The Review Hostage Problem
Every month, thousands of businesses pay $200–$2,000 to review platforms—not for new features, not for better service, but simply to keep their existing reviews visible.
Think about that. You spent months asking happy customers to leave reviews. Those customers spent their time writing thoughtful feedback. And now, a platform holds all of it behind a paywall.
If you stop paying? The reviews don't disappear from the internet—they disappear from your control.
How We Got Here
The review industry was built on a simple but predatory model:
- Offer free review collection to get businesses onboard
- Build a moat by accumulating reviews on the platform's domain
- Gate features behind escalating pricing tiers
- Make leaving painful by offering no export or making it useless
This isn't a bug—it's the business model. Platforms need you to stay because their revenue depends on your monthly subscription, not on the quality of your reviews.
What "Owning Your Reviews" Actually Means
At Reviewlee, we define data ownership with three non-negotiable principles:
1. Full Export, Anytime
Every review you collect can be exported as JSON or CSV—with all metadata, timestamps, verification status, and reviewer information. No "contact our enterprise team" gates.
2. Embeds Survive Cancellation
If you cancel your Reviewlee account, your embedded widgets don't break. They gracefully degrade to static content. Your public profile page remains accessible.
3. No Platform Lock-In
Your review data is yours. We provide API access at every tier. You can build custom UIs, migrate to another platform, or self-host your data.
The Math Nobody Shows You
Let's compare the total cost of "renting" reviews over 3 years:
| Platform | Monthly Cost | 3-Year Total | Export Available? | Embeds After Cancel? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot Pro | $299/mo | $10,764 | Limited | ❌ |
| Yotpo Growth | $249/mo | $8,964 | ❌ | ❌ |
| Reviewlee Growth | $49/mo | $1,764 | ✅ Full | ✅ Yes |
The difference isn't just price—it's philosophy.
Building for the Long Game
We're not building Reviewlee to capture market share through lock-in. We're building review infrastructure—the boring, reliable plumbing that businesses can trust for years.
That means:
- Open API with comprehensive documentation
- Webhook support for real-time integrations
- Standard formats for data portability
- Transparent moderation with full audit logs
What You Can Do Today
If you're currently on a review platform that doesn't offer full data export:
- Request your data in writing (GDPR gives you this right)
- Document your reviews with screenshots as a backup
- Evaluate alternatives that prioritize data ownership
- Start collecting on a platform you actually own
Your reviews are the voice of your customers. They shouldn't be held hostage by a SaaS subscription.
Ready to own your reviews? Start your 14-day free trial—no credit card required.