome) |
| Q&A widget | No | Yes (Awesome) |
| Google Rich Snippets | Yes | Yes (free) |
| Google Shopping feed | Via syndication (Convert+) | Awesome |
| Referrals | Bundled (Convert+) | Basic (Awesome) |
| Widget polish | Best-in-class | Functional |
Loox wins on visual experience - collection UX, widget design, and AI Review Stories. Judge.me wins on value-for-feature: unlimited photo and video reviews on the free plan, a Q&A widget, AI replies and summaries, and 130+ integrations (including Klaviyo and Gorgias) on the $15/mo Awesome plan.
Ease of use
Both are no-code and install natively on Shopify. Loox is tuned for visual submission and feels slightly more guided for a photo-first store. Judge.me is straightforward and reliable, with a setup that prioritizes getting reviews collected and displayed over visual flourish. Neither has a steep learning curve; the difference is aesthetic polish rather than complexity.
Integrations
Both are Shopify-native (Judge.me became Shopify-exclusive in late 2024; Loox is Shopify-only as well). Judge.me's Awesome plan lists 130+ integrations including Klaviyo, Gorgias, and Mailchimp, plus Meta and TikTok Shop sync and a Google Shopping feed. Loox covers Google, Meta, and TikTok Shop syndication on Convert and bundles referrals. For most stores both cover the essentials; Judge.me's integration breadth on the $15/mo plan is notable for the price.
Pros and cons
Loox pros: best-in-class photo/video collection UX; clean conversion-focused widgets; referrals bundled on Convert. Loox cons: per-block overages create unpredictable peak-season bills; limited design customization vs. Okendo; Shopify-only.
Judge.me pros: genuinely useful free tier with no order cap; flat $15/mo at any volume; strong feature depth and integrations for the price. Judge.me cons: widgets are functional but less polished than Loox; widget badge on the free plan; Shopify-only since late 2024.
Final recommendation
If your store lives or dies on visual social proof - fashion, beauty, home décor - start with Loox. Its photo and video collection and widget design are worth the higher, more variable cost. Visit Loox to get started.
If you want predictable pricing, a free tier that actually works at scale, and strong features without surprise bills, Judge.me is the safe, sensible default for stores at any stage. Visit Judge.me to try it free.
Both are free or cheap to start, so test the real fit before paying. For more options, see our full guide to reviews and UGC tools.
FAQ
- Is Judge.me really free?
- Yes, Judge.me's free plan is genuinely functional - unlimited review requests, unlimited photo and video reviews, and no order cap. The catch is a 'Powered by Judge.me' badge on widgets, plus no AI features, no Q&A, and no Google Shopping feed. Those come with the flat $15/mo Awesome plan.
- Which collects more photo and video reviews?
- Loox is widely reported to collect photos and videos at a higher rate because its review request emails are designed around visual submission. Judge.me supports unlimited photo and video reviews even on free, but its request flow is less visually optimized, so visual UGC tends to accumulate faster on Loox.
- Which is cheaper at scale?
- Judge.me, by a wide margin in many cases. Its Awesome plan is a flat $15/mo whether you process 100 or 100,000 orders - no overages. Loox's Convert plan starts at $49.99/mo and adds $50 per 300 extra orders, so a high-volume month can cost several times more.
- Does Loox have a free plan?
- It has a limited free entry tier - the Shopify App Store shows a $0/mo Beginner plan with caps (around 100 monthly review-request emails and 500 total orders), though some sources show a paid $12.99/mo entry instead. Treat it as a limited entry point and verify the current listing. Judge.me's free plan is more generous with no order cap.
- Which has better-looking widgets?
- Loox. Its widgets are cleaner and more conversion-focused out of the box, which matters for visual-first brands. Judge.me's widgets are functional and reliable but less polished aesthetically. If review presentation is part of your brand experience, Loox has the edge.
Related tools
Photo and video review app optimized for visual-first DTC brands, with a bundled referral program and conversion-focused widget designs.
The most generous free review app - unlimited review requests with no order cap on free, and a flat $15/mo paid plan at any order volume.