Review Request Email Templates (Copy-Paste Ready for Shopify)
Vedansh Chawda |
September 2, 2026 | 16 mins
Collecting product reviews is one of the highest-ROI activities a Shopify merchant can do. Reviews build trust, improve conversion rates, and give you free, authentic content - but most stores leave them on the table because they never ask.
The fix is a great review request email. This guide gives you 8 ready-to-use review request email templates for every scenario your store will face, plus the principles behind what makes them work and the benchmarks to know if they're performing.
Pick a template, adapt it to your brand voice, and start collecting reviews today.
What Makes a Great Review Request Email
Before you copy a template, understand why it works. These four principles separate emails that get reviews from emails that get ignored.
Send at the right time (3–7 days after delivery)
Timing is the single biggest lever in your review email strategy.
Send too early - before the customer has even opened the package - and they have nothing to say. Send too late - weeks after delivery - and the excitement has faded.
The sweet spot for most physical products is 3–7 days after confirmed delivery. For products that take longer to evaluate (skincare, supplements, appliances), wait 2–4 weeks. Research from PowerReviews confirms that timing relative to delivery - not purchase - is the key variable. Tuesday through Thursday, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the customer's local time zone, tends to produce the strongest open rates.
Keep it short and personal
A review request email is not a newsletter. It should feel like a quick note from a real person.
Aim for 80–120 words in the body. Use the customer's first name. Mention the specific product they bought. Avoid blocks of marketing copy, brand history, or promotional offers that distract from the one thing you want them to do.
The more your email reads like a personal message, the higher your response rate will be.
One clear CTA - one link
Every extra link you add cuts your review conversion rate.
Include one button or hyperlink that goes directly to your review form. Don't add links to your homepage, your social media, or a discount code in the same email. One action, one destination.
If you're using a review app, that link should drop the customer directly into a pre-filled review form - not a product page they have to navigate from.
Make leaving a review feel easy, not like a chore
Friction kills follow-through. If your customer has to log in, create an account, or fill out a long form, most of them won't bother.
Frame the ask as quick and low-effort. Phrases like "takes less than 60 seconds" or "just a few words" lower the psychological barrier. Star-rating-first review flows (where the customer clicks a star in the email itself) consistently outperform flows that start with a blank text box.
Review Request Email Subject Lines That Get Opened
Your subject line determines whether the email gets opened at all. Here are 8–10 subject lines that work - and why.
| Subject Line | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| "How did [Product Name] work out for you?" | Conversational, curiosity-driven, feels like a check-in rather than a request |
| "Quick question about your order, [First Name]" | Personalization + "quick" signals low effort |
| "We'd love your honest opinion 🙏" | "Honest" signals you want a real review, not a paid endorsement; emoji adds warmth |
| "Your experience matters to us - 60 seconds?" | Time-boxes the ask; "matters to us" is reassuring |
| "[First Name], how are you liking your [Product Name]?" | Double personalization; product-specific = higher relevance |
| "Did your order live up to expectations?" | Invites candid feedback; works especially well for follow-ups |
| "Other shoppers would love to hear from you" | Social proof framing; shifts the motivation from "helping the brand" to "helping people like you" |
| "Still thinking about your [Product Name]?" | Soft follow-up tone; great for the second email in a sequence |
| "You bought it. Now tell us what you think." | Direct and confident; works well for brands with a bold voice |
| "Leave a review, make someone's day" | Altruistic framing; effective for lifestyle and gift-oriented products |
Avoid subject lines like "Please leave us a review" (too transactional), "Review request" (sounds automated), or anything with ALL CAPS or excessive punctuation (spam filters and readers both dislike it).
A strong review email subject line is the difference between a 20% open rate and a 45% open rate. Test two versions if your volume allows it.
The Templates
Pick the one that fits your situation. Every template is brand-neutral - swap in your store name, product name, and review link, and you're ready to send.
Template 1 - The Simple Ask
Best for: Most stores, most products. This is your default first email.
Subject line: How did [Product Name] work out for you?
