Leaving a Google review takes about a minute. Search for the business on Google or Google Maps, tap its name, scroll to Reviews, choose a star rating, write a short comment, and tap Post. You can do it on your phone or computer, and you can edit or delete your review anytime.
Reviews are how local businesses get found and trusted — and yours genuinely helps the next customer decide. Here's exactly how to leave one, on any device, even if you don't have a Gmail address.
How to leave a Google review: step by step
Whatever device you're on, leaving a Google review follows the same five steps:
- Find the business — search its name on Google or open Google Maps.
- Open its profile — tap or click the business name.
- Go to Reviews — scroll to the Reviews section and choose Rate and review or Write a review.
- Rate and write — pick a star rating from 1 to 5, then add a sentence or two about your experience. Photos help.
- Post — submit it. Your review usually appears within a few minutes.
You'll need to be signed in to a Google account, but that account doesn't have to use a Gmail address. The device-specific walkthroughs below cover mobile and desktop, plus what to do if your review won't post. Keep it specific and honest — see our examples of good Google reviews if you're not sure what to write.
How do I leave a Google review for a company?
It works exactly the same whether it's a one-person business or a large company: search the company on Google or Google Maps, open its profile, and use Write a review in the Reviews section. Pick a star rating, add a short comment, and post.
The only catch with bigger companies is making sure you're reviewing the right listing. A chain or multi-location business often has a separate Google profile for each branch, so search the specific location you dealt with — "[company name] [city]" — rather than the brand name alone. That way your review lands on the profile the local team actually manages, where it counts toward that location's rating and is most useful to the next customer choosing between branches.
How to leave a Google review on mobile
- Open the Google app or Google Maps (or just search the business name in your mobile browser).
- Tap the business name to open its profile.
- Scroll to Reviews and tap Rate and review.
- Tap the stars to give a rating from 1 to 5.
- Write a sentence or two about your experience. Add photos if you have them — they help.
- Tap Post. Your review usually appears within a few minutes.
Tip: you'll need to be signed in to a Google account. Any Google account works — see below if you don't have a Gmail address.
How to leave a Google review on a computer
- Go to google.com or Google Maps and search the business name.
- Click the business to open its profile (or its listing on the right of search results).
- Click Write a review in the Reviews section.
- Choose your star rating, type your review, and add photos if you'd like.
- Click Post.
Can I leave a review on Google if I don't have a Google account?
You need a Google account to post a review — but a Google account doesn't have to use a Gmail address — you can create one with any existing email (your work or personal address). Go to accounts.google.com, choose Use my current email instead, and you can leave reviews with that. You can't, however, leave a review completely anonymously: a name shows on every Google review.
How to edit or delete a review you left
Changed your mind? On Google Maps, open the menu, go to Your contributions → Reviews, find your review, tap the ⋯ menu, and choose Edit review or Delete review. Edits replace the original immediately.
Why can't I leave a review for a company on Google?
A few common reasons:
- You're not signed in to a Google account — sign in and try again.
- The business has no Google profile yet, so there's nothing to review.
- Your review was caught by Google's spam filter (common for brand-new accounts, links, or repeated posts) — it may appear later, or not at all.
- You've been rate-limited for posting many reviews quickly.
How long do Google reviews last?
Reviews are permanent by default. Once posted, your review stays on the business's profile indefinitely — there's no expiry date and it doesn't fade over time. It only disappears in three cases: you edit or delete it yourself, the business closes and its profile is removed, or Google takes it down for breaking its content policies (spam, fake reviews, conflicts of interest, and the like).
That permanence is exactly why it's worth making the review count. Be specific about what you bought, who helped you, and what stood out; keep it honest and fair, since future readers and the owner both rely on it. Two to four sentences is plenty — for ideas, see our examples of good Google reviews. If you ever change your mind, you can edit or delete it anytime using the steps above.