--- title: "How to Add Testimonials with Custom Post Type in Elementor?" url: https://theplusaddons.com/docs/add-testimonials-with-custom-post-type-in-elementor/ date: 2023-06-26 modified: 2026-09-15 lang: en author: "Aditya Sharma" description: "Keeping testimonials in their own post type lets you edit them outside the page, reuse them in several places and filter them by category. The Plus Addons for Elementor ships..." image: https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/How-to-Add-Testimonials-with-Custom-Post-Type-in-Elementor_-1024x536.jpg word_count: 981 --- # How to Add Testimonials with Custom Post Type in Elementor? ## - The Plus Addons for Elementor ships a testimonial post type, and the Testimonial widget also reads an existing testimonial post type instead of requiring a second one. - The testimonial custom post type appears only after The Plus Addons > Extra Options > Listing > Testimonial is changed from Disable to ThePlus Post Type, then saved and reloaded. - The Testimonial widget maps post fields to display fields: post title becomes the author’s name, Author Text shows the testimonial text, Designation shows the small line under the author’s name, Logo Upload shows on Style-4 only, and Featured image becomes the author’s picture. - Offset Posts is applied before Maximum Posts Display, published testimonials are the only ones listed, and if no featured image exists the widget uses the plugin’s placeholder picture instead of leaving a gap. Keeping testimonials in their own post type lets you edit them outside the page, reuse them in several places and filter them by category. The Plus Addons for Elementor ships a testimonial post type for exactly this, and the Testimonial widget can also read a post type you already have. *To check the complete feature overview documentation of The Plus Addons for Elementor Testimonial widget, [click here](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/testimonial-widget-settings-overview/).* ***Requirement - This widget is a part of The Plus Addons for Elementor, make sure it's installed & activated to enjoy all its powers.*** [LIVE WIDGET LINK](https://theplusaddons.com/elementor-listing/testimonials/?utm_source=tpae&utm_medium=docs&utm_campaign=text) ## Before You Start - **Edition:** the Testimonial widget is in the **free** plugin. Style-3 and the extras listed below need The Plus Addons for Elementor Pro.- **Widget to enable:** Testimonial, switched on under **The Plus Addons > Widgets**. Its card is badged **FREEMIUM**.- **If you use the Post Type source:** the testimonial custom post type has to be switched on first, under **The Plus Addons > Extra Options > Listing > Testimonial**. Until then there are no testimonials to list. ## Switch the testimonial post type on - In the WordPress dashboard go to **The Plus Addons > Extra Options > Listing** and open the **Testimonial** tab.- Under **Testimonial Post Type Settings** change the dropdown from **Disable** to **ThePlus Post Type**.- Leave **Post Name**, **Post Title** and **Category Taxonomy Value** empty to use the defaults, or type your own. The defaults are `theplus_testimonial`, **TP Testimonials** and `theplus_testimonial_cat`.- Click **Save Settings** and reload the dashboard. A **TP Testimonials** menu appears. ## Add some testimonials Open **TP Testimonials > Add New Item**. Most of the testimonial lives in the **ThePlus Testimonial Options** box below the editor, not in the editor itself. The widget reads these fields: | Field on the post | Where it shows in the widget | | ----------------- | ---------------------------- | | Post title | The author's name | | **Author Text:** (ThePlus Testimonial Options) | The testimonial text | | **Title:** (ThePlus Testimonial Options) | The bold line above or below the text, depending on the style | | **Designation:** (ThePlus Testimonial Options) | The small line under the author's name | | **Logo Upload:** (ThePlus Testimonial Options) | The company logo, shown on Style-4 only | | Featured image | The author's picture | | TP Testimonials Category | Used by the widget's Select Category filter | > *If a testimonial has no featured image the widget falls back to the plugin's own placeholder picture rather than leaving a gap.* ## List them with the widget - Edit a page with Elementor and drag the **Testimonial** widget onto it.- In **Layout** (called **Content Layout** in the free plugin), leave **Select Source** on **Post Type**.- Pick a **Style** and a **Layout** - Grid, Masonry or Carousel. ![Select Source set to Post Type in the Testimonial widget panel](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/testimonial-source.webp) Your testimonials appear straight away: ![Front end showing three testimonials read from the testimonial post type, each with a photo, name and designation](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/testimonial-result-post-type.webp) ## Choose which testimonials are listed Open the **Content Source** section. It is only shown while Select Source is Post Type. | Setting | What it does | Default | | ------- | ------------ | ------- | | Select Category | Lists only the testimonial categories you pick. Leave it empty for all of them. | empty | | Maximum Posts Display | How many testimonials to show (1-200). | 8 | | Offset Posts | Skips this many from the top of the list (0-50). | empty | | Order By | None, ID, Author, Title, Name (slug), Date, Modified, Random, Comment Count or Default Menu Order. | Date | | Order | Descending or Ascending. | Descending | ![Content Source section with Select Category, Maximum Posts Display, Offset Posts, Order By and Order](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/testimonial-content-source.webp) ## Use a post type you already have If your theme or another plugin already registers a testimonial post type, point The Plus Addons at it instead of creating a second one. - Go back to **The Plus Addons > Extra Options > Listing > Testimonial** and choose **Prebuilt Theme Based** from the dropdown. ![Testimonial Post Type Settings with the dropdown set to Prebuilt Theme Based](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/testimonial-prebuilt-theme-based-1.png) - In **Prebuilt Post Name** type the post type's name. You can read it from the admin URL: open the post type's list screen and copy whatever follows `post_type=`. ![WordPress admin URL of a custom post type list screen, with the post type name after post_type=](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/testimonial-prebuilt-theme-based-posttype-name-3.png) - In **Prebuilt Category Taxonomy Value** type the taxonomy name, read the same way from the taxonomy screen's URL after `taxonomy=`. ![WordPress admin URL of a custom taxonomy screen, with the taxonomy name after taxonomy=](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/testimonial-prebuilt-theme-based-taxonomy-name-2.png) - Fill both fields in and click **Save Settings**. ![Prebuilt Post Name and Prebuilt Category Taxonomy Value filled in on the Listing settings page](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/testimonial-prebuilt-theme-based-post-taxo-name.png) The testimonial fields are added to your post type, and the widget reads it exactly as described above. ## How It Behaves - The post type does not exist until you switch it on - the menu and the widget's testimonials both appear only after you save the setting.