Email body:
Hi [First Name],
We hope you're loving your [Product Name]!
We'd really appreciate it if you could take 60 seconds to share your experience. Your honest feedback helps other shoppers make confident decisions - and it means the world to a small store like ours.
[Leave a Review →]
Thank you so much,
[Your Name] at [Store Name]
Send this 3–5 days after confirmed delivery. It works for virtually any product category.
Template 2 - The Personal Touch
Best for: Stores with a strong brand personality or a founder-led identity.
Subject line: [First Name], how are you liking your [Product Name]?
Email body:
Hey [First Name],
I'm [Your Name], the founder of [Store Name]. I personally wanted to check in and see how your [Product Name] is treating you.
We put a lot of care into every order, and hearing directly from customers like you is how we keep getting better.
If you have a moment, I'd love to hear what you think:
[Share Your Experience →]
It takes less than a minute, and your words genuinely help us.
Thanks for supporting [Store Name],
[Your Name]
The founder-signed email consistently outperforms generic brand emails in open and reply rates. Use it when your store has a personal story worth telling.
Template 3 - The Follow-Up
Best for: Customers who received Template 1 but didn't leave a review. Send 5–7 days after the first email.
Subject line: Still thinking about your [Product Name]?
Email body:
Hi [First Name],
Just a quick follow-up - we noticed you hadn't had a chance to share your thoughts on your [Product Name] yet.
No worries if it slipped your mind! We'd still love to hear from you. It only takes a minute.
[Leave Your Review →]
Thanks again for your order. We really appreciate your support.
[Store Name] Team
Keep this one short and low-pressure. One follow-up is enough - don't send a third unless you have a compelling reason.
Template 4 - The Photo/Video Review Ask
Best for: Stores that want user-generated content (UGC) - especially fashion, home décor, beauty, food, and lifestyle brands.
Subject line: We'd love to see your [Product Name] in action 📸
Email body:
Hi [First Name],
We hope you're enjoying your [Product Name]!
We have a small favor to ask: would you be willing to share a photo or short video along with your review? Seeing real customers use our products helps other shoppers feel confident - and we love seeing how you style/use/display it.
[Add a Photo Review →]
Even a quick snap on your phone is perfect. As a thank-you, we'll feature our favorite customer photos on our website.
Thanks so much,
[Store Name] Team
Photo and video reviews convert browsers into buyers at a significantly higher rate than text-only reviews. This email works best for visually-driven products.
Template 5 - The VIP Customer Ask
Best for: Repeat buyers, loyalty program members, or customers who have spent above a certain threshold.
Subject line: A personal ask from us to you, [First Name]
Email body:
Hi [First Name],
You've been one of our most loyal customers, and that means more to us than you know.
We're building something special at [Store Name], and your voice carries real weight. If you've had a chance to use your recent [Product Name], we'd be honored if you'd share your experience.
[Share Your Review →]
Your feedback shapes what we do next - and it helps other customers find products they'll love as much as you do.
With gratitude,
[Your Name] at [Store Name]
VIP customers are your most credible reviewers. Their reviews carry social proof weight and signal to new shoppers that real, loyal customers love your products.
Template 6 - The New Product Launch Ask
Best for: Beta testers, early-access buyers, or the first customers to receive a newly launched product.
Subject line: You were one of the first - we'd love your thoughts
Email body:
Hi [First Name],
You were among the very first people to get your hands on our new [Product Name] - and that makes your opinion especially valuable.
We're still early in the launch, and honest reviews from customers like you help us understand what's working and what we can improve.
[Be One of the First to Review →]
Your review will also help other early shoppers decide if [Product Name] is right for them.
Thank you for being part of this launch,
[Store Name] Team
Early reviews create momentum. A product with 5 genuine reviews converts far better than one with zero. Send this within the first week of delivery.
Template 7 - The Post-Negative Experience Recovery
Best for: Customers who had a known issue with their order (shipping delay, damaged item, customer service complaint). Use this after the issue has been resolved.
