Google Reviews API vs widgets: what’s actually available in 2026
There is no single "Google Reviews API". The Places API (New) returns up to five reviews for any public place, billed per request. The Business Profile API returns every review, but only for verified locations you manage and only after Google approves access. If you just want reviews on a website, a widget is usually faster and cheaper.
What the Google Reviews API actually is in 2026
When people search for a Google Reviews API, they usually mean one of two different products. Google has no endpoint called "reviews API" on its own. Review data lives inside two separate platforms with different rules, costs and audiences.
| Option | Reviews returned | Who can use it | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Places API (New) — Place Details | Up to 5 per place | Anyone with a Cloud billing account | Enterprise + Atmosphere SKU, free monthly threshold |
| Business Profile API — reviews.list | All reviews, with owner replies | Approved projects, verified locations only | No per-request charge; approval required |
| Reviews widget (no code) | Depends on provider and plan | Any website owner | Free tier or subscription |
| Manual copy and paste | Whatever you copy | Anyone | Free, but goes stale |
The Places API: five reviews, billed per request
The Places API (New) returns a reviews field in Place Details. It is open to any developer with a Google Cloud project, billing enabled and an API key. The catch is the limit: each request returns at most five reviews, ordered by Google's relevance.
Requesting reviews moves the call into the Enterprise + Atmosphere SKU, the highest Place Details tier. Since 1 March 2025 Google replaced the US$200 monthly credit with free usage thresholds per SKU, so a small site that caches well may stay within the free amount. Prices vary by volume tier, so check the live pricing page before you build.
What five reviews means in practice
- You cannot show your full review history or newest reviews on demand.
- Carousels built only on the Places API repeat the same reviews for weeks.
- Owner replies are not included in Places review objects.
- You must show Google attribution and follow the caching rules.
The Business Profile API: every review, but gated
The Business Profile API is the only official route to every review, including owner responses. The accounts.locations.reviews.list method pages through all reviews for a location you manage, and related methods let you reply.
Access is restricted. You must request API access for your Cloud project and show a legitimate business use, sign in with OAuth using the business.manage scope, and the location must be verified. It suits agencies and multi-location brands managing their own profiles, not quick website embeds.
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What building it yourself involves
A custom integration with Google reviews JavaScript or HTML looks simple in a tutorial. In production, the work is in the parts around the request.
- Protect the key. Call the API from a server, or restrict the browser key by referrer and API.
- Cache within the terms. Store results to control cost, but follow Google's caching limits.
- Render accessibly. Build the layout, star ratings, read-more and mobile behaviour.
- Add attribution. Show Google's required attribution and reviewer links.
- Maintain it. Google retired the legacy Places API for new projects; future changes will need code updates.
The API call is the cheap part. The layout, caching, attribution and upkeep are where custom review integrations cost time.
How reviews widgets compare
A widget gives you working Google review embed code without touching an API. The provider fetches and refreshes reviews, handles layouts and gives you one snippet. The Google reviews widget from Reviews Widget offers grid, carousel, badge and other layouts, plus Trustpilot and other sources in the same feed.
| Your situation | Better choice |
|---|---|
| Small business site, wants reviews this week | Widget |
| Site on Wix, Squarespace, Webflow or WordPress | Widget |
| Developer building a custom app with review data | Places API |
| Agency managing many verified profiles and replies | Business Profile API |
| Needs reviews from several platforms together | Widget |
If you prefer to paste code by hand, the guide to embedding Google reviews in HTML walks through it step by step. Builders without code access can use the no-code embed instead.
Next steps
Start with the outcome you need. If it is reviews on a page, use a widget and spend the saved time collecting more genuine feedback with your Google review link. If you need review data in your own software, build on the Places API and plan for the five-review limit, or apply for Business Profile API access for profiles you own.
Either way, keep reviews genuine and attributed. Then place them where customers decide, as covered in where to place reviews on your website.
Sources & further reading
- Google Maps Platform — Place Details (New) data fields — Field list and the SKU each field, including reviews, triggers
- Google Maps Platform — March 2025 billing changes — Replacement of the US$200 monthly credit with per-SKU free usage thresholds
- Google Business Profile API — accounts.locations.reviews.list — Full review list for verified locations, with OAuth scope requirements
- Google Business Profile APIs — access FAQ — How to request API access and why it is not open by default
- Google Maps Platform — policies and attribution — Attribution and caching rules when you display Places content
- Google Reviews API
- Places API
- Embed code
- Review widgets