Free email templates

Free testimonial request email templates

Knowing how to ask for a testimonial by email, without sounding pushy, is harder than it looks. These 111 free templates cover the common moments: a SaaS win, an agency project wrap-up, a repeat e-commerce customer, and more. They are written to feel human, lower the pressure, and tell your customer exactly what to write. Pick the one that fits your product, copy it, and make it yours.

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Subject lines

Testimonial request email subject lines

Keep the subject short, specific, and human, the kind of line you would actually open. Here are ten ready to use, and every template below comes with its own.

One sentence is all I need
While it is still fresh for you
Could I quote you on that?
Could I ask for your honest take?
Would you put the results in your own words?
Quick favor now that the work is done
That breakthrough deserves a few words
One line, when you have a moment
A quick favor, no pressure
No pressure, just floating this back up

Showing 27 of 111 templates.

General and all-purposeThe simple honest askA short, warm request that works for almost any product or service. It lowers the stakes and tells the customer exactly what to say.

{{name}}, could I ask for your honest take?

Hi {{name}}, Quick favor. If {{product}} has been useful to you, would you share your honest take in a sentence or two? No perfect wording needed. Just what you were dealing with before, and what changed. Type it, or record a quick video, whichever is easier. We are a small team, and a few honest words from you help the next person decide far more than anything we could say ourselves. Thank you for taking a minute. {{sender_name}}

Read and select General and all-purposeThe one-sentence askThe lowest-effort ask in the library, for busy customers. It promises that a single sentence is genuinely enough.

One sentence is all I need

Hi {{name}}, One honest sentence about {{product}} is genuinely enough. Not sure what to say? Just tell me what changed for you, that is the whole thing. Type it or record a quick video, whichever is faster. No perfect wording needed. We are a small team, so a real person reads every one, and it shapes what we build next. Even one line helps. Thank you, {{name}}. {{sender_name}}

Read and select General and all-purposeA personal note from the founderA warm, first-person note that makes the request feel personal. Best when the sender is the founder or the person the customer knows.

A quick note from {{sender_name}}

Hi {{name}}, {{sender_name}} here, one of the people behind {{product}}. I read every one of these myself, so whatever you write reaches me directly. If {{product}} has earned it, I would love to hear in your own words what it has done for you. Honest beats glowing, and there is no right way to word it. We are a small team and we do not buy our way in front of people, so a few honest words from you are how others find us. Even one line helps. Thank you for being here. {{sender_name}}

Read and select SaaS and softwareSaaS: right after a winSend this when a customer just hit a milestone in your software, while the result is fresh and the goodwill is high.

While {{product}} is still fresh for you

Hi {{name}}, Looks like {{product}} has been working for you, and while the result is still fresh, I wanted to ask a small favor. Would you tell the story in your own words? What were you struggling with before, and what changed once you started using it. A sentence or two is perfect, and specific beats polished every time. We are a small team, so honest words from real users are what help others give us a try. Type it or record a quick video, whichever is faster. {{sender_name}}

Read and select SaaS and softwareSaaS: to a power userFor the customers who clearly rely on your tool every day. It treats them as the expert they are and asks what they would tell a peer.

You clearly know {{product}} well, {{name}}

Hi {{name}}, You have gotten more out of {{product}} than most, so your opinion carries real weight with me. If someone just like you asked whether {{product}} was worth it, what would you tell them? The part that earned its place in your day, in your own words. No need to cover everything, just what matters to you. We are a small team without a big marketing budget, so a few honest words from a real user like you are worth more than anything we could write. Thank you. {{sender_name}}

Read and select E-commerce and DTCE-commerce: a week after deliverySend a week or two after the order arrives, once they have actually used the product. Asks what they reached for it to do.

How is the {{product}} order treating you?

Hi {{name}}, Hope your {{product}} order has settled in nicely by now. If you have a minute, would you tell us what you have been using it for and how it has held up? A sentence in your own words is plenty, and a quick photo of it in real life is always welcome. We are a small shop, and honest words from customers like you are how new people decide to trust us. Thank you for shopping with us, {{name}}. {{sender_name}}

Read and select E-commerce and DTCE-commerce: to a repeat customerFor shoppers who keep coming back. It acknowledges the loyalty and asks why they keep choosing you.