Subject line: We want to make this right, [First Name]
Email body:
Hi [First Name],
We know your recent experience with [Store Name] didn't go as smoothly as it should have, and we're truly sorry for that.
We've done our best to resolve the issue, and we hope we've been able to turn things around for you.
If you're open to it, we'd genuinely welcome your feedback - including the honest parts. It helps us improve, and it shows other shoppers the kind of service they can expect from us.
[Share Your Experience →]
Whatever you share, we're grateful for the chance to do better.
[Store Name] Team
This email takes courage to send - but it works. Customers who had a problem resolved often become your most loyal advocates. A transparent, honest review from a recovered customer builds more trust than five perfect ones.
Template 8 - The SMS-Style Short Ask
Best for: Mobile-first audiences, younger demographics, or any store that wants a stripped-back, ultra-brief email. Also works well as a plain-text email.
Subject line: Quick question about your order 👋
Email body:
Hey [First Name] -
Loving your [Product Name]? We'd love to hear about it.
[Leave a Review - takes 60 seconds →]
Thanks!
[Store Name]
Less is more. This template works especially well as a plain-text email (no HTML, no images) because it lands in the inbox looking like a message from a real person. Test it against your standard branded template.
What to Avoid in Review Request Emails
Even a great template can underperform if you make these common mistakes.
Sending too soon. Emailing the moment an order ships - before it's even delivered - is the fastest way to get ignored or unsubscribed. Wait until after delivery.
Too many CTAs. Every extra link dilutes your review conversion rate. One email, one action, one link. Don't add "Follow us on Instagram" or "Shop our new arrivals" in the same message.
A generic subject line. "Review Request" or "We'd love your feedback" are the email equivalent of elevator music. They get skimmed and deleted. Use the subject line examples above instead.
Incentivizing improperly. Under the FTC's 2024 Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule, you cannot offer a reward in exchange for a positive review. You may offer an incentive for an honest review - but it must be disclosed. Shopify's own merchant guidelines advise against incentivized reviews altogether. The safest approach: don't tie any reward to the review. Let the ask stand on its own. (FTC guidance here)
Emails that are too long. A review request is not a newsletter. If your email takes more than 30 seconds to read, it's too long. Cut everything that isn't essential to the ask.
Sending more than two emails. One initial ask plus one follow-up is the standard. A third email crosses into pestering territory and risks unsubscribes.
How to Automate Review Request Emails on Shopify
Manually sending a post-purchase review email to every customer isn't scalable. The good news: you can set this up once and let it run on autopilot.
Here's how to automate your review request emails using Trustyy Product Reviews:
Step 1: Install Trustyy from the Shopify App Store.
Go to your Shopify Admin → Apps → search for Trustyy Product Reviews → click Install. ✅
Step 2: Connect your store.
Trustyy links directly to your Shopify order data. No manual CSV uploads or third-party integrations needed. ✅
Step 3: Set your send timing.
Go to Settings → Review Request Emails → choose how many days after delivery you want the email to send. Start with 5 days and adjust based on your product type. ✅
Step 4: Customize your email template.
Use one of the templates from this guide as your starting point. Paste it into the email editor, add your logo if you want, and preview it on mobile. ✅
Step 5: Enable the follow-up email.
Turn on the optional follow-up email (sent 5–7 days after the first) for customers who haven't responded. ✅
Step 6: Set your moderation preferences.
Choose whether reviews publish automatically or go to a moderation queue first. Trustyy filters spam automatically either way. ✅
Step 7: Go live.
Toggle the automation on. From this point forward, every customer who completes a purchase will receive your review request email at exactly the right time - no manual work required. ✅
Your automated review request email sequence is now running. New reviews will appear in your dashboard as they come in, ready to display on your product pages.
How to Measure If Your Review Emails Are Working
Sending emails is only half the job. Here's what to track - and what the numbers should look like.
Open Rate
What it measures: The percentage of delivered emails that were opened.
Benchmark: A healthy review request email open rate sits between 35–45%, according to data from MailerLite's 2025 email benchmarks. Post-purchase transactional emails often outperform this range because customers are already engaged with your brand.
