Search visibility

Do you need a review tool, or just Google?

Reviews are one of the factors in map results, and the tools here automate the ask. The question is whether you need one, since Google gives you a review link for free, and whether the paid tools publish a price or want you on a sales call first.

Checked against each vendor's own pages on October 14, 2026. Every cell links to its source. Prices and plans change often, so click through before you buy.

Google Business Profile

Google

Published price
Free: creating and listing a Business Profile costs $0Page shows no dollar amounts or billing basis. Google Ads costs are separate and not shown.Google Business Profile home page
Asks customers by
You share a Google review link or QR code; also email, WhatsApp, FacebookThe page does not mention text messages or SMS. No native text-send option is documented.Create a Google link or QR code to request re...
Text consent guidance
Not publishedNeither the review-request page nor the review policy page mentions text messages, SMS, opt-in, or customer consent. Absence on the pages is not proof Google says consent is unneeded, so verdict is unconfirmed rather than no. The review-request page does say incentives for reviews are prohibited, which is a different topic.Create a Google link or QR code to request re... Review policy
Reply to Google reviews inside the tool
Yes, reply from your Business Profile after verifying the businessVerification is required first; reply is a Google-interface feature, not a third-party dashboard.Manage customer reviews
Contract term
Not publishedFree listing.Google Business Profile home page
Free option
Yes: free listing at $0. No usage cap publishedNo cap is stated on the pages checked. Paid Google Ads are separate and not free.Google Business Profile home page
Our pick
Start here. The link is free, replies are free, and thirty days of asking by hand proves whether you need more.

Birdeye

Birdeye

Published price
Contact sales. No price published on the pricing page.The pricing page shows a 'Get pricing' form that asks for location count. It shows no dollar figure and no billing basis.Birdeye pricing page
Asks customers by
Both email and text, from Quick Send or a bulk campaign upload.Birdeye support: how to get new reviews
Text consent guidance
Yes. Birdeye says not to text anyone who has not opted in.The same page cites TCPA fines of $500 to $1,500 for businesses that do not get proper opt-in consent.Birdeye support: text compliance and 10DLC
Reply to Google reviews inside the tool
Yes, from the Reviews tab, once Google is connected in Settings.The support article says the Google account must be integrated before the reply can be published to Google.Birdeye support: respond to reviews from the...
Contract term
Annual agreements typical. Month-to-month is not stated.The pricing page is silent. Birdeye's terms auto-renew for the same period as the initial term unless written notice of non-renewal is given at least 90 days before renewal.Birdeye blog: what does Birdeye cost Birdeye terms
Free option
No free plan for the review tool. Free profiles (basic listing with aggregated reviews) need no subscription, but are not a review request or reply tool. Reviews AI has a 30-day free trial.A free profile is a listing page, not the product. A trial is not a free tier, so the row verdict is no.Birdeye support: what are Birdeye profiles Birdeye Reviews AI free trial page
Our pick
A real platform that tells you to get opt-in before texting, priced on a sales call with an annual term.

Podium

Podium

Published price
Contact sales. No per-month price publishedPricing page says plans are quoted by sales; no number or billing basis is shown.Podium pricing
Asks customers by
Text messages. Email not stated on pages we checkedReviews page describes textable review invites only; a testimonial mentions sending a link.Podium reviews product page
Text consent guidance
Consent required for marketing texts. Review requests not addressedPodium article says opt-in/prior express written consent is needed for marketing texts and cites the TCPA. It does not mention review request texts. No help-center consent page was reachable (help.podium.com redirects off-domain).Podium article: text marketing laws
Reply to Google reviews inside the tool
Not confirmed on pages we checkedReviews page does not explicitly say Google reviews can be replied to in Podium; it names Facebook only for responses. Help-center article redirects to podium.com/knowledgebase, which could not confirm it.Podium reviews product page
Contract term
Not publishedPricing page is silent on contract length, annual billing, and month-to-month terms.Podium pricing
Free option
Not confirmed. No free plan listed on pricing pageOnly a free Google reputation report is promoted on the reviews page, which is a one-time report, not a $0 plan. No free trial found. The free report offer is on the reviews page, not the pricing page.Podium pricing Podium reviews product page
Our pick
Text-first and sold on a call. Make sure review replies are in the plan you are quoted.