Thank you for coming back, {{name}}

Hi {{name}}, I noticed you have ordered from {{product}} more than once, and that means a lot to a small team like ours. Would you share what keeps you coming back, in your own words? Even a line about your favorite thing helps someone on the fence decide. No perfect wording needed, and a photo is a bonus if you have one. Honest words from regulars like you are the best advertising we have. Thank you for being one of them. {{sender_name}}

Read and select Agency and done-for-youAgency: after the results landedFor client services, once you have delivered a measurable outcome. It asks the client to describe the result in their words.

Would you put the results in your own words?

Hi {{name}}, It has been a pleasure working with you, and I am proud of what we pulled off together with {{product}}. Would you describe the results in your own words? What the situation looked like before, and what changed after we worked together. A specific detail or a number says more than any pitch we could write, and a sentence or two is plenty. We are a small team and we grow almost entirely by word of mouth, so an honest note from you genuinely moves the needle. Thank you for trusting us with this. {{sender_name}}

Read and select Agency and done-for-youAgency: at project wrap-upSend as a project closes, while the working relationship is warm. It folds the ask naturally into the hand-off.

{{name}}, what was it like working with us?

Hi {{name}}, As we wrap up the work on {{product}}, thank you for being a genuine pleasure to work with. Before we both move on to the next thing, would you share what it was like to work with us, in your own words? What you were worried about going in, and how it actually went. Type a few lines or record a quick video, whichever feels easier. We are a small team, so a few honest words from a client like you are how the next good client finds us. It would mean a lot. {{sender_name}}

Read and select Course and coachingCourse: after they finishFor online courses, sent when a student finishes or hits a key lesson. It asks what shifted for them.

You made it through, {{name}}

Hi {{name}}, Congrats on getting through {{product}}. That takes real follow-through, and I hope it was worth your time. Would you tell me what shifted for you? Where you were stuck before, and what you can do now that you could not do before. Even one small win is worth sharing, and there is no perfect way to say it. I run this without a big team behind me, so honest words from a student like you are what help the next person believe it is possible. Thank you for showing up. {{sender_name}}

Read and select Course and coachingCoaching: after a breakthroughFor coaches, sent after a client has a real breakthrough. It captures the moment while the feeling is strong.

That breakthrough deserves a few words

Hi {{name}}, I am still thinking about the progress you made through our work on {{product}}. You did the hard part, and it showed. While it is fresh, would you put it into your own words? The moment something clicked, or what feels different now. Type it or record a quick video, whichever lets you say it honestly. I coach without a marketing machine behind me, so a few real words from you are how someone who needs this finds their way to it. Thank you for trusting the process. {{sender_name}}

Read and select Mobile appMobile app: once it is a habitFor app makers, sent to users who have built a real habit. It asks for words you can show, not just a star rating.

{{name}}, what does {{product}} do for your day?

Hi {{name}}, You have been using {{product}} enough that it seems to have earned a spot in your routine, which is the best thing an app can hope for. Would you tell us, in your own words, what it actually does for your day? A quick sentence helps the next person far more than a tap ever could. No perfect wording needed. We are a small team shipping this app ourselves, so an honest line from a real user like you is worth more than any ad we could run. Thank you. {{sender_name}}

Read and select Marketplace and platformMarketplace: after a first successFor platforms connecting two sides, sent after a buyer, seller, or host has their first good experience.

How did your first run with {{product}} go?

Hi {{name}}, Glad to see your first experience on {{product}} went through. Getting that first one right matters a lot to us. Would you share how it went, in your own words? What you were hoping for, and whether it delivered. A sentence or two is perfect, and honest is better than glowing. We are a small team building this platform, and new people decide whether to trust it based on words from real users like you. Thank you for being an early one. {{sender_name}}

Read and select Local and brick-and-mortarLocal: right after the visitFor shops, clinics, studios, and trades, sent soon after a visit or a completed job, while the experience is fresh.

Thanks for stopping by, {{name}}

Hi {{name}}, It was great having you in with {{product}}. I hope everything was just what you needed. If you have a moment, would you share how it went in your own words? What you came in for, and how it turned out. A sentence is plenty, and there is no wrong way to say it. We are a small local business, and a few honest words from neighbors like you are how others nearby find us. Thank you, and we hope to see you again. {{sender_name}}

Read and select Freelancer and soloFreelancer: after you deliverFor independents, sent right after handing off the work. It is one human asking another, with no corporate gloss.

