Boast.io has been around since 2012 and is well-known in the testimonial and review collection space. But for many small business owners, it’s more tool than they need — and the pricing reflects that.
If you’re looking for a Boast.io alternative that’s simpler, faster to set up, and free to start, here’s an honest comparison.
What Is Boast.io?
Boast.io is a testimonial collection platform that lets businesses collect written testimonials, video testimonials, and NPS surveys. It’s used by a range of businesses from solo coaches to enterprise teams.
Their key features include:
- Request forms for testimonials
- Video testimonial capture
- Automated follow-up sequences
- CRM integrations
- Embeddable widgets
It’s a solid platform — but it’s priced and designed for teams, not solo operators and small businesses.
Boast.io Pricing
Boast.io’s pricing starts around $25/month for their base plan, with higher tiers for more features and responses. For a small business collecting testimonials occasionally, this can feel like overkill.
There’s a free trial, but no permanent free plan.
Why Small Businesses Look for Alternatives
The most common reasons we hear from small business owners who switched away from Boast:
“I just needed something simple.” Boast’s interface has a learning curve. For a business owner who wants to send a link to a happy customer and get a testimonial, the setup friction is real.
“I don’t need video.” Video testimonials are powerful, but most small businesses — coaches, consultants, salons, local service providers — get plenty of mileage from well-written text testimonials. Paying a premium for video collection you don’t use doesn’t make sense.
“The pricing didn’t match my usage.” If you’re collecting 10–20 testimonials per year, you don’t need enterprise-tier features.
“I wanted a widget I could actually embed.” Some users reported friction getting the embed to work cleanly on their specific platform (Squarespace, Wix, etc.).
SocialProof: A Simpler Boast.io Alternative
SocialProof is built specifically for small businesses that want to:
- Send customers a link to submit a testimonial
- Approve testimonials before they go public
- Display approved testimonials on their website with a simple embed
That’s the core loop — and it works.
What SocialProof does differently
One collection link, always on. You don’t need to create a new campaign or request form for each customer. Your collection link is permanent — you can send it in any email, SMS, invoice, or follow-up message.
Approve before publishing. Every testimonial goes to a moderation queue. You decide what gets displayed. No surprise negative reviews appearing on your site.
Simple embed — one script tag. Paste a single line of JavaScript. Works on any website: WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Webflow, custom HTML, Shopify.
Free forever for one widget. Not a trial. Not a time-limited free plan. One active widget, up to 25 testimonials — free as long as you want.
No video (by design). SocialProof collects text testimonials. If you need video specifically, Boast may be the better fit. But if text is sufficient — and for most small businesses it is — you’ll find SocialProof faster and simpler.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Boast.io | SocialProof |
|---|---|---|
| Text testimonials | ✅ | ✅ |
| Video testimonials | ✅ | ❌ |
| Moderation queue | ✅ | ✅ |
| Embeddable widget | ✅ | ✅ |
| Collection link | ✅ | ✅ |
| Free plan | ❌ | ✅ (1 widget) |
| Starting price | ~$25/mo | $9/mo |
| Setup time | 15–30 min | 5 min |
| Squarespace/Wix/Webflow support | Limited | ✅ |
Who Should Stick with Boast.io
If you specifically need video testimonials, Boast is a strong choice. It’s also a good fit for teams with formal testimonial programs — multiple users, CRM sync, structured campaigns.
Who Should Switch to SocialProof
SocialProof is the better fit if you’re a:
- Freelancer or solo consultant
- Local service business (salon, gym, studio, clinic)
- Small e-commerce shop
- Coach or course creator
- Agency that manages testimonials for clients
Basically: if you’re a solo operator or small team that wants to collect written testimonials and display them on your site without a lot of setup, SocialProof is the faster path.
How to Switch from Boast.io
- Export your testimonials from Boast. Download any testimonials you want to keep.
- Sign up at SocialProof — takes 30 seconds, no credit card.
- Add your exported testimonials manually via the dashboard.
- Send your collection link to recent customers to start fresh collection.
- Replace the Boast embed with the SocialProof widget script on your site.
Most businesses complete the switch in under an hour.
The Bottom Line
Boast.io is a mature, feature-rich platform — but it’s more tool than most small businesses need, and the pricing reflects that. If you want something simpler and free to start, SocialProof is worth trying.
Start collecting testimonials free →
No credit card. No trial period. One widget, free forever.