NiceJob

NiceJob

Published price
Starter $75/mo, Pro $125/mo (USD, per month)Monthly prices only; no annual price or effective date shown on the page. Footer reads 2026 NiceJob Inc.NiceJob pricing page
Asks customers by
Both text (SMS) and email review requestsPricing page lists Reviews as SMS and email review requests. Native Google share-a-link method is not described on the vendor page we checked.NiceJob pricing page NiceJob campaign help article
Text consent guidance
Client must hold customer consent; no texting opt-in guideTerms make the client responsible for consent (Section 23(d)) and name the TCPA (Section 23(a)). Help articles cover opt-out and re-opt-in words only, not an opt-in walkthrough. The campaign article has no consent language.NiceJob terms NiceJob unsubscribe help article
Reply to Google reviews inside the tool
Yes, for Google reviews, from the NiceJob accountAI reply suggestions work only on Google reviews. Replying needs full posting permission on Google. Posted replies cannot be edited in NiceJob. Auto-replies need the Pro plan.NiceJob help: respond to reviews
Contract term
Monthly, no contracts; cancel anytimeTerms say payment auto-renews at the end of the monthly term unless cancelled. Cancellation needs written or in-app notice and is valid only after confirmation is received.NiceJob pricing page NiceJob terms
Free option
No free plan, 14-day trialFree to start refers to the 14-day trial; billing begins the day the trial ends. No permanent free plan.NiceJob pricing page
Our pick
The pick for a small shop that wants automation: $75 a month, month to month, text and email, Google replies.

Grade.us

Traject

Published price
$99/month (Small Business plan, 1 location)Annual billing saves 20%. Multi Location is $60/month per location. Agency shows 'Request A Quote' with no number. No 'prices effective' date is shown.Grade.us plans and pricing
Asks customers by
Both: email and text message (SMS) review requestsThe plans page says text messaging must be activated through sales during the trial: 'Please contact sales to activate your free trial immediately for access to text messaging.'Grade.us review generation Grade.us plans and pricing
Text consent guidance
Not publishedThe terms of service (Section 4(b)) say SMS/MMS use must follow Twilio's policies and age gating, but no page we checked tells customers to get recipient consent or opt-in, and the words consent, opt-in and TCPA do not appear. The help article would not load.Grade.us terms of service Grade.us help article
Reply to Google reviews inside the tool
Yes on the feature list; the plan that includes it is not shownNot confirmedGrade.us plans and pricing
Contract term
Billed monthly or annually; terms say the account auto-renews and payments are noncancelable and nonrefundablePlans page: charged monthly or annual after trial; cancel by emailing support@grade.us; no refunds. Terms Section 5: auto-renews, payment obligations noncancelable. Month-to-month is not stated in so many words, and no contract length is published.Grade.us plans and pricing Grade.us terms of service
Free option
No free plan; 14-day free trial with 3 seats, no cardThe trial gives full access for 14 days and needs no credit card. No plan with a $0 price and no time limit is stated.Grade.us plans and pricing
Our pick
$99 a month, published, with email. Text requests need a call with sales. Check which plan includes replies before you sign.

Start with the free link. Pay when the habit is proven.

A review tool automates a habit you do not have yet. Build the habit first, then automate it.

  1. 01Thirty days by handSend your Google review link by text after every job for a month. If you get ten reviews, you have a habit worth automating.
  2. 02Consent for textsGet consent before texting a review request. Birdeye's own guidance says not to text anyone who has not opted in, and your intake form should collect that.
  3. 03Reply to every oneReplies are public. A tool that lets you reply from one inbox is the feature that saves real time.

Never gate reviews: asking only happy customers to post on Google and routing unhappy ones to a private form is against Google's contribution policy and can get reviews removed.

Spearworks AI

Want more reviews without buying a platform?

I set up the review link, the text template and the two-step ask, and show your team the routine. If you later outgrow it, I help you pick a tool with the consent language already written.

Book a free consult

Nathan Spear · spearworksai.com

Spearworks Labs · All comparisons · Checked October 14, 2026. Not affiliated with any vendor listed.