Google review reply templates for every star rating, in English and Hinglish
If you run a salon, a restaurant, a garage or a gym, reviews arrive while you are busy: a 5 star from a regular, a 1 star from someone who waited too long on a Sunday. Most owners mean to reply, and then the week gets away.
The replies below are starting points, in English and in Hinglish. Change the bracketed parts, mention one thing the customer actually said, and keep it short. A reply that clearly came from someone who read the review does more than a polished one that could sit under any review.
How to use these templates
- Replace everything in [brackets]. If you cannot fill a bracket honestly, delete the sentence.
- Use the reviewer's name only if it is shown on the review. Adding "ji" is fine in Hinglish and Hindi replies.
- Sign with a real name or role when you can ("Priya, owner").
- Reply in the language the review was written in. If it is in Hinglish, a Hinglish reply reads as natural; for more, see our Hinglish review replies by situation.
- Never include a customer's phone number, booking or order details, or anything else they did not post themselves.
Replies to 5 star reviews
English
Thank you, [Name]. We're really glad the [specific thing they mentioned] worked out the way you hoped. [Staff name] will be happy to hear it. See you next time.
Hinglish
Bahut shukriya, [Name] ji! Aapko [jo cheez pasand aayi] achhi lagi, yeh padh kar bahut khushi hui. [Staff name] ko aapka review zaroor dikhayenge. Phir milte hain!
[Name], thank you for calling out [staff name]. I've passed your note on, and it made [his/her/their] day. We look forward to seeing you again.
Thank you for the five stars, [Name]. We appreciate you taking the time.
Replies to 4 star reviews
English
Thanks, [Name]. Glad you enjoyed [thing they liked]. You mentioned [small issue], and that's fair. We're [what you are doing about it, only if true]. We hope to earn the fifth star next time.
Hinglish
[Name] ji, review ke liye dhanyavaad. [Jo pasand aaya] aapko achha laga, yeh jaankar khushi hui. [Small issue] wali baat bilkul sahi hai, hum [kya badal rahe hain, sirf agar sach ho]. Hum koshish karenge ki agli baar aapko poore 5 star ka experience mile.
Thank you for the rating, [Name]. If there's anything we could have done better, we'd like to hear it. You can reach us at [business phone or email].
Replies to 3 star reviews
English
Thank you for the honest review, [Name]. Good to hear [positive point]. Sorry that [issue] let the visit down. We'd like to understand what happened. Could you get in touch at [business phone or email]? Ask for [name/role].
Hinglish
[Name] ji, khul kar feedback dene ke liye shukriya. [Positive point] aapko pasand aaya, yeh achhi baat hai. [Issue] ki wajah se aapka experience kharab hua, iske liye hum maafi chahte hain. Hum samajhna chahte hain ki kya hua. Please [business phone] par call kijiye aur [name/role] se baat kijiye.
[Name], thanks for telling us. It sounds like [service] wasn't what you expected. That's useful for us to know, and we're looking at how we explain it up front. If you'd like to talk it through, call us on [number].
Replies to 2 star and 1 star reviews
English
[Name], you're right that [specific failure] isn't acceptable, and I'm sorry. I'd like to put this right. Please call me directly on [number] or email [address]. [Your name], [role].
Hinglish
[Name] ji, aap sahi keh rahe hain, [specific failure] bilkul theek nahi tha. Iske liye hum dil se maafi chahte hain. Hum ise theek karna chahte hain, please humein seedha [number] par call kijiye. [Your name], [role].
Sorry about the wait on [day], [Name]. We were [short honest reason, if there is one] and should have told you sooner. We've [change made, only if true]. If you're willing to come back, ask for me directly.
[Name], thank you for raising this. Nobody should feel that way here. I'm looking into it with the team. Please contact me at [number/email] so I can hear the full story.
Tricky cases
You can't find them in your records, or the review seems to be about another business
Do not accuse the reviewer. Stay calm and factual; future customers are reading.
Hello [Name]. We take every review seriously, but we can't find a visit matching this description. Could you contact us at [number/email] so we can look into it?
If you believe the review breaks Google's rules (for example spam, a conflict of interest, or off-topic content), you can report it through Google.[3] Google says "only those that violate Google policies are eligible for removal".[3]
Unfair or exaggerated review
[Name], thanks for the feedback. Our side of this is a little different: [one neutral, factual sentence, with no personal details]. We'd still like to sort it out. Please reach us at [contact].
Keep it to one factual sentence. Arguing point by point in public rarely helps.
