For better or for worse, word-of-mouth is still one of the strongest marketing strategies for local and multi-location business owners.
Back in the day, this was more literal: People found your product or service because a relative, friend, or colleague recommended it. Today, influenced by our relationship to technology, online reviews constitute a large part of word-of-mouth marketing, opening the door to more customers and more opinions.
Reviews are highly valuable: A 2023 Yelp survey found that 93% of respondents read online reviews to inform their purchasing decisions. Meanwhile, Chatmeter’s 2024 survey reported that 52% of respondents look for at least a 4/5 rating when selecting local businesses.
Google reviews is one of the most trusted platforms for gaining insights into a company, especially with Gen Z buyers, Chatmeter found. Considering that this population will become one of the most powerful consumer bases in the years to come, it’s crucial for local and multi-location businesses to have a strong handle on their Google presence.
In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best Google review software solutions for businesses big and small, and how they can speed up review responses, optimize Google Business Profiles, and streamline operations overall.
Why You Need Software to Manage Google Reviews in 2025
Businesses need software to manage their Google reviews because it helps them stay on top of customer feedback without devoting tens or even hundreds of hours to this process.
Sure, you can manage your Google reviews and Google Business Profile manually by scouring feedback, sending out emails soliciting reviews, and typing in responses to complaints online. But for most people, that can take a lot of time, energy, and sometimes technical expertise on review platforms or SEO.
When you’re trying to simultaneously manage staff, oversee internal systems, and invent new customer offerings, there tends to be very little room for tedious (but important) tasks like addressing a customer complaint online.
Put simply, software makes this process faster, easier, more intuitive, and hands-off. Beyond that, the best Google review software can provide other benefits such as:
- More Google reviews — and more positive reviews — thanks to tools like automated outreach messages
- Data and insights around how customers perceive your business, and how new initiatives like product launches impact your online presence
- Risk management and predictions to avoid negative feedback and fix problems quickly
- Competitive analysis to see how you can rank higher among competitors
- Improved visibility and SEO for your multi-location business
What to Look For in Google Review Software
The customer review software options out there might overwhelm you. Don’t just select the first solution that comes your way.
Here’s how to go about finding the best Google review software.
First, you’ll want to find a tool that is easy to use. It should come with an intuitive dashboard and access to important information — good and bad reviews on Google as well as other platforms — all in one convenient place. The hope is that the platform requires minimal manual updates or switching between multiple windows or websites.
Next, the best software solutions should offer advanced features that help you save time, learn more from your data, or leverage AI for better results. For example, they should compile real-time reports, provide opportunities for profile optimization, conduct competitive analyses, and/or offer templates and tools (like AI) for improving review responses and soliciting helpful feedback.
Finally, it should be tailored to your industry or type of business, be scalable as your business grows, and support location-level access and permissions so there’s no issue for your teams to work across state or municipal lines.
The 9 Best Google Review Management Tools in 2025
So what platforms should make your short list? Here are nine Google review management software options that are top-ranked and beloved by many users.
1. Chatmeter
Chatmeter is a comprehensive solution for local and multi-location businesses spanning sectors including retail, healthcare, automotive, and hospitality.
Its AI-powered customer intelligence goes beyond optimizing negative review responses on Google to providing sentiment analysis, diagnosing issues proactively, and driving lasting customer experiences. Its simple interface and expert support team make reputation management a breeze for enterprises and small businesses alike.
Pros
- AI solutions for business insights and automation
- Scalable for all businesses, even those with 50 or more locations
- Real-time reporting and automated, up-to-date review requests and tracking
- Partnerships and integrations with top directories beyond Google Reviews and Google Business Profile, including Yelp, Apple, Bing, and Facebook
- A dedicated, white-glove support team backed by platform expertise
Cons
- Several G2 users report limitations with social media reporting.
Rating on G2: 4.5/5 stars
Rating on Capterra: 4.5/5 stars
2. Podium
Podium is an AI-powered lead generation platform targeted at the health and wellness, home services, and retail industries. Its Google reviews solution, called Podium Reviews, aims to increase review submissions by improving your online visibility, automating review invites and responses, and streamlining review management with an all-in-one inbox.
