How to Make A Website Like Trustpilot?

Launch your own review platform like Trustpilot under $5K in just 15 days. Learn how to build a global software, app, and company review website using PHP & Laravel with full admin and user features. Request free demo now.

In today’s digital world, consumer reviews drive trust and sales. As per my research, review platforms are more influential than ever: around 89% of shoppers check online reviews before buying, and roughly half say positive reviews are among their top purchase influences (business.trustpilot.com). Even locally, 71% of people read reviews when researching businesses (backlinko.com). This means there’s a clear demand for a new company and software/app review site as a Trustpilot alternative. People worldwide trust peer feedback as social proof, so launching a global review website can tap into this trend. In this guide I’ll explain why a review site makes sense now and how to build one on a shoestring (about $5K and 15 days), focusing on PHP/Laravel.

Already Developed: 3 Review Platforms More Powerful Than Trustpilot

As per my experience, I’m not just writing theory here—I’ve already developed three powerful review platforms that go beyond what Trustpilot offers. These aren’t basic clones—they’re packed with custom features, modern tech stacks, and scalable infrastructure built using PHP and Laravel.

Here are the live examples:

• Make An App Like – A review and listing platform for app development companies and startups.
• Muzmatch.app – A Directory and Review Platform dedicated for apps and software.
• AllAITool.AI A global review directory for AI tools, where users rate tools, apps, and businesses across industries.

These platforms combine the best features of Trustpilot, Sitejabber, and G2—with even more flexibility. Whether you’re a startup or an enterprise, we can customize the features to match your exact goals.

Want to see it in action? Request a Free Demo and explore how you can launch your own high-performing review website in just 15 days.

Why Use PHP and Laravel to Make Website Like Trustpilot?

Choosing the right tech stack is crucial. PHP remains the most used server-side language – roughly 77% of websites run on PHP (benjamincrozat.com). Laravel is a leading PHP framework that speeds up development. In fact, Laravel is the most popular PHP framework in 2023, with a rich ecosystem of packages and tools. As I found, Laravel is “state-of-the-art” for building web apps quickly, and many top companies (even industry giants like the BBC) use Laravel (bacancytechnology.com).

In my experience, Laravel’s built‑in features (user authentication, database ORM, security, templating) plus a large community of developers mean faster coding and fewer bugs. For a budget project, PHP/Laravel is wise: it’s open source (no license fees), easy to host cheaply, and well-supported.

As per my experience, the main advantages of Laravel/PHP for this project include:

• High Adoption: PHP powers most web backends, so it’s easy to hire experienced developers or find help online.
• Rapid Development: Laravel handles common tasks (routing, authentication, database migrations) out-of-the-box, cutting coding time.
• Rich Ecosystem: Many free libraries and admin templates are available (e.g. Laravel Nova/Voyager, AdminLTE) to jumpstart features like dashboards or search.
• Security and Stability: Laravel includes protections (CSRF tokens, input validation) that help launch a secure site quickly.
• Scalability: Laravel apps can grow as your traffic rises; big startups already trust it (bacancytechnology.com).

Using PHP with Laravel fits our $5K budget and 15-day timeline: we leverage existing code, minimize new development, and deploy on inexpensive shared hosting or a small VPS.

MVP Scope in TrustPilot: $5K Budget, 15 Days

With only about $5,000 and 15 days, we must focus on a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). One agency claims they can launch an MVP in 15 days on a $5–15K budget (sitemile.com), so $5K is doable if we trim scope. As per my experience, we should limit features to essentials. For example, use Laravel’s default authentication for login/signup, and pick a free Bootstrap or Tailwind CSS theme to save design time. Skip any advanced or custom features at first.