Quick favor now that the work is done

Hi {{name}}, Now that the work on {{product}} is in your hands, thank you. You took a chance on one person, and I do not take that lightly. Would you do me a small favor and share what it was like to work together, in your own words? What you were unsure about before you hired me, and how it went. A couple of honest sentences is exactly right. I work for myself, so a few words from a happy client like you are quite literally how I find the next one. It would mean a lot to me. {{sender_name}}

Read and select B2B and enterpriseB2B: after a successful rolloutFor longer sales cycles, sent once a deployment or rollout has clearly worked. Professional, specific, and respectful of approvals.

{{name}}, did the rollout solve what you hoped?

Hi {{name}}, Now that {{product}} is up and running on your side, I wanted to thank you for a smooth rollout and ask one small favor. Would you share, in your own words, the problem you set out to solve and how it has gone since? A specific outcome is ideal, and a couple of sentences is plenty. If you need a quick sign-off on your end, no rush at all. We are a small team, and an honest account from a team like yours helps other buyers feel confident choosing us. Thank you for the partnership. {{sender_name}}

Read and select Nonprofit and communityNonprofit: a thank-you and a small askFor causes, sent to a supporter, volunteer, or someone you serve. It leads with gratitude and asks why the work matters to them.

Thank you for standing with {{product}}

Hi {{name}}, Thank you for being part of {{product}}. People like you are the reason any of this is possible. When you have a moment, would you share why this matters to you, in your own words? What made you care, or a moment that stayed with you. There is no right way to say it, and even a sentence helps. We are a small team doing this work, and honest words from supporters like you are how we reach the next person who wants to help. Thank you, truly. {{sender_name}}

Read and select General and all-purposeThe gentle second nudgeA kind follow-up for people who did not reply the first time. It assumes good faith and makes saying yes even easier.

No worries if not, {{name}}

Hi {{name}}, I know inboxes are a lot, so this is a gentle nudge in case my last note slipped by. No pressure at all. If {{product}} has been good to you, one honest line in your own words is plenty, and it genuinely helps the next person decide. If now is not the time, that is completely okay. We are a small team, so each note from a real person like you genuinely matters. Thank you either way, {{name}}. {{sender_name}}

Read and select General and all-purposeThank-you gift first, tiny favor secondA warm reciprocity-led request that leads with a small thank-you (a credit or perk) before gently asking the customer to share their experience in their own words.

A little thank-you, {{name}}

Hi {{name}}, As a small thank-you for being with us, I have popped a little credit on your account. No strings, you have already earned it just by giving {{product}} a real go. If you have a minute to return the kindness, would you share how {{product}} has been for you, in your own words? What you were dealing with before, and what feels different now. A sentence or two is plenty, and you can type it or record a quick video, whichever is easier. No perfect wording needed. Every honest note from someone like you helps our tiny team more than any ad ever could. Thank you again, truly. {{sender_name}}

Read and select General and all-purposeBe one of the first on our wallAn exclusivity-flavored invite asking happy customers to be among the first voices featured on a new customer-words page.

Want a spot on our wall, {{name}}?

Hi {{name}}, We are building a little page filled with words from real people who use {{product}}, and I would love for you to be one of the first names on it. Would you share what {{product}} has done for you, in your own words? Maybe the thing that surprised you, or the moment it clicked. A few honest words are all it takes, and there is no perfect way to say it. Type it or record a quick video, whatever feels natural. We are just a handful of people building this, so having early voices like yours up there means the world. I would be proud to feature you. {{sender_name}}

Read and select General and all-purposeThank you for being here, one quick askA gratitude-forward, ultra-short note that thanks the customer for sticking around and asks for just a line or two.

Honestly, thank you {{name}}

Hi {{name}}, First, thank you for being here. It genuinely means a lot that you chose {{product}} and stuck with it. If you have thirty seconds, would you tell me in your own words what it has done for you? Even one honest line is plenty. No perfect phrasing required, and a quick video works just as well as typing. We are a small crew, and a few words from you go further than you would guess. Thank you, either way. {{sender_name}}

Read and select General and all-purposeA fill-in-the-blank way to share your takeA low-friction ask that hands the customer a ready-made sentence template so they never face a blank box.

I made this stupidly easy, {{name}}

Hi {{name}}, I know a blank text box is the worst, so here is a head start. Just finish this line about {{product}}: "I was ______, and now I ______." That is genuinely all I am after, your honest take in one quick sentence. Swap in whatever is true for you, fix it up or leave it rough, and you are done. Prefer talking? Record a quick video saying the same thing. Words from real users like you are what keep our small team going, more than you would think. Thank you for taking a moment. {{sender_name}}

Read and select General and all-purposeA warm last nudge, no more after thisA third-touch final nudge that is shorter and softer than earlier notes, promising this is the last time you will ask.