No-show or late-cancellation complaint
Hi [Name], we understand it's frustrating. Our [cancellation/no-show] policy is [one-line policy] and it's shared when booking, because a missed slot means another customer can't be seen. If something unexpected happened, please call us on [number] and we'll talk it through.
Price complaint
Thanks, [Name]. Fair point that [service] costs more than some places nearby. The price covers [specific, true reason]. If the price wasn't clear before you booked, we want to know. Please reach us at [contact].
Review in a language you don't write well
Reply in the same language if someone on the team can check it. A short, correct reply is better than a long machine-translated one.
Review replies by trade
Salons and parlours
For rebooking, festive-season and no-show advice, see salon marketing on Google and WhatsApp.
Thanks, [Name]! [Stylist name] loved working on your [cut/colour/style]. Send us a photo once it's settled in. We'd love to see it.
[Name], I'm sorry the colour isn't what you asked for. That's on us. Please call [number] and we'll book you in with [senior stylist] to look at it together.
Restaurants and cafes
For peak-hour replies, menu photos and group bookings, see Google reviews for restaurants and cafes.
Thank you, [Name]! Glad the [dish] hit the spot. We'll pass your note to the kitchen.
Sorry, [Name], that's not how your [dish] should arrive. Please message us at [contact] with your order details so we can sort it out. We're also checking our packing for [item].
Do not post order numbers in the reply, and do not blame anyone else in public, even if the delay happened after the food left your kitchen.
Car and two-wheeler garages
For price disputes, old parts and service reminders, see garage review replies.
Thanks, [Name]. Glad we could get you back on the road. [Mechanic name] appreciates the shout-out.
[Name], I'm sorry the final bill came as a surprise. We should have called before doing work beyond the estimate. Please contact me on [number] and I'll go through the bill with you line by line.
Gyms and studios
For photos, trial passes and membership complaints, see gym marketing ideas.
Thank you, [Name]! It's great to hear [class/coach] is working for you. See you at the next session.
[Name], sorry this has been frustrating. Please email [address] or speak to [manager] at the front desk, and we'll review your membership with you. We don't want anyone stuck in something that isn't working for them.
Home services: AC repair, plumbing, electrical, RO, pest control, cleaning
For a 15-point profile checklist and "did not show up" replies, see AC repair and plumber marketing on Google.
Thanks, [Name]. Glad [technician] could get the [job] sorted quickly. Keep our number handy.
[Name], I'm sorry we kept you waiting on [day]. You took time out for us and we didn't show up when promised. Please call me on [number] and we'll make it right.
Ask every customer for a review: WhatsApp messages by trade
Send the same message to every customer after every visit or job, not only to the ones you think were happy, and never offer a discount, gift or freebie for a review. Google's policy prohibits incentives for reviews and selectively asking for positive ones.[4] Google suggests sharing a link to your review form or a QR code with customers.[2][6] Send these messages only to customers who have agreed to receive WhatsApp messages from you.
English
Hi [Name], thank you for visiting [Salon name] today. If you have a minute, please share your experience on Google, good or bad: [review link]. It helps people nearby decide. Thank you!
Hinglish
Hi [Name], aaj [Salon name] aane ke liye shukriya. Ek minute ho toh Google par apna experience zaroor likhiye, jaisa bhi raha ho: [review link]. Isse aas-paas ke logon ko decide karne mein madad milti hai. Thank you!
English
Thank you for eating with us at [Restaurant name], [Name]. We read every Google review, the good and the not-so-good. If you would like to tell others how it went: [review link]
Hinglish
[Restaurant name] mein aane ke liye shukriya, [Name] ji. Hum har Google review padhte hain, achha ho ya bura. Apna experience yahan likh sakte hain: [review link]
English
Hi [Name], your [bike/car] is ready and back with you. If you have a moment, please tell others on Google how the service went, honestly: [review link]. Thank you for choosing [Garage name].
Hinglish
Namaste [Name] ji, aapki [bike/car] ki service ho gayi hai. Service kaisi lagi, apni raay Google par likhiye, jo bhi ho, isse doosre customers ko madad milti hai: [review link]. [Garage name] chunne ke liye dhanyavaad.
English
Hi [Name], thanks for training with us at [Gym name]. We would value an honest Google review of the gym, whatever your experience has been: [review link]
Hinglish
Hi [Name], [Gym name] mein training ke liye thanks. Gym ke baare mein apna honest review Google par dijiye, experience jaisa bhi raha ho: [review link]
English
Hello [Name], thank you for calling [Business name] for your [AC service/plumbing job]. If you have a minute, please share an honest review on Google: [review link]. It helps families nearby choose a technician.