Key priorities:

• User accounts: Registration/login (email verification), user profile page showing their reviews.
• Listings: Database of companies/apps, each with a profile page. Add/edit listings via admin only.
• Search & filters: Basic search (by name or category) and sort by rating or recent.
• Review system: Users can rate (1–5 stars) and write text reviews on each listing.
• Admin dashboard: A simple backend (free admin panel) to manage users, listings, and reviews.
• Design/UI: Use a ready-made responsive template (Bootstrap/Tailwind) so it looks decent without custom design.

By locking scope tightly, using Laravel starter kits, and leveraging open-source packages, an experienced dev can build these core features in ~2 weeks. Further ideas (badges, social login, complex analytics) come later when you have more budget.

User Features in Trustpilot like Website Development

End-users (the reviewers and readers) need a smooth experience. Important user-facing features include:

• Registration & Login: Simple sign-up (email/password or OAuth options like Google/LinkedIn) with email verification to confirm identities.
• User Profile: A personal dashboard showing their posted reviews and a brief profile (alias, location, badges). Users can edit their review or profile details.
• Listing Browsing: Browse companies/apps by category. View each listing’s details page showing description, average rating, and all user reviews.
• Search & Filters: Global search box for business or app name. Filters on listings (by rating range, date added, features, or location) help users find relevant entries.
• Submit Review: An easy form on each listing page where a logged-in user can select a star rating (1–5) and write a comment. Optionally upload screenshots or images.
• Review Editing: Allow users to edit or delete their own reviews in case they update their opinion.
• Social Proof: Show user initials or avatars next to reviews. Include “Verified User” badges if you implement email/receipt verification later.
• Helpfulness Voting: Let readers mark reviews as “helpful” or “upvote” – this orders better reviews higher.
• Flag/Report: Users can report a review for admin attention (spam or abuse).
• Notifications: Email or on-site notifications when a user’s review is approved or if someone replies. (Keep it basic on MVP – email is enough.)
• Responsive Design: Ensure the site works on mobile. Many users will browse or review from phones, so Bootstrap/Tailwind ensures a decent mobile UI out-of-the-box.

These user features encourage engagement and content generation. The more reviews and interactions, the more authentic content you have, which boosts SEO and trust.

Reviews Panel and Features List in Trustpilot Like App

The review component itself is the heart of the site. Key review-related features include:

• Star Rating & Aggregate: Each listing shows a 5-star rating (half-stars supported) and the average score (e.g., “4.2 ★ from 150 reviews”). Show a breakdown chart of how many 5★, 4★, etc.
• Review Display: List reviews with newest first by default. Include the reviewer’s alias, date, star rating, and text. Use a clean layout so users can skim feedback.
• Sorting & Filtering: Allow sorting by “Most helpful,” “Highest rating,” or “Lowest rating” to find trends.
• Review Helpfulness: A “thumbs up” or “helpful” button on each review that users can click. Display the count of votes. (As per my experience, this highlights good reviews.)
• Business Replies: (Optional extension) Let companies claim their listing and respond to reviews. If implemented, show a “Company Response” under each relevant review. This adds credibility.
• Pagination/Load More: For long lists of reviews, paginate or use “load more” to keep pages fast.
• Review Guidelines: Display concise rules (no hate speech, no fake reviews) to set expectations.
• Search Within Reviews: (Advanced) If time permits, a search bar to find reviews containing specific keywords.
• Anti-Spam Measures: Automatically filter duplicate or bot-like reviews (e.g. multiple reviews from same IP in short time).

Together, these ensure users can both submit reviews easily and find useful reviews quickly. A straightforward rating/comment panel is enough to start; you can add rich features later.

