Review widgets are usually judged on conversion, not accessibility — but a widget that a screen reader user cannot understand, or a keyboard-only user cannot reach, is failing a real slice of your visitors, not a hypothetical edge case. Here is a practical checklist for reviews widget accessibility on Wix.
The short verdict
Important
This is a checklist to verify on your own store's setup, not a compliance claim about any specific app. Accessibility depends on your theme and layout as much as the widget itself.
Why this is worth checking at all
Accessibility is one of the four scoring categories in a Google Lighthouse report — the same tool used to check performance and SEO. A reviews widget with poor screen-reader support or no keyboard access can quietly drag down the accessibility score on every product page it appears on, which is also a real usability gap for a meaningful share of shoppers, including people using screen readers, keyboard-only navigation, or screen magnification.
A practical checklist
- Star ratings have a text equivalent ("4.5 out of 5 stars"), not just a visual icon with no label
- Written reviews are readable as normal text, not rendered inside an image or canvas element
- Interactive elements — "write a review," pagination, filters — are reachable and operable using Tab and Enter alone
- Focus states are visible when tabbing through the widget, not invisible outlines
- Photo/video reviews include some form of alt text or accessible label on the media
- Color is not the only way information is conveyed (for example, a "verified" badge should have a text label, not just a colored dot)
The specific problem with star ratings
Star icons are the single most common accessibility gap in review widgets across the web, not specific to Wix or any one app. If the stars are rendered as pure decoration (an icon font or image with no accompanying text), a screen reader either skips them entirely or reads something meaningless like "star star star." The fix is always the same: a hidden or visible text label stating the actual rating in words, tied to the visual stars — something like a visually-hidden "Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars" span behind the icon graphics.
Photo and video reviews
Customer photo and video uploads are a real conversion driver, but they need the same accessibility treatment as any other image on your site. A generic alt text like "customer photo review" is far better than none — it at least tells a screen reader user that visual content exists, even if it cannot describe the specific contents. Video reviews should ideally have some text context nearby (the written review text that usually accompanies them is often enough, as long as it is not the only content and the video itself is not required to understand the review).
How to test it yourself in ten minutes
- Open a product page with reviews visible.
- Click into the page, then navigate using only the Tab key — can you reach every interactive review element in a logical order?
- Turn on your OS screen reader (VoiceOver on Mac, NVDA on Windows) and listen to how the star rating and review text are announced.
- Note anything that reads as silence, gibberish, or an unreachable button, and check with your app's settings or theme customization for a fix.
Tip
Run this same ten-minute check after any theme change — a layout update can silently break keyboard focus order even if the widget itself hasn't changed.
Check your product page accessibility today
A ten-minute keyboard and screen reader pass catches most review widget accessibility gaps.
Install Proofy ReviewsFAQ
Is Proofy Reviews fully accessibility-compliant?+
This guide is a practical checklist for you to verify on your own store's setup, not a compliance certification. Accessibility depends on your theme, layout, and how the widget is placed, not just the app alone — always test your specific page.
Why does review widget accessibility matter for SEO or Lighthouse scores?+
Accessibility is one of the four categories in a Google Lighthouse report, alongside performance, best practices, and SEO. A widget with no alt text or keyboard support can drag down your accessibility score on the pages it appears on.
What is the most common accessibility problem with star-rating widgets?+
Star icons rendered as pure decorative images or icon fonts with no text alternative. A screen reader user hears nothing meaningful — no "4 out of 5 stars" — unless there is a proper text label behind the visual stars.
Can I test this myself without hiring anyone?+
Yes. Tab through the widget with your keyboard alone, and run a quick screen reader pass (VoiceOver on Mac, NVDA on Windows) on the product page. Both take a few minutes and catch the most common issues.
Does this apply to photo and video reviews too, not just star ratings?+
Yes. Photos and videos in reviews need some form of accessible label as well — even a generic "customer photo" alt text is better than none, since screen reader users otherwise get no indication that visual content exists at all.
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