Pros
- Insights and reporting driven by AI
- Automated review invites and response messaging
- Consolidated inbox for managing reviews
- Reporting for attribution and reputation management
- Mobile app for on-the-go review monitoring
- Integration with Hubspot, Mailchimp, and other project management, CRM, and marketing tools
Cons
- Many users on G2 and Capterra were disheartened by missing or limited features on Podium, citing issues such as problems with its AI chatbot and receiving inaccurate response times
- Lack of integration with Yelp is a major issue for local businesses
Rating on G2: 4.6/5 stars
Rating on Capterra: 4.3/5 stars
3. Birdeye
Birdeye’s platform helps with managing reviews, business listings, social media, and digital messaging, assisted by its AI. It pairs review automation with data-driven insights, recommendations, and competitor benchmarks.
Pros
- Review automation integrated with Google, Facebook, and industry-specific platforms like Zocdoc and RateMyAgent
- Detailed insights into local competition
- Personalized campaign reports
Cons
- Some users had issues with Birdeye’s review management features, including poor AI-powered responses and dashboard glitches
- Some businesses may find the cost of Birdeye to be too high compared to competitors
- Lack of integration with Yelp
- Some users find the customer support nonexistent and struggle to even reach a representative to cancel their contracts
Rating on G2: 4.7/5 stars
Rating on Capterra: 4.7/5 stars
4. Yext
Yext markets itself as a digital presence platform. Beyond search, listing, and social support, it also offers review management through its AI solution. With Yext, local businesses can monitor customer engagement and sentiment, gather insights with data, and reply fast and on the go with automation and mobile tools.
Pros
- Automated alerts and notifications for keywords, ratings, and more
- A reviews inbox for centralizing review management
- AI-generated responses and reporting
Cons
- Some people find Yext to be difficult to adopt and use as a new or novice user
- Many people have complaints about their customer support
Rating on G2: 4.4/5 stars
Rating on Capterra: 4.2/5 stars
5. Synup
Synup’s suite includes review optimization as well as software for search, listings, and social optimization. It consolidates review management across platforms into one main database alongside customer sentiment analysis and review acquisition tools.
Pros
- Integrations with Google, Facebook, Yelp, and other review sites
- Automated intelligence and templates for review responses
- Insights broken down by region, market, and division
Cons
- Some G2 users say the platform comes with a steep learning curve and cite limitations with its analytics.
- Designed more for smaller businesses vs. the enterprise
Rating on G2: 4.5/5 stars
Rating on Capterra: 4.3/5 stars
6. BrightLocal
BrightLocal defines itself as a local SEO software and service with SEO auditing as well as reputation management. It aims to help businesses generate more buzz on Google and elsewhere through email, SMS, in-store campaigns, and customizable widgets for showcasing favorite reviews.
Pros
- Low cost compared to competitors, starting at $6.72 a month per location
- Review monitoring of top sites such as Facebook, Yelp, and TripAdvisor
- Intuitive response management through a centralized dashboard
Cons
- Some users cite difficulties with managing multiple locations.
- Not designed for the enterprise
Rating on G2: 4.6/5 stars
Rating on Capterra: 4.8/5 stars
7. Swell
Swell is a healthcare solution for soliciting and monitoring patient feedback. It spans across the healthcare industry, offering services for veterinary, dental, urgent care, and plastic surgery. Swell helps with online reputation management by offering tools for automating review invites, tracking review performance, and building messaging and campaigns.
Pros
- Integrations with most EHR/PMS systems
- Customized, templated responses that are HIPAA compliant
- Consolidated review management for platforms such as Google and Healthgrades
- Google Private API for review attribution
- Multi-location support
Cons
- Only focused on healthcare businesses
- Difficult to analyze sentiment
Rating on G2: 4.5/5 stars
Rating on Capterra: 4.6/5 stars
8. Reputation
Reputation is an AI-native platform for measuring and generating reviews for multiple locations. It helps businesses in the automotive, financial services, healthcare, and hospitality industries automate review responses and easily gather metrics around their online performance via a single dashboard.