Last little nudge, {{name}}

Hi {{name}}, This is the last time I will land in your inbox about this, promise. No hard feelings whatever you decide. If {{product}} has been worth it, a single honest line in your own words would mean a lot. If not, just let this one float by. Type it or talk it into a quick video, no perfect wording needed. We are a small team reading every single note ourselves, so yours would genuinely land. Thank you for bearing with me, {{name}}. {{sender_name}}

Read and select General and all-purposeA 20-second video beats typingA video-first request that leads with how easy a short clip is, with typing offered as the fallback.

Faster than typing, {{name}}

Hi {{name}}, Honestly, the easiest way to share your experience with {{product}} is not typing at all. A 20-second video from your phone, just you talking, beats any polished paragraph. No script needed: say what you were stuck on, then what {{product}} changed. Mess-ups and "ums" are welcome, they make it real. If you would rather write a couple of lines, that works perfectly too. We are a small team, and seeing a real face and voice helps the next person trust us in a way nothing else does. Thank you for considering it. {{sender_name}}

Read and select General and all-purposeYes, another email (but a good one)A self-aware, lightly humorous pattern-interrupt that acknowledges inbox fatigue before making a small, friendly ask.

Yes, another email, {{name}}

Hi {{name}}, Yes, this is one of those "would you share a few words" emails. I know. But I promise it is short and the favor is tiny. If {{product}} has earned a spot in your week, would you tell me in your own words what it does for you? One honest sentence beats a paragraph of praise. No perfect wording needed, and a quick video counts too if typing feels like a slog. We are a small team, and a genuine note from you does more for us than a dozen polished ads. Thanks for grinning and bearing the email. {{sender_name}}

Read and select General and all-purposeTell me what nearly stopped youA founder-personal ask that explicitly invites honest, even critical input about hesitations before signing up.

What nearly stopped you, {{name}}?

Hi {{name}}, I am not after glowing praise here, I am after the honest version. What almost stopped you from giving {{product}} a try, and what made you go for it anyway? The real, slightly messy answer is the useful one. If something still bugs you, say that too. A few honest words in your own words are exactly what I want, typed or in a quick video, whichever is easier. We are a small team trying to get this right, and candid notes from people like you are how we actually improve. Thank you for being straight with me. {{sender_name}}

Read and select SaaS and softwareYou are all set up, while it is freshCatches the customer right after they finish onboarding, asking about the setup experience while the early win is still vivid.

You are up and running, {{name}}

Hi {{name}}, Nice work getting {{product}} fully set up. That first-step hurdle is exactly when a lot of tools lose people, so seeing you across it is great. While it is fresh, would you share how getting started felt, in your own words? What you were hoping to fix, and whether setup was smoother than you expected. A sentence or two does the job, no perfect wording needed, and a quick video works just as well. We are a small team, and a few honest words about those first steps help the next person take the leap. Thank you for taking a moment. {{sender_name}}

Read and select

Full index

All 111 templates

Every template in the library, grouped by category. Each opens on its own page with the full email, what makes it work, and a copy button.

SaaS and software

E-commerce and DTC

Agency and done-for-you

Course and coaching

Mobile app

Marketplace and platform

Local and brick-and-mortar

Freelancer and solo

B2B and enterprise

Nonprofit and community

Real estate

Restaurant and food

Fitness and wellness

Beauty and salon

Creative and photography

Events and weddings

Subscription box

Healthcare and clinics

Education and tutoring

Consultant and advisory

Plugin and extension

Creator, newsletter, podcast

General and all-purpose

What makes these work

What makes a good testimonial request email

Make the ask tiny. A sentence or two beats an essay nobody sends.
Tell them what to write, so the blank box is never intimidating.
Offer type or a quick video, so the easier option is always there.
Remove the pressure. No perfect wording needed, honest beats glowing.
One clear call to action, and a warm, low-pressure close.

Timing matters as much as wording. If you run software, the right-after-a-win SaaS template is built for the moment a customer just felt the value. And if your first email goes unanswered, the gentle second nudge makes saying yes easy without any pressure. Do not want to start from a template? You can generate one instantly with our free testimonial request email generator. Looking for other free tools for collecting and showing social proof? Browse the full free tools directory.

