Google reviews API: what developers can and can't get

If you've searched for a "Google reviews API", you've probably found that there isn't one simple endpoint that gives you every review for any business. Google has two official APIs that return reviews, and each has a catch.

This guide explains what each API returns, what it costs, the rules for showing and storing reviews, and when it's easier to skip the API altogether. Everything here was checked against Google's documentation on 1 November 2026.

Quick answer: The Places API returns up to 5 reviews for any business, costs USD $25 per 1,000 requests after 1,000 free a month, and doesn't let you store reviews. The Business Profile API returns all reviews and is free, but only for profiles you own or manage, and only after Google approves your access. To show reviews on a website, a review widget is usually faster and cheaper than either.

The two official Google APIs at a glance

Prices are in US dollars, from Google's Maps Platform pricing page.

Places API: 5 reviews for any business

The Places API is part of Google Maps Platform. You can look up any business by its place ID and ask for its reviews. Here's the request in Places API (New):

curl "https://places.googleapis.com/v1/places/YOUR_PLACE_ID" \
  -H "X-Goog-Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "X-Goog-FieldMask: displayName,rating,userRatingCount,reviews"

What you get back, and what to know:

• Up to 5 reviews: the reviews field returns up to five reviews, ordered by relevance by default. There's no way to page through the rest.
• Billed at the top tier: asking for reviews puts the request in the Place Details Enterprise + Atmosphere tier. That's USD $25 per 1,000 requests after the first 1,000 each month, and you need a billing account.
• No storing reviews: Google's Places API policies say you must not "pre-fetch, cache, or store" Places content, except the place ID. So you can't save reviews to your database and show them later.
• Attribution rules: you must credit each review's author, at minimum with their avatar, and show the Google Maps logo if there's no Google map on the page. If you filter or reorder reviews, you must say how.

Because you can't store reviews, a website that shows them typically calls the API when a page loads. At 10,000 page views a month, that's 9,000 billable requests after the free 1,000, or about USD $225 a month for the same 5 reviews.

Business Profile API: all reviews, but only your own

The Business Profile API is built for owners and managers. It lists every review for a location you manage, 50 per page, with the average rating and total review count. It can also post replies to reviews. Google says it's available at no charge.

The catch is access:

• Approval first: you submit Google's access request form, and your quota stays at zero until Google approves it. According to Unified.to's setup guide, that can take from several days to a few weeks, and Google expects a verified profile that's been active for at least 60 days, with a website.
• Only profiles you manage: you sign in with OAuth as an owner or manager of the profile. You can't use it for a business you don't manage.
• More setup: you need a Google Cloud project, OAuth credentials, and token handling, then your own code to display the reviews.

If you're a developer building for a client, the client needs to add you as a manager of their Business Profile first.

What about scraping Google reviews?

Plenty of tools sell "unofficial Google reviews APIs" that scrape Google Maps. Scraping goes against Google's terms of service, which ban automated access that breaks the instructions on its pages, like robots.txt. These tools can also stop working without warning when Google changes its pages. For a client's website, that's a risk you don't need.

Which option should you use?

• Show reviews on a website: use a review widget. It's the quickest way, and you don't have to build the display, handle attribution, or pay per page view.
• Build an app or dashboard for businesses you manage: use the Business Profile API, once Google approves your access.
• Show a rating for many businesses, like a directory: use the Places API, and budget for every request.

Show Google reviews without an API key

RepU connects to a Google Business Profile when you sign in with Google, so there's no API key, Cloud project, or billing account to set up. The free widget shows the latest 30 reviews, in a floating widget, a carousel, or both, with no view limits. New reviews appear automatically.

It's one line of code, so it fits into most sites and frameworks. Our guides cover plain HTML, Next.js, and React, plus more than 100 other platforms. If you build with AI tools, see how to add Google reviews to an AI-built website.

RepU Pro adds lead capture forms inside the widget, AI replies to reviews, and email review requests, for AUD $19 a month per location. For a full rundown, see what's included in the RepU free plan.

See RepU pricing

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free Google reviews API?

The Business Profile API is free, but only for profiles you own or manage, and only after Google approves your access. The Places API gives 1,000 free requests with reviews each month, then costs USD $25 per 1,000.

How many reviews does the Places API return?

Up to 5 per place, ordered by relevance by default. You can't page through more.

Can I get all the reviews for a business I don't manage?

Not through Google's official APIs. The Business Profile API only works for profiles you own or manage, and the Places API returns up to 5 reviews.

Can I store Google reviews in my own database?

Not from the Places API. Google's policies say you must not pre-fetch, cache, or store Places content, except place IDs.

Do I need a Google API key to use RepU?

No. You sign in with the Google account that manages the Business Profile, choose your widget, and paste one line of code into your site.

Skip the API setup. Sign up free and show your latest 30 Google reviews in minutes.