Automated review generation is no longer optional for US businesses competing on Google Maps. This guide compares the 8 best review generation tools in 2026, including features, pricing, and which type of business each one is best for.
The difference between a business that gets 3 new reviews per month and one that gets 25 isn't the quality of their service. It's whether they have a systematic process for asking. Most review generation tools exist to make that process faster, more consistent, and easier to track.
But "review generation tool" covers a wide range of products with very different approaches, from simple text automation to full reputation management platforms with sentiment analysis and response workflows. Choosing the right one depends on your volume, your team size, and whether you're managing one location or fifty.
This guide covers the actual review generation software and platforms worth considering in 2026, what each does, and which situation each fits.
Quick comparison:
| Platform | Best For | Multi-Platform Requests | Sentiment Survey | Text/SMS Native | Starts At |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flento | Local businesses wanting review management built into a full local SEO platform | Google-focused, expanding | Yes, compliant routing | Yes | Free to start |
| Birdeye | Enterprise and multi-location businesses managing 200+ review sites | Yes, extensive | Yes | Yes | Custom, enterprise |
| Podium | Service businesses centralizing all customer texting, not just reviews | Yes | Partial | Yes, core feature | Custom |
| Broadly | Small service businesses wanting simple, affordable review automation | Limited | No | Yes | Accessible SMB pricing |
| GatherUp | Agencies managing review generation across multiple clients | Yes | Yes, strong survey layer | Yes | Custom |
| ReviewTrackers | Businesses prioritizing monitoring and analytics over generation | Yes, 100+ sites | No | No | Custom |
If you're specifically weighing GatherUp, see our dedicated GatherUp alternative comparison.
Review generation tools automate the process of requesting reviews from customers. At minimum, they:
More sophisticated tools add:
The core value is consistency: the difference between asking 10% of customers (ad hoc) and asking 80% of customers (systematic) produces 8x more reviews from the same customer base.
Before evaluating specific tools, understand one compliance requirement that narrows the field: Google's review policies prohibit review gating, filtering customers based on expected sentiment before sending a review request.
Any tool that routes customers through a preliminary rating step (sending to Google only if they rate highly, sending to an internal form if they rate low) violates Google's policy. Using such a tool creates removal and suspension risk for your profile.
A compliant review tool sends the same review request to all customers, no preliminary sentiment filter. Response automation and template management are fine; conditional routing is not.
⚠️ Common Mistake: Purchasing a "reputation management" tool that advertises "filter negative reviews before they go public." This is review gating by another name. The FTC has taken enforcement action against this practice, and Google can remove reviews and suspend profiles that use gating systems.
Best for: Local businesses and small agencies that need review management integrated with GBP and citation management.
Flento's review management features are part of its broader local SEO platform, review requests, monitoring, response templates, and velocity tracking alongside GBP management and citation consistency. For businesses that want review management as part of a complete local SEO tool rather than a standalone review app, this integration is the key advantage.
Review requests go to all customers without sentiment filtering (compliant). Automated response templates handle high-volume positive reviews; notifications alert you to negative reviews for immediate human response. Velocity tracking shows whether your review acquisition pace is on track for your target.
Best for: Multi-location businesses and enterprise accounts needing comprehensive reputation management across dozens of locations.
Birdeye is a full reputation management platform covering review generation, monitoring, response management, and customer surveys across 200+ review sites. Its scale and integrations make it competitive for enterprise and multi-location businesses that need a single platform managing review workflows across dozens or hundreds of locations.
Where Birdeye becomes the right choice: if you need to manage reviews across Google, Yelp, Facebook, industry-specific sites, and dozens of other platforms simultaneously at scale, Birdeye's breadth covers more platforms than most alternatives.
Where it's overkill: for single-location businesses or small agencies, Birdeye's enterprise pricing and complexity isn't justified by the use case.
Best for: Service businesses that want review requests integrated into their text messaging and customer communication workflow.
Podium's core strength is text-based customer communication, not just review requests, but the entire customer interaction lifecycle (appointment reminders, follow-ups, two-way text conversations, payments). Review requests are one component of the broader messaging platform.
For businesses where text message communication is already central to operations (auto service, home services, medical offices), integrating review requests into an existing communication tool makes adoption easier. For businesses that only need review automation and don't need the broader messaging platform, Podium's pricing may be hard to justify.
Best for: Small service businesses (home services, auto shops, salons) that want review automation and basic customer communication tools.
