As a local SEO consultant who's helped hundreds of businesses over the years, I've seen firsthand how Google reviews can make or break a local business.
Just one unanswered negative review, a few days without responding, and Google starts to favor your competitors.
It isn’t easy to keep tabs on all your reviews when you have multiple locations or your main focus is the day-to-day running of your business - but this is where review management tools come into play.
I’ve put dozens of platforms to the test over the past year with different clients, and I can say that overall, the best Google review management software in 2025 is Localo.
This comprehensive solution lets you reply to reviews in a couple of clicks and take care of other tasks to optimize your Google Business Profile (GBP) in every way possible.
But Localo might not be the best fit for everyone, so keep reading to discover my take on the top 6 review management tools available today. Whether you're a small business owner, an in-house marketer, or an agency handling multiple clients, you'll find the perfect solution here.
|
Birdeye |
Podium |
Broadly |
SocialPilot |
ReviewTrackers | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best For |
Small to medium businesses, agencies, multi-location businesses |
Enterprise businesses with substantial budgets |
Businesses focusing on messaging-based customer interactions |
Service-based businesses needing all-in-one communication |
Marketing agencies prioritizing social media management |
Data-driven businesses prioritizing analytics |
Starting Price |
$69/month |
$299/month (plus setup fee) |
$399/month |
$249/month |
$42.50/month |
Custom pricing (from ~$49/month) |
Standout Feature |
Smart Tasks & Position Map for GBP optimization |
200+ review site monitoring |
Text-based review requests |
Photo sharing capabilities |
Social media integration |
Competitive intelligence |
Review Collection |
Email, SMS, QR codes with customizable templates |
Multiple channels across 200+ sites |
Text message-based invites |
Tools to collect reviews from customers |
Basic review generation |
Comprehensive request features |
AI Capabilities |
AI-powered response suggestions |
NLP for customer feedback trends |
Limited |
Basic automation |
AI content creation for social |
AI-powered response suggestions |
Analytics Quality |
Comprehensive with sentiment analysis |
Enterprise-grade reporting |
Basic |
Standard |
Good social analytics |
Excellent with trend analysis |
Multi-Location Support |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Good |
Good |
Good |
Excellent |
Local SEO Value |
Exceptional (core focus) |
Good |
Limited |
Limited |
Limited |
Good |
Ease of Use |
Very intuitive |
Complex |
Moderate learning curve |
User-friendly |
User-friendly |
Steeper learning curve |
Customer Support |
Outstanding with personalized onboarding |
Good enterprise support |
Variable |
Variable |
Good |
Good |
Additional Benefits |
GBP Audit, competitor tracking, position monitoring |
Surveys, webchat, referral tools |
Payment processing, video chat |
Web chat, team chat, photo sharing |
Social media management, AI content creation |
Competitive intelligence, trend analysis |
Limitations |
Primary focus on Google (though this is also a strength) |
Expensive, complex for small businesses |
Not worth it for review management only |
Limited customization, higher price point |
Review features less comprehensive |
Custom pricing makes comparison difficult |
Value for Money |
Excellent |
Good for enterprises |
Moderate |
Moderate |
Excellent for social-focused businesses |
Depends on data needs |
Having implemented and managed dozens of review management solutions for my clients over the years, I've developed a comprehensive evaluation framework. For this review, I considered:
I have personally tested each platform, recording setup time, user experience quality, and performance metrics. I also listen to my clients’ feedback on the tools they are using to get a different perspective on each one.
So, with all this in mind, let's dive into the best Google review management software options available in 2025.
Best for: Small to medium-sized businesses, agencies managing multiple clients, and multi-location businesses
When it comes to Google review management, Localo stands out as the most comprehensive and user-friendly solution on the market. I've implemented Localo for dozens of clients across various industries, and the results consistently impress me.
What makes Localo special is its laser focus on local SEO and Google Business Profile optimization. Unlike many competitors that isolate review management, Localo has built its entire platform around helping businesses maximize their local online presence.
This goes beyond just reviews, including recommendations for the number of images, posts, and more.
Localo offers straightforward, transparent pricing:
You can try Localo for free to get a feel for how it works and try some of its local SEO features, but the review management tools are part of the paid plans.
Many of the other tools on this list require a consultation before you can receive custom pricing, so I find it refreshing that Localo is so upfront about its plans and makes it easy to get started.
Pros:
Cons:
I recently implemented Localo for a dental practice with three locations that was struggling to maintain consistent review collection across their offices. Within two months, they increased their Google review count by 47% and improved their average rating from 4.2 to 4.7 stars.
What impressed me most was how the Smart Tasks feature identified specific optimization opportunities I had overlooked, like updating specific categories and attributes that boosted their visibility for "emergency dental services" searches—a high-value keyword for their business. You wouldn’t get this from a tool that only does review management.
You can sign up to Localo for your free trial here.
Best for: Enterprise businesses and larger organizations with substantial budgets
Birdeye is a heavyweight in the online reputation management space, offering a robust set of features for businesses looking to manage their digital presence across multiple platforms.
Birdeye's pricing reflects its enterprise positioning:
Pros:
Cons:
I've implemented Birdeye for several larger clients, including a regional healthcare provider with 12 locations. The platform excelled at aggregating reviews across different healthcare-specific platforms and Google, providing consolidated reporting that helped identify location-specific issues.
