When creating a collection form, the first major decision is choosing what type of testimonials you want to collect. Each type has its own strengths, and the right choice depends on your goals and audience.

Text Only

What It Is

A form that only accepts written testimonials. Customers type their review and select a star rating (1-5 stars).

When to Use It

• You want quick, easy-to-collect reviews
• Your audience might not be comfortable on camera
• You need testimonials for text-heavy pages (pricing pages, feature comparisons)
• You want to maximize submission volume (text has the lowest friction)

What Customers See

1. Star rating selector (1-5 stars)
2. Text area for their written review
3. Custom fields (name, email, company, etc.)
4. Submit button

Pros

• Fastest for customers to complete
• Works on any device, any browser, no permissions needed
• Easy for customers to thoughtfully craft their message
• Text testimonials work great in Wall of Love and Carousel embeds

Cons

• Less emotional impact than video
• Easier for customers to be generic or brief
• No visual/personal element

Video Only

What It Is

A form that only accepts video testimonials. Customers record a video using their device's camera and microphone directly in the browser.

When to Use It

• You specifically need video content for your website
• You want high-impact, authentic social proof
• Your customers are engaged and likely to make the effort
• You're building a video-centric testimonial page

What Customers See

1. "Record Video" button
2. Camera/microphone permission request (browser)
3. Live camera preview with record controls
4. Recording timer showing elapsed and maximum time
5. Review screen to watch their recording
6. Option to re-record or confirm
7. Custom fields
8. Submit button

Video Duration Limits

Pros

• Highest emotional impact — real faces, real voices
• Most authentic form of social proof
• Great for hero sections and featured testimonials
• Difficult to fake, which increases trust

Cons

• Higher friction — customers need camera, microphone, and permissions
• Some customers are uncomfortable on camera
• Lower submission rates compared to text
• Requires a modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari)

Both (Text & Video) — Recommended

What It Is

A form that lets customers choose between submitting a text review or recording a video. They see both options and pick the one they prefer.

When to Use It

• You want maximum flexibility for your customers
• You want to collect both text and video testimonials
• You're not sure which format your audience prefers
• You want the highest possible submission rate

What Customers See

1. A choice between "Write a review" and "Record a video"
2. If they choose text: star rating + text area
3. If they choose video: recording interface
4. Custom fields (same for both)
5. Submit button

Pros

• Maximizes submissions — camera-shy customers can submit text, enthusiastic ones can record video
• Builds a diverse testimonial library for different embed types
• No missed opportunities — every customer can participate in their preferred format
• Best of both worlds for your embed content

Cons

• The choice step adds a tiny bit of friction
• You'll get a mix of formats which may require different display strategies

Choosing the Right Type

Our recommendation: Start with Both unless you have a specific reason to restrict the format. You can always create separate forms later — one for text and one for video — if you want more control over the collection experience.