How to choose Google review software for a NZ small business

There are plenty of tools that promise more Google reviews. They differ a lot in price, in how they ask customers, and in how well they follow the rules. This is a short checklist for choosing one.

1. Is the price clear, and does it suit your size?

Some tools publish their prices and some only give quotes after a sales call. Neither is wrong, but it helps to know which you are getting before you spend time. Check:

• Is there a free plan or a free trial, and does it need a card?
• Is the price in New Zealand dollars, and is GST shown separately?
• What happens when you go over a limit?

Large platforms are often built for brands with many locations. A small business or a small group may only need a fraction of what they offer.

2. How do requests go out?

The usual ways are email, text message and a QR code. Each has a place:

• Email is simple and works for customers you already email, such as after a quote or an invoice.
• Text message gets noticed quickly, but not every tool offers it, and it can cost more.
• A QR code on a sticker, sign, invoice or table suits businesses where customers do not give you an email, like a cafe or a salon.

Pick a tool that covers the way your customers actually deal with you.

3. Does it follow the rules?

Google does not allow review gating, which means only inviting the happy customers to post publicly, and it does not allow rewards in return for reviews. In New Zealand, the Fair Trading Act also applies to misleading reviews. A good tool asks every customer and shows the same options to everyone. See our guides on review gating and incentives.

4. Can customers tell you privately?

Not every customer wants to post publicly, and a private way to say something went wrong lets you fix it. It should sit next to the public review option for everyone, not replace it.

5. Does it handle more than one location?

If you have branches, check how many Google listings one plan covers, whether each branch has its own team, and whether they share one allowance.

Questions to ask any company

• What exactly is included in the price, and what costs extra?
• Can I cancel any time, and what happens to my data?
• Do you show every customer the same options?
• How do you handle customers who ask not to be contacted again?
• Where is my customers' data stored?

Comparing specific tools

We make Goodshout, so we are not neutral, but we have written fair comparisons with other popular tools:

• Goodshout vs NiceJob
• Goodshout vs Birdeye
• Goodshout vs Podium

You can also try Goodshout free, with no card, or start with our free review link and QR code generator.