Pros
- Send review requests and responses with automated tools and templates
- Reputation analytics and reporting on platforms including Google, Yelp, Facebook, and Apple
- Includes a Reviews Feed solution for deeper insights and category sentiment
- Subject-matter experts on hand for questions, recommendations, or issues
Cons
- Some users felt the platform was basic and didn’t offer all the necessary features for optimal review management, like certain filters or the ability to edit responses.
- Some users also wished it offered more options for customization.
Rating on G2: 4.6/5 stars
Rating on Capterra: 4.4/5 stars
9. SOCi
SOCi advertises itself as an AI solution for multi-location businesses with a single platform for review generation, improving response rates, and keeping messaging on-brand.
Pros
- Integrations with Google, Facebook, and Yelp
- Real-time customer feedback and competitor tracking
- Personalized outreach by location
- Reviews across platforms aggregated into a single inbox
Cons
- SOCi has limitations with integrations, with some G2 users citing issues with TripAdvisor and Google Business Profiles
- Lack of customer support is a frequent complaint
Rating on G2: 4.5/5 stars
Rating on Capterra: 4.5/5 stars
How Businesses Get an Edge Online With Chatmeter
All these perks sound good in theory. But what does premium online management look like when you adopt a Google review management tool like Chatmeter?
Take one of our major clients, H&R Block Canada: Each year around tax season, the company is overwhelmed with reviews, both good and bad. Before Chatmeter, its team struggled to keep up with responses and implement changes fast enough for customers to respond positively.
Working with Chatmeter, H&R Block achieved a 100% response rate for its over 900 locations and streamlined its Google review processes. The corporate team was also able to leverage Chatmeter’s Pulse AI reporting to quickly identify high- and low-performing locations. With high performers, they provided recognition and incentives, while using their success as an example for struggling locations to improve upon or mitigate negative customer experiences.
Why Chatmeter Is the Best Choice for Managing Your Google Reviews
Chatmeter has decades of experience supporting multi-location brands through its unified, scalable platform and award-winning service team. With tools for automation, optimization, and data-driven decision making, Chatmeter makes managing your Google Reviews a 5-star experience (see what we did there?).
Sign up for a demo today to see how Chatmeter can transform review management for your business.
FAQs About Google Review Software
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about finding and selecting the right Google review software for your business.
Can I automate review requests?
Yes, many Google review software solutions, including Chatmeter, automate review requests. This takes away the need to manually follow up with customers after they make a purchase or experience your service. It also ensures your outreach is consistent, on-brand, and scalable.
Automating review requests through a platform like Chatmeter allows you to A/B test messaging to see which routes produce the most helpful reviews on Google.
What’s the safest way to ask for reviews without violating Google’s guidelines?
When asking for a Google Review, follow these tips to avoid violating Google’s guidelines:
- Generate and share your Google review link via email, social media, a post-purchase survey, or on physical reminders like business cards or a front-desk QR code.
- Embed a Google review widget somewhere that is visible on your website.
- Offer to exchange reviews with a vendor or business partner.
- Don’t offer a reward for positive reviews. (You can, however, incentivize customers by emphasizing how their feedback will improve your service or product.)
How do I manage reviews for 50+ business locations?
Managing reviews for your many locations can be done manually if you’re organized and have a good understanding of review sites like Google or Yelp.
However, for businesses with 50+ locations, it’s best to follow multi-location SEO best practices and to adopt a software solution like Chatmeter that can automate and streamline review management and tracking. These tools ensure messaging is unique to the location and target the correct consumer base.
Do these tools integrate with Google Business Profile?
Chatmeter integrates with Google Business Profile, enabling you to alter and manage services across different locations from a single dashboard. It also provides insights into which locations receive the most engagement online and regional trends.