=== Australcode Product Reviews for WooCommerce ===
Contributors: australcode
Tags: woocommerce reviews, product reviews, review reminder, photo reviews, customer reviews
Requires at least: 6.5
Tested up to: 7.0
Requires PHP: 8.2
Stable tag: 0.3.5
License: GPL-2.0-or-later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Self-hosted WooCommerce product reviews: reminders with no monthly limit, geo-aware consent, photos, verified buyers. No third-party review cloud.

== Description ==

**Your reviews live in your own database. Review reminders are sent from your own server — with no monthly limit and no dependency on an external service.**

Australcode Product Reviews enhances the native WooCommerce reviews and sends automatic review reminder emails **from your own site**. Reminders run on your own server through Action Scheduler, so there is no monthly cap on invitations and no third-party account to maintain.

**Switching from another review plugin?** Import your existing reviews from a CSV export in one step, so moving never means losing your review history.

= Why it is different =

* **Truly self-hosted** — reminders are sent from your server with Action Scheduler. No monthly cap on invitations and no third-party account required.
* **You own your data** — reviews are stored as native WooCommerce reviews in your database. Nobody can wipe them or cut off your access.
* **Configurable geo-aware consent** — require the opt-in only where the law asks for it (EU/UK) and skip it where it does not (Chile and Latin America). Stay compliant without losing reviews.
* **Lightweight** — conditional asset loading; it does not block the rendering of your pages.
* **Works with any theme or builder** — shortcode, Gutenberg block and native widgets for Bricks, Elementor and Divi, plus a style panel to match your theme.
* **Fully translatable** — fully internationalized, so it can be translated into any language at translate.wordpress.org. Compatible with WPML and Polylang.
* **Hook-based integration, no template override** — it never silently overwrites WooCommerce templates.

= Free features =

* Self-hosted review reminder after purchase (no monthly limit)
* Configurable geo-aware consent (per country)
* Photo reviews
* Honest verified-buyer badge
* Rating summary bar, sorting and filtering, helpful votes
* JSON-LD structured data (AggregateRating + Review) for rich snippets in Google
* Shortcode, Gutenberg block and Bricks/Elementor/Divi widgets to display reviews anywhere
* Style panel: card style and accent/star/badge colors that adapt to your theme
* **Automatic discount coupon for each approved review** — thank reviewers with a WooCommerce coupon, emailed to them automatically
* **Google Shopping product reviews feed** — publish your ratings so they can appear in Google Shopping
* **One-click migration** — import your existing reviews from other review plugins and standard CSV exports, so switching never means losing your review history. Export anytime: your data is yours.

= Pro (scale and automation) =

The free plugin is fully usable on its own. Pro adds:

* Multi-step reminders — chase the review with a 2nd and 3rd follow-up email
* Visual email editor with test sending

[Get Pro &rarr;](https://product-reviews.australcode.io)

== Installation ==

1. Make sure WooCommerce is installed and active.
2. Upload the plugin to `/wp-content/plugins` or install it from the Plugins screen in WordPress.
3. Activate it from the Plugins screen.
4. On activation you will be asked whether to share basic environment data. This step is optional — you can skip it and the free plugin stays 100% functional.
5. Open "Australcode Product Reviews" in the WordPress admin menu to configure it. Your reviews and reminders never leave your site.

Documentation: https://product-reviews.australcode.io

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Can I import my existing reviews? =

Yes. You can import reviews from CSV exports of other review plugins, so moving to Australcode Product Reviews never means losing your review history.

= Will I lose my reviews if I deactivate the plugin? =

No. Reviews are stored as native WooCommerce reviews in your own database — they remain even if you deactivate or switch plugins.

= Is it really free? What does the paid version add? =

The core is fully functional and free, with no limits: reminders, consent, photos, badges, structured data, import/export, review discount coupons and the Google Shopping reviews feed. The paid version adds two things, both about scale: multi-step reminders (a 2nd and 3rd follow-up) and a visual email editor with test sending.

= I bought Pro. Why do I still see the free version? =

A license unlocks the Pro download; it does not replace the files already on your site. Install the Pro version — you get it right after activating your license, and you can download it any time from your account — and the Pro features appear. Until you do, the plugin keeps running as the free version. The License screen tells you so and links straight to the download.

= Is there a monthly limit on reminders? =

No. Reminders are sent from your own server, so there is no monthly cap on how many you send.

= Will it slow down my store? =

No. Assets load conditionally — only on pages where reviews are shown — so they do not block the rendering of your pages.

= Do my reviews depend on an external service? =

No. Reviews are native WooCommerce reviews stored in your database. The plugin does not send your data to any third party.

= Is it compatible with HPOS (High-Performance Order Storage)? =

Yes. HPOS compatibility is declared.

== Screenshots ==

1. Reviews on the product page — rating summary, sorting, verified-buyer badges, photo reviews and helpful votes.
2. Dashboard — your reviews at a glance: average rating, moderation queue and reminder activity.
3. Self-hosted review reminders — sent from your own server, with a recommendation for every setting.
4. Widget builder — configure the reviews widget, preview it live and copy the shortcode.
5. Import your reviews from other plugins via CSV, and export them anytime. Your data is yours.
6. Geo-aware consent — the checkout opt-in appears only where the law requires it, plus display and style options.

== External services ==

This plugin connects to Freemius for licensing, software updates and (optionally) anonymous usage diagnostics. Freemius is the Merchant of Record for the paid version of Australcode Product Reviews.

