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Is the Way You Ask for Reviews Allowed?

Paste how you ask customers for reviews and answer six quick questions. See what breaks Google’s policy or the FTC’s rules, like review gating, discounts or 5-star asks, and get a compliant version to send. Free, and it runs in your browser.

Example: a made-up request with four common problems.

Your request

Checks update as you type. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.

Paste the text, email or words you use to ask customers for reviews.

How you ask 6 quick questions

Who do you ask for a review?

Do you check how satisfied customers are first, and send only the happy ones to Google?

Do customers get anything for a review, like a discount, gift, credit or prize draw?

Do you, your staff, family or friends review the business, or does a service write reviews for you?

Do staff have review targets, or ask customers to mention them by name?

Have you offered anything, or pushed anyone, to change or remove a negative review?

For the rewrite

No link yet? Make one free.

Result

    A compliant version

    Send it to every customer after every job, the same way. Replace [name] before sending.

    This checks against Google’s review policy and the FTC’s rules and guidance on reviews. It isn’t legal advice.

    How It Works

    Three Steps, No Sign-Up

    STEP 1Paste your request

    The text, email or words you use to ask customers for a review.

    STEP 2Answer six questions

    They cover what the message can’t show: who you ask, rewards and staff.

    STEP 3Fix and send

    Copy the compliant version and send it to every customer, the same way.

    FAQ

    Review Request Questions

    Ask us anything
    What is review gating?
    Asking only the customers you think are happy, or checking satisfaction first and sending only happy customers to Google, while unhappy ones are sent somewhere else. Google doesn’t allow merchants to discourage negative reviews or selectively ask for positive ones, and the FTC tells businesses not to ask only customers they expect to be positive.
    Can I offer a discount for a review?
    Not for Google reviews. Google doesn’t allow incentives such as payment, discounts or free goods in exchange for any review, even an honest one. Under the FTC’s rule, an incentive that depends on the review being positive is illegal too.
    Can I ask for a 5-star review?
    Ask for an honest review instead. Google doesn’t allow selectively asking for positive reviews, and asking everyone for an honest one builds more trust anyway.
    Can my staff ask customers to mention them?
    Not anymore. Since April 2026, Google’s policy bars merchants from asking staff to collect a set number of reviews or reviews with specific content, such as a staff member’s name.
    What does the FTC rule on reviews cover?
    The FTC’s rule on consumer reviews, in force since October 21, 2024, bans fake reviews, buying reviews, rewards that depend on positive reviews, undisclosed reviews by insiders and using threats to get negative reviews removed. Penalties can exceed $50,000 per violation.
    Do you store what I paste?
    No. The checks and the rewrite run in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us.

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