What is a Google review link?
A Google review link is a URL that opens the “Rate and review” box for one specific business. Instead of asking a customer to search for you on Maps, find the right listing among the near-identical ones nearby, scroll to the reviews section and tap the stars, the link does all of that in a single tap.
That difference matters more than it sounds. Every extra step between “I’d happily review this place” and the review box loses people — most of them on a phone, standing outside your shop, with about fifteen seconds of intent. A direct link is the single cheapest thing you can do to collect more reviews.
Every link this tool generates has the same shape:https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid=YOUR_PLACE_ID— Google’s own review flow, with your Place ID on the end.
What is a Place ID, and how do I find mine?
A Place ID is Google’s permanent identifier for a location — a string like ChIJN1t_tDeuEmsRUsoyG83frY4. It stays the same if you rename the business or change your phone number, which is exactly why the review link is built from it rather than from your business name.
The search box above finds it for you. If you would rather do it by hand, or the search cannot find your listing:
- Open Google Maps and search for your business.
- Click your listing so its panel opens on the left.
- Click Share, then Copy link.
- Paste that link into the box above.
One catch worth knowing: Maps share links are usually shortened tomaps.app.goo.gl/…, and a shortened link does not contain your Place ID — it only redirects to the page that does. Open the short link in your browser first, let it redirect, then copy the full address out of the address bar.
Google also publishes a Place ID finder if you would rather get the ID straight from the source.
Why not the short g.page/r/… link?
You may have seen a shorter review link in the formatg.page/r/…/review. Those were issued by Google to individual businesses through the Business Profile dashboard. They cannot be derived or guessed from a Place ID — the identifier in them is unrelated — so no generator can produce one for you, and any tool claiming to is constructing a link that will not work.
Google has also been steadily retiring the g.page short-link system. The search.google.com/local/writereview form this tool generates is the stable one, and it is what your Place ID is for. It is longer, which is precisely why the QR code and the printed card matter more than the raw URL.
Where to actually put the link
- On the receipt or invoice — the QR code, printed small in a corner, with one line of text asking for the review.
- On the counter — the printable card above, in a stand where people wait.
- In the thank-you email — as a plain text link, since some email clients mangle buttons.
- In your email signature — low effort, works quietly in the background.
- In an SMS after the job — the highest-converting placement for trades and home services, where the customer is still on site.
Asking for reviews without breaking Google’s rules
Sharing a direct review link is entirely allowed, and Google encourages it. What is not allowed is being selective about who gets asked.
Review gating — surveying customers first and only sending the review link to the happy ones — breaches Google’s prohibited content policy and can cost you your reviews or your listing. That is deliberately why this tool generates one plain link to Google’s own review box, and nothing that pre-selects a star rating or routes people by expected sentiment.
The other rules are the obvious ones: do not offer discounts, entries or freebies in exchange for reviews; do not write them for customers; do not review your own business or a competitor’s. Ask everyone, ask soon after the work, and make it one tap.
Frequently asked questions
Is this Google review link generator free?
Yes — free, with no signup and no limit on how many links you generate. The link, the QR code and the printable card are all produced in your browser.
Does the review link expire?
No. The link is built from your Place ID, which is Google’s permanent identifier for your listing. It keeps working if you rename the business, change your phone number or update your opening hours. It only breaks if the listing itself is removed or merged into another one.
Why can’t I generate the short g.page/r/ link?
Those short links were issued by Google to individual businesses and contain an identifier unrelated to your Place ID, so they cannot be derived or guessed. Google has also been retiring them. The search.google.com/local/writereview link this tool builds is the stable, documented form.
Do customers need a Google account to leave a review?
Yes. Google requires a signed-in Google account to post a review. Most people on an Android phone are already signed in, so the link opens straight on the review box; on other devices they may be asked to sign in first.
Can I put the QR code on a receipt, sticker or table talker?
Yes, that is what it is for. Download the SVG for anything being professionally printed, since it stays sharp at any size, and the PNG for quick use in a document or email. Print it at least 2cm across and keep the white border around it, or phone cameras will struggle.
Is it against Google’s policies to ask customers for reviews?
Asking is fine and Google encourages it. What breaches policy is review gating — surveying customers first and only sending the review link to the happy ones — and offering any incentive in exchange for a review. Ask every customer the same way and let the reviews fall where they fall.
The search cannot find my business. What now?
Open your listing in Google Maps, click Share, then Copy link, and paste that into the box. If the link looks like maps.app.goo.gl/... open it in a browser first and copy the full address after it redirects — the shortened form does not contain your Place ID. If your business has no Google Business Profile yet, you will need to create and verify one before it can receive reviews at all.