Updated October 2026
In short
- Search for the business in Google Maps, Google Search or the Google app, then choose Write a review.
- You need to be signed in to a Google account, which you can create with any email address.
- Specific, honest reviews of two to five sentences help other customers most.
- You can edit or delete your review at any time from your Google Maps contributions.
What you need before you leave a Google review
Start with the correct Google Account and a clear view of which business or location is involved. Platform interfaces can change, so use Google’s current Help instructions for sensitive account, policy or verification decisions.
- A Google account. It can use any email address; it doesn't have to be Gmail.
- The business's name and rough location, so you pick the right branch.
- A real experience with the business, recent enough that you remember the details.
- Optional: a photo or two of the product, the room or the finished job.
No Gmail? Create a Google account with your existing email
Many people assume they need a Gmail address to post a review. You don't. A Google account is all you need, and you can create one with the email address you already use for work or home.
Start a new account
Go to the Google sign-in page at accounts.google.com, choose Create account and pick the option for personal use.
Enter your name
Type the name you are happy to show publicly. Your Google reviews appear under this name and your profile picture.
Use your existing email
When Google suggests a new Gmail address, choose the option to use your existing email address instead, and type it in.
Confirm the address
Google sends a code to that email. Enter it, set a password and finish the remaining steps.
Once you are signed in, you can review businesses on your phone or computer straight away. If you already use YouTube, Google Drive or an Android phone, you almost certainly have a Google account already, so try signing in with it first.
How to leave reviews on Google from your phone
Most reviews are written on a phone, often just after a visit. Here is how to leave a review on Google for a business from your phone. The Google Maps app is the most reliable route and works the same way on iPhone and Android. Google Search in your browser and the Google app work too.
In the Google Maps app
Find the business
Open Google Maps and type the business name in the search bar. If it has several branches, pick the one you actually visited.
Open its profile
Tap the business name to open its profile, the page with photos, opening hours and reviews.
Go to Reviews
Tap the Reviews tab. You will see the overall rating, other people's reviews and a row of empty stars to rate and review the place.
Choose your stars
Tap one to five stars. One star means a very poor experience and five an excellent one. The writing screen then opens.
Write your review
Describe what happened in a few sentences. Depending on the type of business, Google may also ask optional questions, for example about price, service or atmosphere.
Add photos if you like
Use the photo option to attach pictures or a short video from your phone.
Post it
Tap Post. Your review is linked to your Google account and usually appears within minutes.
In Google Search or the Google app
Search for the business
Open the Google app or your phone's browser and search for the business name, adding the town if the name is common.
Open the reviews
In the business panel at the top of the results, tap the Reviews tab or the star rating.
Tap Write a review
Sign in if Google asks you to, then choose your star rating.
Write and post
Add your comments and any photos, then tap Post.
How to write a Google review for a business on a computer
Choose an honest rating and describe relevant details without personal information or unsupported allegations.
Search on Google
Go to google.com and search for the business name and town. Its Business Profile appears on the right of the results, or at the top on smaller screens.
Find Write a review
In the profile, look for the Write a review button near the star rating and the review summary.
Sign in
If you are not signed in, Google asks you to sign in to your Google account first.
Rate and write
Click the number of stars you want to give, then type your review in the box.
Add photos and post
Optionally add photos, then click Post.
You can also use Google Maps in your browser: search for the business on Google Maps, click it in the results, scroll down the left-hand panel to the reviews and click Write a review. Google changes these layouts from time to time, so if a button has moved, look for the stars or the reviews section of the profile.
How to write a Google review for a website or online-only company
Google reviews are attached to places and service businesses on Google Maps. A company that only trades online, with no premises customers visit and no staff who travel to customers, usually can't have a Business Profile, so there may be nothing to review. Search for the company on Google Maps first. If it isn't listed, leave your review on the site where you bought from it, or look out for a review survey after your purchase: some online shops use Google's customer review programme, which emails buyers a short survey. Business owners can read more in our guide to Google Business Profile for online businesses.
How to write a Google review for a company that people find helpful
Writing a Google review for a business is easier than it looks. A helpful review answers the questions the next customer has: what did you buy or book, what was good, what wasn't, and who would you recommend it to. You don't need to be a good writer. Plain, specific facts are more useful than polished praise.
| Include | Why it helps | Example |
|---|---|---|
| What you bought or booked | Readers can tell whether your experience matches what they need | “Booked a boiler service for a ten-year-old combi.” |
| One or two specific details | Shows the review is genuine and gives useful facts | “The flat white was hot and ready in two minutes.” |
| How you were treated | Service is often what people most want to know about | “Sam explained every step before he started.” |
| Anything that could be better | Balanced reviews are more believable | “Parking is tight, so arrive early.” |
| Who you would recommend it to | Helps readers decide quickly | “Ideal for families with small children.” |
Tips for writing a Google review for a business
- Write two to five sentences: long enough to be useful, short enough to read on a phone.