- The listing only ever includes **published** testimonials.- **Offset Posts** is applied before **Maximum Posts Display**, so offset 2 with a maximum of 3 gives you testimonials three, four and five.- If nothing matches, the widget prints **Posts not found** instead of the listing. Pro can style that message under **Style > Post Not Found Options**.- Custom fields you add to the post type yourself are not shown by the widget. ## Limitations - **Text limiting does not work with this source.** Excerpt Limit, Title Limit and the Read More link only apply to the Repeater source. Pro still lets you set **Content Limit By** to Text Limit with the Post Type source, but nothing is shortened.- **In the free plugin the company logo is ignored with this source.** A Style-4 listing built from the post type shows no logos in the free plugin; the same listing shows them in Pro, and a Repeater row shows them in both.- **In the free plugin, Content Scroll has no effect with this source** - the scrollbar stays visible whichever option you pick.- Selecting a category that has no published testimonials simply lists everything: the filter is dropped rather than returning an empty result. ## Troubleshooting ### There is no TP Testimonials menu The post type is still set to **Disable**. Set it to **ThePlus Post Type** under **The Plus Addons > Extra Options > Listing > Testimonial**, save, and reload the dashboard. ### The widget says Posts not found Either there are no published testimonials, or **Offset Posts** is larger than the number you have. Clear Offset Posts and check the post status. ### The cards show names but no quotes The testimonial text lives in the **Author Text:** field of the **ThePlus Testimonial Options** box on the post, not in the main WordPress editor. Fill that field in. ### My own post type is not picked up Check that **Prebuilt Post Name** matches the value after `post_type=` in the admin URL exactly, including underscores, and that you clicked **Save Settings**. ## Related Docs - [Testimonial Widget Settings Overview](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/testimonial-widget-settings-overview/)- [How to Show Testimonials in Grid Layout in Elementor?](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/show-testimonials-in-grid-layout-in-elementor/)- [How to Add a Testimonial Carousel Slider in Elementor?](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/add-a-testimonial-carousel-slider-in-elementor/) ## Frequently Asked Questions **Q: Why is my testimonial menu not showing in WordPress?** A: The testimonial post type stays hidden until it is switched on under The Plus Addons > Extra Options > Listing > Testimonial. Once the setting is changed from Disable to ThePlus Post Type, saved, and the dashboard is reloaded, the TP Testimonials menu appears. That matters because the widget cannot list anything until the post type exists, so this is the first place to check when the menu is missing. **Q: How do I show testimonials from an existing custom post type in Elementor?** A: The Plus Addons for Elementor, The Plus Addons, Plus Addons for Elementor, POSIMYTH can read a testimonial post type you already have instead of creating a second one. Set Prebuilt Post Name to the exact value after post_type= in the admin URL, and set Prebuilt Category Taxonomy Value to the taxonomy name after taxonomy=. Matching those values exactly is important because even underscores have to line up for the widget to pick it up. **Q: Why does the testimonial widget say Posts not found?** A: That message usually means there are no published testimonials or Offset Posts is larger than the number of items available. The listing only includes published testimonials, so drafts will not appear. Clearing Offset Posts is a quick way to test whether you are skipping past all available items. If nothing matches at all, the widget shows Posts not found instead of an empty grid. **Q: What fields control what appears in a testimonial card?** A: Most of the content comes from ThePlus Testimonial Options box, not the main WordPress editor. Post title becomes the author’s name, Author Text holds the testimonial text, Title becomes the bold line above or below it depending on style, Designation becomes the small line under the author name, Logo Upload shows only in Style-4, and Featured image becomes the author picture. That setup keeps each card reusable across multiple pages. **Q: What are the main limits of testimonials from a custom post type?** A: Text limiting does not work with this source. Excerpt Limit, Title Limit, and Read More only apply to the Repeater source, even though Pro still lets you set Content Limit By to Text Limit with Post Type. In the free plugin, company logos are ignored for this source and Content Scroll has no effect either. One more gotcha: if a category has no published testimonials, the filter is dropped and everything shows instead. **Q: What should I use if I want a grid or carousel layout for testimonials?** A: The Testimonial widget supports Grid, Masonry, and Carousel layouts when you list testimonials from a post type. That makes it useful when you want one testimonial library and different presentations on different pages. If you need a deeper walkthrough for those layouts, [How to Show Testimonials in Grid Layout in Elementor?](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/show-testimonials-in-grid-layout-in-elementor/) and [How to Add a Testimonial Carousel Slider in Elementor?](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/add-a-testimonial-carousel-slider-in-elementor/) cover those specific display styles.