Creating a Yelp API Key

How to create a Yelp API key for the Reviews plugin, from signing up for a Yelp developer account through to copying the key.

Would you like your Yelp reviews to refresh more often, or to display more than five Yelp sources?

In this guide, we’ll show you when you need a Yelp API key, how to create one, and how to add it to Reviews Feed. All you need is a Yelp account and a plan for Yelp’s Places API.

Before you get started, make sure the latest version of Reviews Feed is installed and activated on your WordPress site.

• Do You Need a Yelp API Key?
• Creating Your Yelp API Key
• Adding the Key to Reviews Feed
  • Adding the Key in Settings
  • Adding the Key from the Source Limit Window
• Frequently Asked Questions

Do You Need a Yelp API Key?

An API key is optional. Your Yelp feeds work without one.

To connect a Yelp source, all you need is the link to the business’s page on Yelp. Reviews Feed then connects to Yelp for you. Because of Yelp’s API pricing, your Yelp reviews refresh once a week.

When you add a Yelp source without a key, Reviews Feed confirms the weekly schedule right after the source is added.

Adding your own key changes two things:

• Faster updates: your Yelp reviews refresh more often than once a week.
• More sources: you can connect more than five Yelp sources.

In the paid version of Reviews Feed, you can connect up to five Yelp sources without a key. When you try to add a sixth one, Reviews Feed shows the limit and offers to add a key.

In the free version of Reviews Feed, you can connect one source without a key, from Google or Yelp. Reviews Feed fetches that source’s latest ten reviews once. To fetch more reviews, or to fetch them again, add an API key or upgrade to a paid license.

Google sources have their own limit and use their own key. If you also display Google reviews, see our guide on creating a Google API key.

If the weekly refresh suits your site and you display five or fewer Yelp sources, you don’t need a key at all. Our guide on using Google and Yelp reviews without an API key covers the limits that apply.

If you want more frequent updates or more than five Yelp sources, the next section shows you how to create a key.

Creating Your Yelp API Key

To get started, we’ll create your key on Yelp’s developer site. The steps below follow Yelp’s own guide, Yelp Places Authentication.

Yelp gives you a key when you create an app for its Places API. First, pick a plan that fits your needs.

Yelp charges for API use. Its Yelp Places API page lists the current plans and prices.

Next, fill in the create new app form with information about your app. Then, agree to the Yelp API Terms of Use and Display Requirements. Finally, click Submit.

Yelp now shows your API key. You can also find it later on Yelp’s Manage App page. Because you’ll need it on your WordPress site in a moment, copy it.

That’s everything you need from Yelp. Next, head back to your WordPress site.

Adding the Key to Reviews Feed

You can add your key from the Reviews Feed Settings page, or right from the source limit window mentioned earlier. Both save the same key.

Once the key is saved, your Yelp feeds use it from then on. They refresh more often than once a week. You can also connect more than five Yelp sources.

The same key covers every Yelp source in the plugin. You won’t need to enter it again for each source you add.

First, we’ll add the key from the Settings page.

Adding the Key in Settings

In your WordPress dashboard, go to Reviews Feed » Settings.

On the General tab, scroll down to the Manage API Keys section. Then, click the pencil icon on the Yelp card.

In the window that opens, paste your key into the field. Then, click Update to save it.

Reviews Feed checks the key as you save it. If Yelp doesn’t accept the key, Reviews Feed doesn’t save it and tells you the key is invalid. In that case, copy the key from Yelp again. Then, paste it into the field.

Your Google and TripAdvisor keys go in the same place, as the Manage API Keys section of our settings reference shows.

The next section shows how to add the same key from the source limit window.

Adding the Key from the Source Limit Window

If you reach the five-source limit while adding a Yelp source, you don’t need to leave the window.

In the limit window, click Add an API Key, as shown above.

The Add API Keys window opens. In the Yelp row, paste your key into the field. Then, click Add.

Reviews Feed checks this key the same way. It doesn’t save a key that Yelp refuses.

That’s it! You now know when you need a Yelp API key, how to create one, and how to add it to Reviews Feed. Next, check out our guide on displaying your reviews feed to make the most of the reviews on your site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions about Yelp API keys in Reviews Feed.