Monetization Strategies

To build a sustainable global platform, integrate monetization from day one. Relevant strategies include:

• Advertising (AdSense/Display Ads): Place contextual ads (e.g. Google AdSense) in page sidebars or footers. An ad network will auto-insert relevant ads so you earn per click or impression. This is passive income that scales with traffic.
• Affiliate Marketing: Partner with companies whose products you list (e.g. software vendors, app stores). Include affiliate links or banners next to reviews. When a user clicks and buys, you get a commission. Reviews of apps or software can naturally tie to affiliate programs (like Amazon for hardware/software).
• Sponsored Listings/Content: Offer businesses paid options to highlight their listing. For example, a company might pay to appear at the top of search results or to feature a promoted review. Many blogs also sell sponsored post placements. This can be a big revenue source once you have traffic.
• Premium Subscriptions: Follow Trustpilot’s model: charge businesses for advanced features (analytics, priority review replies, ad-free profile, custom widgets). For example, a small fee for a “Gold Business Account” with added visibility.
• Data & Lead Gen: As your database grows, you could sell aggregate industry reports or insights to market researchers. If appropriate, capture business leads for software/app developers (with privacy compliance).
• Donations/Premium Features: If your audience is tight-knit (e.g. open-source software reviews), you could ask for donations or crowdfund features. Offering premium user features (like filtering by expert reviews) is another model.

Each method suits a global review site. Initially, focus on ads and affiliates for quick cash flow. As credibility grows, introduce sponsored and premium plans. Always be transparent (label ads/sponsored) to maintain trust.

SEO and Keywords

Ranking well on Google is essential. Use SEO best practices from day one:

Rich search snippets can boost clicks. Google’s developer docs explain that if you add valid review markup, Google will show stars and summary info in search resultsdevelopers.google.com. The example above shows a restaurant’s 4.6★ rating and review count in a Google panel. By including the correct AggregateRating schema on your review pages, you can get those eye-catching star snippets. This increases visibility and trust in search results.

• Use Structured Data: Implement schema.org tags (Review, AggregateRating, SoftwareApplication, etc.) on each listing and review page so Google can crawl ratings (developers.google.com). This generates rich snippets (star ratings) that improve click-through.
• Keyword Strategy: Include relevant keywords in your content and titles – e.g. “software review platform”, “customer reviews site”, “Trustpilot alternative”, “company ratings”, “app review website”. Use these in headings (H1, H2) and meta descriptions naturally.
• Quality Content: Aside from reviews, add some unique content (a blog or guides). For example, publish articles on “how to choose the best project management app” or “top rated antivirus software”. This attracts search traffic and establishes expertise.
• Mobile & Speed: Ensure your site is mobile-friendly and loads fast. Google favors responsive, quick-loading sites. Use Laravel caching and optimized images to speed up pages.
• On-Page SEO: Write descriptive URLs (e.g. /company/apple-inc), use alt text on images, and include review keywords in text.
• Encourage Backlinks: Promote your site on social media and tech forums. The more credible sites link to you, the higher you’ll rank. Featuring genuine expert reviews can also attract shares and links.
• International SEO: Since it’s global, plan for multiple languages/currencies. Use hreflang tags if you translate content. Even initially, setting up currency options or language switchers can boost your appeal worldwide.

As I found, consistent SEO effort pays off: good use of structured data and keywords makes your platform visible to users searching for reviews or products.

Conclusion

Launching a Trustpilot-style review platform for software, apps, and companies is challenging but doable on a tight budget. As per my experience, the key is focus: build a simple MVP with core features (user accounts, listings, reviews, admin) using Laravel for speed. Rely on proven patterns (star ratings, search filters, moderation tools) and keep the interface intuitive. Monitor your $5K spending carefully (use free tools and frameworks) and work in short sprints to meet the 15-day goal (sitemile.com).

Once live, drive traffic by encouraging real reviews (send email invites, share on social media) and continuously improve based on user feedback. Monetize from the start through ads, affiliate links, and premium services so you can reinvest in features like advanced analytics or mobile apps.

As per my research and experience, a well-executed, niche review site can quickly gain trust and visibility. By leveraging PHP/Laravel and focusing on quality content and SEO (rich snippets, keywords), your Trustpilot alternative can rank high in search and attract a global audience. Good luck building your review platform — with the right plan and lean execution, you can create a trusted review site that stands out in the market.