- Mention staff by first name if they were helpful, but never post anyone's surname, phone number or address.
- Give the star rating that matches your words. A glowing review with three stars confuses readers.
- If something went wrong, say what happened and how the business responded, rather than using insults.
- Review your own experience only, not something a friend told you about.
- Add a photo of the dish, product or finished work if you have one.
- Write in whichever language you are comfortable with. Google can translate reviews for other readers.
Google review examples: good, positive and constructive
These good Google review examples show the kind of detail that makes a review useful. Treat them as inspiration, not text to copy: your review should be in your own words about what really happened, and identical wording across many reviews can be filtered as spam.
Popped in on a busy Saturday morning and still had our order within ten minutes. The flat whites were excellent and the almond croissant was still warm. Staff found us a table by the window with room for the pushchair without being asked. We'll be back.
I'm a nervous patient and Dr Shah took the time to explain the filling before she started. No pain at all, and the reception team booked my next check-up before I left. Calm, clean surgery with step-free access.
Rang at 8am with a leaking pipe under the sink and Ravi was here by 11. He showed me the worn joint, replaced it and cleaned up afterwards. The price matched the quote he gave on the phone. Will use again.
Really happy with my colour, exactly the shade from the photo I brought, and Lucy gave me good tips for keeping it bright. One star off only because my appointment started 20 minutes late. Would still recommend.
The food was very good, especially the paneer tikka and the dal. Service was slow on a Friday night, though: we waited 40 minutes for our mains and had to ask twice for water. Worth a visit on a quieter evening.
The laptop itself is fine, but I was told it came with a free case and it didn't. When I went back the manager was polite and gave me one, but it took two trips to sort out. Check what's included before you pay.
Look at what the best Google review examples have in common. Each one says what was bought, gives a concrete detail or two and is fair about anything that went wrong. Even the less positive reviews help the business, because they point to something it can fix, and they help readers far more than a single word.
Short positive Google review examples
If you only have a minute, one specific sentence is still worth posting. “Friendly staff, quick service and the best masala dosa we've had in Leicester” tells readers much more than “Great place”. Likewise, “Booked online, seen on time and the physio gave me exercises I could actually follow” beats “Good clinic”.
How to edit or delete your Google review
You can change your review at any time, for example if the business fixes a problem after you posted. Each Google account can leave one review per business, so editing replaces your existing review rather than adding a second one.
On your phone (Google Maps app)
Open your profile
In Google Maps, tap your profile picture or initial and open your profile or contributions.
Find the review
Open the Reviews section and scroll to the review you want to change.
Edit or delete
Tap the three-dot More menu next to the review, then choose to edit or delete it.
On a computer
Open your contributions
Open Google Maps in your browser, make sure you are signed in, click the menu and choose Your contributions.
Open Reviews
Select Reviews to see everything you have written.
Edit or delete
Click the More menu next to the review and choose to edit or delete it.
If you search for the business on Google while signed in, your own review often appears at the top of its reviews with an edit option too. Deleting a review is permanent, and your rating then stops counting towards the business's average. Google moves these menus occasionally, so the labels on your screen may differ slightly.
Why your Google review might not appear
Most reviews appear within minutes. If yours hasn't shown up after a day, one of these is usually the reason:
- Google's systems are still checking it. New reviews, especially from new accounts, can be held for a while.
- It was removed for breaking a policy, for example because it contained a link, a phone number, offensive language or someone's personal details.
- It looks like spam to Google's systems, such as many reviews posted from one device or network in a short time, or wording that matches other reviews.
- You reviewed a duplicate or closed listing instead of the business's main profile.
- You are looking at a different sort order. Switch the reviews to Newest to check.
All your reviews are listed in your Google Maps contributions. If yours appears there but not on the business profile, it may still be under review or it may have been filtered. Our guide to Google reviews that disappear explains the common causes and what you can do.
For business owners: make it easy to review you
If you run a business, every extra step between a happy customer and the review box costs you reviews. Send people straight to the form with a direct Google review link, or put a Google review QR code on the counter, the table or the receipt. Our guide on how to ask for Google reviews has word-for-word scripts, and it is worth replying to every review: see how to reply to Google reviews.
Sources: Google Maps Help: Add, edit, or delete Google Maps reviews & ratings; Google Maps Help: Tips for contributing high quality reviews & photos; Google Maps content policy: Prohibited & restricted content.
