Australian Google Reviews Index
What Google ratings actually look like for 10,565 Australian businesses across 67 industries and all 8 capital cities.
Research by Dinopix · Published 15 October 2026 · Download the data (CSV)
4.8
Median Google rating
Across all 10,565 listings
19%
Rated below 4.5
Only 6% below 4.0
96
Median review count
7% have 1,000 or more
74%
Have a reply gap
Of 149 multi-location businesses checked (not a random sample)
4.5 stars is below average
Google ratings are squeezed into the top of the scale. Among businesses customers see first on Google Maps, a 4.5 put you in the bottom quarter. The number that matters is how you compare with the businesses listed next to you.
Highest rated
Mortgage brokers have a median of 5.0, and 87% show a perfect 5.0. In 9 of 67 industries, anything below 4.9 is bottom quarter.
Lowest rated
Pharmacies have a median of 4.0, and 79% sit below 4.5. Hotels, medical centres, car washes and aged care homes also have medians of 4.4 or lower.
Most reviewed
Pubs have a median of 1,189 reviews, against 96 across all businesses. With that many reviews, only 1% hold a perfect 5.0.
Google ratings by sector
67 industries grouped into 8 sectors. Up to 20 businesses per industry from each capital city.
| Sector | Median ratingline starts at the bottom-quarter cut-off | Below 4.5 | Median reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trades and home services | 4.9 | 10% | 65 |
| Fitness and lessons | 4.9 | 14% | 62 |
| Professional services | 4.9 | 13% | 88 |
| Hair and beauty | 4.8 | 8% | 154 |
| Health and care | 4.8 | 25% | 46 |
| Retail | 4.7 | 28% | 95 |
| Automotive | 4.7 | 27% | 143 |
| Food and hospitality | 4.6 | 33% | 579 |
Google ratings by industry
Find your industry and compare your rating with the median and the bottom-quarter cut-off. Sorted by median rating within each sector.
Trades and home services
| Industry | Median ratingline starts at the bottom-quarter cut-off | Below 4.5 | Median reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricians | 5.0 | 3% | 84 |
| Painters | 5.0 | 3% | 48 |
| Cleaning services | 4.9 | 6% | 69 |
| Plumbers | 4.9 | 6% | 143 |
| Landscapers | 4.9 | 9% | 27 |
| Pest control | 4.9 | 8% | 102 |
| Air conditioning installers | 4.9 | 9% | 96 |
| Solar installers | 4.9 | 9% | 105 |
| Roofers | 4.9 | 9% | 26 |
| Builders | 4.9 | 13% | 25 |
| Locksmiths | 4.9 | 16% | 100 |
| Removalists | 4.8 | 14% | 183 |
| Storage facilities | 4.8 | 32% | 57 |
Fitness and lessons
| Industry | Median ratingline starts at the bottom-quarter cut-off | Below 4.5 | Median reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilates studios | 5.0 | 2% | 37 |
| Yoga studios | 5.0 | 4% | 45 |
| Martial arts schools | 5.0 | 6% | 27 |
| Driving schools | 5.0 | 4% | 107 |
| Gyms | 4.7 | 28% | 137 |
| Swim schools | 4.6 | 38% | 60 |
Professional services
| Industry | Median ratingline starts at the bottom-quarter cut-off | Below 4.5 | Median reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mortgage brokers | 5.0 | 1% | 139 |
| Accountants | 4.9 | 8% | 58 |
| Conveyancers | 4.9 | 11% | 114 |
| Funeral homes | 4.8 | 16% | 37 |
| Lawyers | 4.8 | 16% | 105 |
| Travel agents | 4.8 | 20% | 51 |
| Real estate agencies | 4.7 | 21% | 151 |
Hair and beauty
| Industry | Median ratingline starts at the bottom-quarter cut-off | Below 4.5 | Median reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tattoo studios | 4.9 | 3% | 163 |