Hinglish
Namaste [Name] ji, [AC service/plumbing kaam] ke liye [Business name] ko bulane ka shukriya. Ek minute ho toh Google par honest review dijiye: [review link]. Isse aas-paas ki families ko technician chunne mein madad milti hai.
A printed QR card for the counter
- Follow Google's guide to create a review link or QR code: in your Business Profile, open Read reviews, then Get more reviews. Google notes that the QR code can be created only in a computer browser, not on a phone.[6]
- Save the QR code image and test it with two different phones.
- Print it on a small card for the counter, the billing desk or the reception table, with one line such as "Tell us how we did on Google".
- Keep the card the same for everyone: no offer printed on it, and no "only if you liked it".
- Mention it the same way to every customer, without pressure, and never ask anyone to write the review at the counter. Google's policy says businesses "should not require or pressure users to leave ratings or write reviews while on the premises".[4]
Dos and don'ts
Do
- Reply to negative reviews as well as positive ones. People considering you read both.
- Be specific, brief and polite. Google's own tips say to keep replies short and simple, personalise them, and never share a reviewer's private information.[2]
- Move the details of a complaint to a phone call, WhatsApp or email.
- Fix the problem if the review is right, and say what changed only if it really did.
- Ask every customer for a review, not only the ones you expect to be happy.[4]
Don't
- Offer discounts, freebies or money in exchange for a review. Google's policy prohibits incentives "such as payment, discounts, free goods and/or services".[4]
- Ask only happy customers for reviews, or send unhappy customers to a private form while happy ones go to Google (often called "review gating"). Google's policy prohibits selectively soliciting positive reviews.[4]
- Ask a reviewer to delete or change a review in exchange for a refund or anything else. Google treats incentives around reviews as fake engagement.[4]
- Write reviews for yourself, have staff or family post them, or buy them.[4]
- Threaten or pressure a reviewer over an honest review.
- Post private information: names of people who weren't named, phone numbers, booking or order details.[2][4]
- Use replies to advertise. Google's reply tips say not to use them to offer deals or promotions.[2]
Choosing a tool to help
If you're weighing up software for review replies, our guide to what an AI marketing assistant can and can't do covers the tradeoffs.
Frequently asked questions
Should I reply to every Google review?
It is a good habit. Google says helpful and positive replies "can show that you're responsive to your customers". In BrightLocal's 2026 survey of US consumers, 89% said they expect business owners to respond to reviews. If you are short on time, start with negative and detailed reviews.
How long should a reply to a Google review be?
Short. Google's tips say to "keep it short and simple". Two to four sentences is usually enough.
Can I reply in Hinglish or Hindi?
Yes. Reply in the language the reviewer used, and have someone who writes it well check the reply before it goes out. A short, correct reply is better than a long one that reads like a machine translation.
Can I ask Google to remove a bad review?
Only if it breaks Google's policies, for example fake engagement or a conflict of interest. You can report it from your Business Profile or Google's Reviews Management Tool; Google says only reviews that violate its policies are eligible for removal, and asks owners not to report a review just because they disagree with it.
Can I offer a discount for leaving a review?
Not on Google. Google's policy prohibits offering incentives "such as payment, discounts, free goods and/or services" in exchange for reviews.
Is it OK to only ask happy customers for reviews?
No. Google's policy lists "selectively solicit positive reviews from customers" as prohibited. Ask everyone, the same way.
Can I edit my reply later?
Yes. You can edit your reply from the reviews section of your Business Profile. Google checks replies against its content policies.
Can AI write my review replies?
Yes, tools can draft or post replies for you, and the replies are still your business's public words. Read what is posted under your name, check that facts such as timings, prices and names are right, and make sure replies to complaints are not generic. Posting reviews about your own business, however they are written, breaks Google's policy on conflicts of interest.
Sources
- Google Business Profile Help, "Manage customer reviews". support.google.com/business/answer/3474050 (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Google Business Profile Help, "Tips to get more reviews". support.google.com/business/answer/3474122 (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Google Business Profile Help, "Report inappropriate reviews on your Business Profile". support.google.com/business/answer/4596773 (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Google Maps User Generated Content Policy, "Prohibited & restricted content". support.google.com/contributionpolicy/answer/7400114 (accessed 21 October 2026)
- BrightLocal, Local Consumer Review Survey 2026 (US adults). www.brightlocal.com/research/local-consumer-review-survey/ (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Google Business Profile Help, "Create a Google link or QR code to request reviews". support.google.com/business/answer/16816815 (accessed 21 October 2026)