Do you need software to get more Google reviews?
The number of reviews depends mainly on one thing: how many customers you invite, and when. A QR code forgotten behind the coffee machine brings almost nothing; asking every happy customer at the right time changes everything. So the real question is: can you do it yourself, every day?
Free QR code or software: what each option does
| Free link and QR code | Review software (e.g. Voxtya) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Subscription (Voxtya: €29/month) |
| QR code in your name | Generate and print yourself | Print-ready materials with your name and colours |
| Request after each visit | Out loud, customer by customer | Email sent automatically after a booking; campaigns to your customers |
| A reason to take part | No | Prize wheel (a chance to win, nothing guaranteed) |
| Review replies | By hand | With the Review replies service: written in your tone |
| Rating and review tracking | On your profile | Dashboard, alerts |
Free tool, no sign-up
Reviews per month calculator
How many Google reviews can you get each month from your customers and the way you ask? Free.
Making the most of the free option
- Get your review link from your Google profile.
- Turn it into a QR code and print it large where customers wait: till, bill, counter, invoice.
- Ask every customer the same way, with a simple sentence.
- Email the link to customers whose address you have (email templates).
- Reply to every review within a week.
The reviews per month calculator estimates what you can get from your daily customer numbers.
Signs that software would save you time
- You forget to ask as soon as it gets busy
- Your most recent reviews are months old
- Some reviews have been unanswered for weeks
- Nearby competitors have far more reviews than you
- You already take online bookings and could ask for a review automatically afterwards
To compare your profile with your neighbours’, see local competitor analysis.
What about the prize wheel?
The prize wheel gives customers a reason to spend a minute: after their visit and review, they try their luck at winning a small prize (a coffee, a dessert, a discount on the next visit). Nothing is guaranteed, and it is reserved for real customers of the business. Google’s review rules and how to present it are covered in the wheel of fortune for Google reviews.
By trade
| Trade | When to ask | Option that is often enough |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant, bar | With the bill, or by email after a booking | Software if you take online bookings |
| Bakery, café | At the counter, regulars | QR code + prize wheel to make it fun |
| Hair or beauty salon | At the end of the appointment | QR code at the till; software for the follow-up email |
| Tradesperson, garage | At the end of the job or on handover | Link emailed with the invoice |
| Hotel, B&B | At check-out | Email after the stay |
Advice by trade: restaurant, bakery, hair salon, tradesperson.
The rules, free or paid
- Asking for a review is allowed; paying for a review or offering something in exchange for a positive one is not.
- Invite all customers the same way, without picking the happiest.
- Never reviews written by you, your family or staff.
The full framework: online review laws.
This guide for your trade
Go further
Sources
The rules quoted in this guide come from these official pages, checked on October 30, 2026.