If your open rate is below 25%: Test a new subject line. The subject line is almost always the culprit.
Click-Through Rate (CTR)
What it measures: The percentage of delivered emails where someone clicked your review link.
Benchmark: For automated post-purchase flows, a CTR of 8–15% is solid. Klaviyo's flow benchmarks show automated flows significantly outperform one-off campaigns in click rate - which is another reason to automate rather than send manually.
If your CTR is below 5%: Check that your CTA button is prominent and above the fold. Make sure you're linking directly to the review form, not a product page.
Review Conversion Rate
What it measures: The percentage of emails sent that result in a submitted review.
Benchmark: According to EmailCalculator's post-purchase benchmarks, a 5–10% review submission rate is average, 8–12% is strong, and 12%+ is excellent.
If your conversion rate is below 5%: Audit your review form for friction. If customers have to log in or fill out more than 3 fields, you're losing them at the form itself.
A Simple Tracking Dashboard
| Metric | Below Average | Average | Strong | Excellent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Rate | < 25% | 25–35% | 35–45% | 45%+ |
| Click-Through Rate | < 5% | 5–8% | 8–15% | 15%+ |
| Review Submission Rate | < 3% | 3–5% | 5–10% | 10%+ |
Check these numbers monthly. Small improvements to your subject line or send timing can move you from average to strong faster than you'd expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to send a review request email?
For most stores: 3–7 days after confirmed delivery. If you're a new store and don't have delivery tracking set up, use 7–10 days after the order ships as a proxy.
For growing brands selling products that need time to evaluate (skincare, supplements, fitness equipment): wait 14–21 days after delivery so customers have genuinely used the product before you ask.
For established stores with a mix of product types: set different timing rules per product category if your review app allows it. A candle and a protein powder need very different windows.
The key principle: ask after the customer has had a real experience with the product, not before.
Can I offer a discount in exchange for a review?
Short answer: be very careful.
Under the FTC's 2024 Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule, you may offer an incentive for an honest review - but you cannot tie the reward to a positive rating, and any incentive must be disclosed. Shopify's own merchant guidelines go further and advise against incentivized reviews altogether.
The safest approach for any store: don't offer a discount in exchange for a review. A well-timed, personal email asking for honest feedback will outperform an incentivized ask in the long run - and it keeps you fully compliant.
How many review request emails should I send?
Two is the standard sequence for most stores: one initial ask, one follow-up 5–7 days later if there's no response.
New stores should start with just the first email to keep things simple and avoid overwhelming a small customer base.
Growing brands can test a two-email sequence and measure whether the follow-up meaningfully increases their review volume (it usually does by 20–30%).
Established stores with high order volume should stick to two emails maximum. Sending a third risks unsubscribes and can damage your sender reputation over time.
What should the subject line of a review request email say?
A strong customer review email subject line does three things: it feels personal, it signals low effort, and it creates mild curiosity.
The best-performing formulas are:
A direct question about the product: "How did [Product Name] work out for you?"
A personalized check-in: "[First Name], how are you liking your [Product Name]?"
A time-bounded ask: "Your experience matters to us - 60 seconds?"
Avoid anything that sounds automated or transactional: "Review Request," "Please Rate Your Order," or "We Need Your Feedback" all underperform because they feel like obligations, not conversations.
How do I automate review request emails on Shopify?
For new stores: The simplest path is to install a dedicated review app like Trustyy Product Reviews from the Shopify App Store. It handles the timing, the sending, and the review display - all in one place. Setup takes under 10 minutes.
For growing brands already using Klaviyo or another email platform: you can build a post-purchase flow triggered by a "fulfilled" order event. Set a delay of 5–7 days, use one of the templates above, and add a second step for the follow-up.
For established stores with complex tech stacks: a dedicated review app is still usually the better choice for review collection specifically, because it handles the review form, moderation, and display widget alongside the email automation - rather than just the sending.
The goal in all cases is the same: one automated sequence that runs without manual intervention, so every customer gets asked at the right time, every time.