However, I've found that smaller businesses often struggle to utilize Birdeye's full feature set, making it difficult to justify the premium price point. In one case, a single-location retail client switched from Birdeye to Localo and achieved similar results at less than a quarter of the cost.
Best for: Businesses focusing on messaging-based customer interactions
Podium incorporates review management into its message-based platform that also lets you collect leads, book appointments, and much more.
Podium has three pricing tiers which start at around $399/month, but you need to book a sales call before you can sign up.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Cons:
I worked with an auto repair shop that implemented Podium and saw remarkable results with their text-based review invites. Their customers, who were typically on the go, appreciated the convenience of clicking a link in a text rather than opening an email. This led to a 63% increase in review completion rates compared to their previous email-based system.
However, I've found Podium's pricing difficult to justify for businesses that don't leverage the full communication suite. If you're primarily focused on review management rather than text-based customer interaction, other options provide better value.
Best for: Service-based businesses looking for an all-in-one communication solution
Broadly combines review management with customer communication tools to create a unified platform for service businesses.
Broadly's pricing structure consists of:
Pros:
Cons:
My Experience with Broadly
I worked with a landscaping company that implemented Broadly primarily for its photo-sharing capabilities but soon found value in its review management features as well. The ability to share before/after project photos and then immediately request reviews led to a significant increase in review volume and quality.
However, I’d only recommend Broadly to businesses who are going to benefit from its customer engagement tools as well as its review management features.
Best for: Marketing agencies and businesses that prioritize social media management alongside review monitoring
SocialPilot is primarily known as a social media management tool (which it is great at), and its review management features are a nice add-on.
SocialPilot offers four pricing tiers:
Review replies are available on the Standard plan and above.
Pros:
Cons:
Best for: Data-driven businesses that prioritize analytics
ReviewTrackers focuses on providing in-depth analytics and insights from review data, making it well-suited for businesses that take a data-driven approach to customer experience.
ReviewTrackers uses custom pricing based on business needs and locations. Access to the platform starts at around $49/month for a single business location.
Pros:
Cons:
I implemented ReviewTrackers for a regional hotel chain that needed detailed competitive intelligence on their reviews compared to other hotels in their markets. The platform's analytics capabilities provided valuable insights that helped them identify specific experience improvements that positively impacted their ratings.
This level of detail may prove to be overkill for most businesses, though.
Beyond the basic comparison, I've found that Localo consistently provides the best value for businesses who want to rank their Google Business Profile higher, and maximize the general reputation gains for their business.
While Birdeye and Podium offer more extensive feature sets, their significantly higher price points make them difficult to justify for most small to medium-sized businesses.
After helping dozens of businesses implement review management solutions, I've developed a framework to help you find the right fit:
Before evaluating software options, clearly define what you need:
I once worked with a client who purchased an enterprise-level solution only to realize they were using less than 10% of its features. By clearly defining your requirements first, you avoid overpaying for unnecessary functionality.
Review management software varies dramatically in price. While it's tempting to choose the cheapest option, consider the value rather than just the cost:
As one of my clients put it: "We initially balked at spending $69 a month on Localo, but realized we were spending about 15 hours monthly on manual review management—that's over $300 in labor costs for a worse result."
The most powerful software is worthless if your team won't use it:
I recommend requesting demos of your top contenders and involving the team members who will use the software daily in the decision process. Their buy-in is crucial for successful implementation.
When issues arise, quality support makes all the difference:
Don't underestimate this factor—I've seen businesses abandon otherwise excellent platforms due to frustration with poor support experiences.
After comprehensive testing and real-world implementation with dozens of clients, I can say that Localo offers the best balance of functionality, ease of use, and value for most small to medium businesses.
Its focus on actionable insights for local SEO and Google Business Profile optimization makes it particularly effective for businesses where local search visibility is crucial.
Birdeye provides the comprehensive feature set and scalability needed for large, multi-location businesses with dedicated marketing teams, while the other tools mentioned here are all valid choices for businesses with more specific needs.
Whatever solution you choose, remember that consistency is key. The best review management software is ultimately the one your team will use regularly as part of their workflow.
Google review management software is a specialized tool that helps businesses monitor, collect, respond to, and analyze customer reviews on Google Business Profile. These platforms typically automate review requests, provide response templates, alert you to new reviews, and offer analytics to track performance over time. The best systems also help you leverage positive reviews for marketing and address negative feedback efficiently.
Google review management software connects to your Google Business Profile through API integration. Once connected, it monitors your profile for new reviews and can send you real-time alerts. Most platforms allow you to set up automated review request campaigns via email or SMS that are triggered by customer interactions. When customers leave reviews, you can respond directly through the software's dashboard rather than logging into multiple platforms.
Google review management software pricing typically ranges from $50 to $500+ per month depending on features, business size, and number of locations. Budget-friendly options like Localo start around $69/month for single locations, while enterprise solutions like Birdeye can exceed $300/month per location. Most providers offer tiered pricing based on features and location count, with discounts for annual payment.
Yes, Google review management software can significantly improve your local SEO performance. Google's algorithm considers review quantity, quality, recency, and engagement when determining local search rankings. By helping you generate more positive reviews and respond promptly to all feedback, these tools directly impact your local search visibility.
Yes, most Google review management platforms offer some form of automated or semi-automated response capabilities. However, fully automated responses without human oversight aren't recommended as they often sound generic and can damage your reputation. The best approach is using AI-assisted templates that you can quickly customize before sending.