When it connects:

* On activation you may opt in to share basic, non-sensitive environment data. This opt-in is **skippable** — the free version is 100% functional without opting in.
* For the paid version, the plugin contacts Freemius to validate your license and deliver automatic updates.
* If you open the "Contact Us" screen, the support form is loaded from Freemius and everything you type into it is sent to Freemius so they can route it to us — your name, email address and message, plus anything you enter in its optional fields, which include WordPress and FTP credentials you may choose to share so we can reproduce a problem. Those credential fields are optional and blank by default. Nothing is sent unless you submit the form.

What is sent: site URL, WordPress and PHP versions, active plugin/theme information and — only if you opt in or purchase — your license key and account email. **Your store data and your customers' reviews are never sent to Freemius or any other third party**: reviews stay in your own database and reminders are sent from your own server.

* Service provider: Freemius, Inc. — https://freemius.com
* Terms of Service: https://freemius.com/terms/
* Privacy Policy: https://freemius.com/privacy/

== Changelog ==

= 0.3.5 =
* Fixed: if you bought Pro but have not installed the Pro version yet, the plugin no longer invites you to buy it again. It now says your license is active and points you to the download.
* Fixed: on phones, the plugin's own tabs no longer push the current page out of view — every tab is visible.
* Improved: the "Manage license" button now opens your account instead of the pricing page.

= 0.3.4 =
* Fixed: right after buying Pro, the free version could report the Pro features as active before the Pro version was installed — so it announced options it could not run yet. It now waits until the Pro version is running.
* Improved: small refinements to the admin styling, and the translation template now ships with the plugin so anyone can start translating it at translate.wordpress.org.

= 0.3.3 =
* Housekeeping: the free version no longer includes any Pro-only controls. The multi-step reminder options live entirely in the Pro version, in line with the WordPress.org guidelines.
* Changed: translations are no longer bundled in the download. WordPress.org generates and delivers them automatically through translate.wordpress.org.

= 0.3.1 =
* Housekeeping: the plugin no longer loads its translations manually. WordPress has done this automatically since 4.6, and the Spanish (es-CL, es-ES) translations keep working exactly as before — verified on WordPress 6.5.

= 0.3.0 =
* **Now free: automatic discount coupons for reviews.** Thank every approved reviewer with a WooCommerce coupon, emailed automatically. This used to require Pro.
* **Now free: the Google Shopping product reviews feed.** Publish your ratings so they can appear in Google Shopping. This used to require Pro.
* Improved: the coupon amount is now capped at 100 for percentage coupons (a fixed cart amount is still uncapped), so a mistyped value cannot create a coupon worth more than the cart.
* Changed: Pro now focuses on two things, both about scale — multi-step reminders and the visual email editor with test sending.
* Changed: the Pro code is no longer shipped inside the free download. Pro features are built into the Pro version only, which is what WordPress.org asks for.
* New: a "Contact Us" screen in the plugin menu, so you can reach us without leaving your dashboard.
* Fixed: the colour pickers in Display style now show the colour the plugin actually uses when you leave a field empty. The star swatch offered green while stars render orange.

= 0.2.1 =
* Improved: the License screen now shows what your Pro plan includes instead of an empty page, and the licence box no longer overflows on narrow phones.
* Fixed: the admin menu entry reads "License" once Pro is active, instead of still inviting you to upgrade.
* Fixed: the upgrade screens are now fully translated into Spanish (es-CL and es-ES).
* Fixed: the Pro feature list on the upgrade and settings screens now describes what Pro actually does — it no longer mentions per-country reminder delays or a product feed, neither of which exists.

= 0.2.0 =
* New: Widget builder — a visual admin screen to configure a reviews widget, preview it live and copy a ready-to-paste shortcode.
* New: `[acprv_summary]` and `[acprv_form]` shortcodes to place the rating summary and the review form anywhere, independently from the reviews list.
* New: per-instance display options (columns, heading, product scope, sort and order, and toggles for date, photos, verified badge, product name and helpful count) for the `[acprv_reviews]` shortcode, the Gutenberg block and the Bricks, Elementor and Divi widgets.
* Improved: Spanish (es_CL, es_ES) translations updated to cover the new widget options.

= 0.1.0 =
* Initial release: self-hosted reminder engine, geo-aware consent, verified-buyer badge, rating summary with sorting, photo reviews, helpful votes, JSON-LD structured data, CSV import/export, style panel, and display via shortcode, Gutenberg block and Bricks/Elementor/Divi widgets.

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 0.3.5 =
Polish release. If you bought Pro and had not installed the Pro version yet, the plugin now tells you so instead of offering the upgrade again. No action required.

= 0.3.4 =
Nothing to do unless you just bought Pro. In that case, install the Pro download to get its features — the free version no longer reports them as active before the Pro version is running.

= 0.3.3 =
Housekeeping: a cleaner split between the free and Pro versions, and translations now delivered by WordPress.org.

= 0.3.1 =
Internal housekeeping only. Nothing changes for you, and the Spanish translations are unaffected.

= 0.3.0 =
Two features move from Pro to free: automatic review discount coupons and the Google Shopping reviews feed. Nothing you already use goes away. Percentage coupons are now capped at 100, and there is now a "Contact Us" screen to reach support. No action required.

= 0.2.1 =
Polish release: the License screen now lists what your plan includes, the menu entry reads "License" once Pro is active, and the upgrade screens are fully translated into Spanish. No action required.

= 0.2.0 =
Adds a visual Widget builder, two new shortcodes ([acprv_summary] and [acprv_form]) and per-instance display options for the reviews list, block and page-builder widgets. No action required.

= 0.1.0 =
First public release of Australcode Product Reviews for WooCommerce.