| Beauty salons | 4.9 | 3% | 163 |
| Barbers | 4.8 | 3% | 220 |
| Hair salons | 4.8 | 5% | 185 |
| Dog groomers | 4.8 | 10% | 60 |
| Day spas | 4.8 | 16% | 170 |
| Nail salons | 4.8 | 18% | 148 |
Health and care
| Industry | Median ratingline starts at the bottom-quarter cut-off | Below 4.5 | Median reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physios | 5.0 | 1% | 65 |
| Chiropractors | 5.0 | 3% | 56 |
| Audiologists | 4.9 | 7% | 35 |
| Podiatrists | 4.9 | 6% | 29 |
| Dentists | 4.9 | 6% | 162 |
| Childcare centres | 4.9 | 11% | 25 |
| NDIS providers | 4.9 | 22% | 11 |
| Skin clinics | 4.8 | 12% | 109 |
| Optometrists | 4.8 | 17% | 85 |
| Psychologists | 4.8 | 34% | 8 |
| Vets | 4.7 | 17% | 248 |
| Mobility aids stores | 4.5 | 50% | 38 |
| Aged care homes | 4.4 | 55% | 19 |
| Medical centres | 4.3 | 57% | 172 |
| Pharmacies | 4.0 | 79% | 100 |
Retail
| Industry | Median ratingline starts at the bottom-quarter cut-off | Below 4.5 | Median reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewellers | 4.9 | 13% | 97 |
| Florists | 4.7 | 20% | 102 |
| Bike shops | 4.7 | 16% | 170 |
| Clothing boutiques | 4.7 | 34% | 26 |
| Furniture stores | 4.6 | 42% | 94 |
| Pet stores | 4.5 | 41% | 136 |
Automotive
| Industry | Median ratingline starts at the bottom-quarter cut-off | Below 4.5 | Median reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanics | 4.8 | 15% | 112 |
| Smash repairers | 4.8 | 16% | 76 |
| Tyre shops | 4.7 | 16% | 201 |
| Car dealerships | 4.7 | 26% | 212 |
| Car washes | 4.3 | 62% | 177 |
Food and hospitality
| Industry | Median ratingline starts at the bottom-quarter cut-off | Below 4.5 | Median reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wedding venues | 4.7 | 17% | 145 |
| Cafes | 4.6 | 21% | 570 |
| Restaurants | 4.6 | 14% | 1,064 |
| Bars | 4.6 | 18% | 464 |
| Bakeries | 4.6 | 25% | 253 |
| Pizza restaurants | 4.6 | 28% | 577 |
| Pubs | 4.4 | 53% | 1,189 |
| Hotels | 4.1 | 85% | 1,012 |
Google ratings by city
Ratings barely change between cities. Review counts do: the median business in Darwin NT has 38 reviews, against 180 in Melbourne VIC, so each new review moves its rating much further.
| City | Median ratingline starts at the bottom-quarter cut-off | Below 4.5 | Median reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney NSW | 4.9 | 17% | 107 |
| Brisbane QLD | 4.8 | 16% | 148 |
| Adelaide SA | 4.8 | 16% | 105 |
| Melbourne VIC | 4.8 | 19% | 180 |
| Perth WA | 4.8 | 19% | 122 |
| Canberra ACT | 4.8 | 21% | 84 |
| Hobart TAS | 4.8 | 22% | 48 |
| Darwin NT | 4.8 | 25% | 38 |
74% of businesses we checked have a reply gap
We checked the Google replies of 149 multi-location Australian businesses by hand, listing by listing, between 20 September and 14 October 2026. Only 39 replied consistently.
At least 55 of the 166 businesses we researched had a one or two-star review sitting unanswered.
How 149 businesses handle Google replies
- Reply consistently39 (26%)
- Reply to some, skip others31 (21%)
- Reply in occasional batches11 (7%)
- Used to reply, then stopped20 (13%)
- Never replied48 (32%)
Two more things the research showed
38%
of multi-location businesses have a weak branch
Across 128 businesses with two or more rated listings, the best and worst location were half a star or more apart in 38%, and a full star or more in 13%. Customers searching near the weak branch only see its rating.