Broadly is a lighter-weight reputation tool than Podium or Birdeye, positioned specifically at local service businesses like auto shops, salons, and home service contractors. Review requests via text and email, basic response management, and a simple customer communication inbox.
The pricing is more accessible than enterprise platforms, and the setup is designed for business owners without a dedicated marketing team. If review generation is your primary need and you want a simple, inexpensive tool, Broadly is worth evaluating.
Best for: Small agencies managing review generation for multiple local business clients.
GatherUp focuses on the review request and monitoring workflow for multi-location and multi-client setups. Strong survey integration (gathering structured customer feedback before the review request) and solid review monitoring across major platforms.
GatherUp's customer survey component is a differentiator, it captures more detailed feedback before routing to a review platform, giving businesses insight into what customers loved or didn't love. Note that the routing logic (only routing positive survey responses to review platforms) needs to be configured carefully to remain compliant with Google's review policies.
Best for: Businesses that need multi-platform review monitoring and analytics more than review generation.
ReviewTrackers is stronger on the monitoring and analytics side than the generation side. It aggregates reviews from 100+ review sites, provides sentiment analysis, and generates reporting on review trends across locations. For businesses that need to understand what customers are saying across all platforms, not just Google, ReviewTrackers' analytics provide value.
For review generation specifically, ReviewTrackers' tools are serviceable but not its primary strength.
For businesses that need a simple, no-cost review request system, Google provides:
GBP direct review link: In your GBP dashboard, go to "Ask for reviews" to generate a short link that takes customers directly to your Google review form. Share this link via any channel, text, email, printed QR code.
GBP review share button: From your profile on Google Maps, there's a share/review option that generates the same link.
These tools don't automate the timing or delivery of requests, that's the gap that paid tools fill. But for businesses in the early stages of building a review acquisition process, starting with Google's free link and manually sending it via text is fully viable.
Single location, starting out: Google's free review link + manual text messages. Build the habit of asking before investing in a tool.
Single location, ready to systematize: Flento's review management (integrated with GBP and citations) or Broadly (review-focused with simple setup).
Multi-location business: Flento for integrated local SEO + review management, or Birdeye for enterprise-scale multi-platform reputation management.
Local SEO agency: Flento (integrated platform, accessible pricing per client) or GatherUp (review-focused with multi-client management).
Service businesses with active text communication: Podium or Broadly, depending on whether you need the broader communication platform (Podium) or just review automation (Broadly).
What is review generation software? Review generation software automates the process of requesting customer reviews for local businesses. These tools send review request messages (via text, email, or both) to customers after a transaction or service, include direct links to your review profile, and track whether requests result in new reviews. More advanced tools integrate with CRM or POS systems, manage review responses, and monitor reviews across multiple platforms.
Are automated review requests effective? Yes, systematic review requests consistently produce more reviews than ad hoc asking. The key factors are timing (requests sent within 2 hours of service convert at much higher rates) and consistency (asking every customer, not just those who seemed happy). Automation addresses both: it sends requests at the right time and never forgets to ask.
Do review generation tools violate Google's policies? Compliant tools don't. The policy violation is review gating, filtering customers based on expected sentiment before sending them to Google. A tool that sends the same review invitation to all customers regardless of their likely rating is compliant. A tool that asks customers "How was your experience? Rate 1-5" and only sends satisfied customers to Google is not compliant. Evaluate any tool you're considering against this standard.
Can review generation tools help with Yelp reviews? Most tools can send requests that include a Yelp link. However, Yelp has its own policies discouraging solicited reviews, Yelp's algorithm can flag and suppress reviews that appear to have been solicited, particularly if they come from new accounts or in patterns that suggest a request campaign. Focus review generation primarily on Google; let Yelp reviews accumulate more organically.
How much do review generation tools cost? Prices range from free (Google's built-in tools) to $200-500+/month for enterprise platforms like Birdeye. Most small business-focused tools (Broadly, GatherUp, Flento) run $50-150/month depending on location count and features. Evaluate cost against the estimated revenue value of 5-10 additional reviews per month, for most businesses, the ROI calculation favors at least an entry-level tool.
What's the best free review generation tool? Google's built-in review link generator is the best free option. Access it through your GBP dashboard ("Ask for reviews"), generate your short link, and share it via text after service. This doesn't automate timing or delivery, that's the gap paid tools fill, but it costs nothing and produces real results when you commit to asking consistently.