The move that lifts replies

Write the testimonial for them, then ask them to approve it

A blank box is homework, and homework gets filed under later. When a customer has already told you they are happy, turn their words into a draft and let them say yes to it. Their effort drops to one reply.

Ask for feedback, not a testimonial.“Has it helped you? If so, how? If not, what would make it better?” You get raw material, and you learn something either way.
Tighten their own words into two sentences. Keep their phrasing and the specific result they named. You are editing, not inventing.
Send the draft back for approval. They read one paragraph, change anything that does not sound like them, and reply “approved”.

Subject: [First name], I need your help

Hey [First name],

Really glad [product or service] worked out for you, especially [the result they mentioned].

Small favor: could I use a short testimonial from you on our site?

To save you the writing, here is a draft based on what you told me. Change anything that does not sound like you:

"[One or two sentences in their words, naming the specific result.]"

If it looks right, just reply "approved" and I will take it from there.

Thanks so much,
[Your name]

A follow-up cadence that stays polite

Day 0Send the ask, timed to a win: a delivered project, a solved ticket, a milestone.

Day 4One gentle follow-up. "Floating this back up, no pressure at all."

Day 10A last soft nudge that makes saying no easy. Then let it go.

Stop when they reply. A fourth email costs more goodwill than the testimonial is worth. If you would rather not track this by hand, testimonials.ltd sends the reminders for you and stops them the moment a customer answers.

How to ask for a testimonial by email

The short answer is below. For a longer walk-through of timing, tone, and follow-up, read our guide to writing testimonial request emails.

How do you ask for a testimonial by email?

Keep it short and make the ask tiny. Tell the customer what to write so the blank box is not intimidating, for example what they were dealing with before and what changed. Offer to let them type a sentence or two or record a quick video, reassure them that no perfect wording is needed, and include one clear link to where they can share it. The templates on this page all follow that shape.

What is the best time to ask for a testimonial?

Ask right after a win, while the result is fresh: a milestone hit in your product, a delivered project, a finished course, or a good first experience on your platform. People are most willing to help when they have just felt the value, so timing the request to that moment lifts replies more than any clever wording.

What should a testimonial request email include?

A warm greeting, a one-line reason it matters, a tiny and specific ask (tell them what to write), a single clear call to action, and a low-pressure close. Avoid demanding a long write-up. A sentence or two in the customer's own words beats a polished paragraph they never get around to sending.

How do you get customers to respond to testimonial requests?

Lower the effort and the stakes. Ask for one honest sentence rather than an essay, give them a prompt so they are not staring at an empty box, let them choose text or a quick video, and send a single gentle follow-up if they do not respond the first time. A short, kind nudge that gives them an easy out tends to convert better than pressure.

What makes a good testimonial request email subject line?

Keep it short, specific, and human, the kind of line you would actually open. Name the favor plainly or tie it to their recent win. Lines like "One sentence is all I need", "While it is still fresh for you", or "A quick favor, no pressure" set an easy, low-stakes tone before they even open. Skip anything that sounds like a survey or a mass blast.

Can you ask for a video testimonial by email?

Yes, and the trick is to make it optional, not the main ask. Invite the customer to type a sentence or record a quick video, whichever is easier, so the person who would rather talk can and the person who would rather type is not put off. Several templates here already offer both. testimonials.ltd can collect either from the same link.

How many follow-ups should I send?

Two at most. Send the first ask, a gentle follow-up around day four, and one last soft nudge around day ten. After that, stop. Polite persistence gets replies, and a fourth email costs you more goodwill than the testimonial is worth.

How do I get better testimonials, not just "great product"?

Ask specific questions, such as what result they got or what they would tell someone who is unsure, then write a short draft from their answer and ask them to approve it. Generic asks get generic praise. Specific prompts get the detailed, results-based quotes that convince the next buyer.

Should the email ask for a reply or link to a form?

Either works. A reply is fine for a quick text quote. For a video, a photo or a star rating, link to a form that opens in one click with no login, so the customer never has to sign up for anything to help you.

Are these email templates free to use and copy?

Yes. Copy any template on this page and use it however you like. If you want to send these automatically and track who opened, clicked, and replied, testimonials.ltd does that for you and links each request to a page where the customer leaves their words.

Send these on autopilot, and see who replied

testimonials.ltd sends your request, links it to a page where the customer leaves their words, and tracks every open, click, and reply. You pay once and keep every testimonial. See how automated testimonial requests work, reminders included.

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