1.2
stars lower on Trustpilot than on Google
For the 31 businesses rated on both, Trustpilot came in a median of 1.2 stars below their Google average, and lower for 81% of them. On ProductReview the median gap was 0.6 stars (42 businesses). A strong Google rating does not mean the other sites look the same.
Methodology
Ratings and review counts
On 16 and 17 October 2026 we searched Google Maps for 67 business types in each of the 8 capital cities, for example “dentist in Hobart TAS”. For each of the 536 searches we recorded the star rating and review count of the first 20 organic results. Sponsored listings were left out. Smaller markets sometimes returned fewer than 20 businesses, and for Sydney swim schools we searched the plural because the singular returns one venue. That gave 10,565 listings, 164 of them with no reviews yet; those count towards review totals but not ratings.
Reply behaviour and other platforms
Between 20 September and 14 October 2026 we researched 172 Australian businesses, most with several locations, covering 661 Google listings. For each we read recent reviews and owner replies and, where they existed, their Trustpilot and ProductReview pages. Reply behaviour was classed from what we saw on the newest and lowest-rated reviews.
Limits
- Google Maps orders results by relevance, distance and prominence, and prominence includes ratings. The first 20 results lean towards well-reviewed businesses, so the figures describe the businesses customers see first, not every business in Australia.
- The reply sample was researched as potential Dinopix customers, not chosen at random, and is likely to overstate how many businesses have reply gaps.
- Twenty results per city and industry is a sample, not a census of every business in each metro area.
- Many trades list a service area instead of a shopfront, so their results can include businesses based outside the city itself.
- Ratings change daily. These are a snapshot from the dates above.
Using this data
The aggregate figures are free to use under CC BY 4.0. Please cite “Dinopix Australian Google Reviews Index, October 2026” and link to this page. Download the CSV. We publish aggregates only; no individual business is named.
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Where does your business sit?
Compare your rating with your industry above, then use the review rating calculator to see how many new reviews it takes to move up. A direct review link makes asking easy, and the reply generator helps with the replies.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Google rating in Australia?
Higher than most people think. Across 10,565 Australian businesses near the top of Google Maps, the median rating was 4.8 and a 4.5 or lower put a business in the bottom quarter. It varies a lot by industry: mortgage brokers had a median of 5.0, while pharmacies sat at 4.0.
Is 4.5 stars a good Google rating?
In most industries, no. In 41 of the 67 industries we looked at, a 4.5 sat in the bottom quarter of businesses on page one. It holds up better in industries where ratings run lower, such as pubs, hotels, pharmacies and medical centres. Check your industry in the tables above.
How many Google reviews does an Australian business have?
The median business in the sample had 96 reviews. Pubs had the most (a median of 1,189), followed by restaurants (1,064). Psychologists, NDIS providers and aged care homes have far fewer, so each new review moves their rating more.
What do mobility aids and disability businesses rate on Google?
Mobility aids stores had a median of 4.5, and 50% sat below 4.5, one of the lowest-rated categories in the index. NDIS providers had a higher median of 4.9 but few reviews (a median of 11), so a single bad review can move their rating a long way.
How was the data collected?
We searched Google Maps for 67 industries in each of the 8 capital cities and recorded the rating and review count of the first 20 organic results, leaving out sponsored listings. The reply figures come from a separate sample of multi-location businesses we researched by hand. The methodology section on this page covers both, including their limits.
Do Australian businesses reply to their Google reviews?
Many do not, or not consistently. Of the 149 multi-location businesses whose replies we checked, 74% had a gap: 48 had never replied, 20 had stopped, and others replied only in batches or skipped some reviews. This sample was not random, so treat the figure as an indication rather than a national rate.
Can I use this data?
Yes. Please cite "Dinopix Australian Google Reviews Index, October 2026" and link to this page. The aggregate figures are available as a CSV download.
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