This is one of the most common points of confusion and it's understandable, because Google has several different review systems.
Here's how they differ and which one our app covers.
What our app covers: Google Customer Reviews
Our app integrates Google Customer Reviews, which is a free program run through Google Merchant Center. It works like this:
After a customer completes a purchase on your store, they're invited to opt in to a short survey.
Google emails the survey to opted-in customers once their estimated delivery date has passed.
Customers rate their experience from 1–5 stars and can leave optional comments.
The ratings collected contribute to your Google Seller Rating, which appears in Google Shopping listings and Google Ads.
Google Customer Reviews is specifically designed for e-commerce transactions and is tied to your Google Merchant Center account.
For more information, see Google's official overview: Google Customer Reviews basics.
What our app does NOT cover: Google Business Reviews
Google Business Reviews (sometimes called Google Business Profile reviews) are the reviews that appear on your Google Business Profile, which is the listing that shows up in Google Search and Google Maps when someone searches for your business.
These reviews can be left by anyone with a Google account and are not tied to a verified purchase. They're managed entirely through your Google Business Profile and are a separate system from Google Customer Reviews.
Our app does not collect, manage, or display Google Business Reviews. If you're looking to grow or manage your Google Business Profile reviews, that would require a different solution.
Quick comparison
| Google Customer Reviews | Google Business Reviews |
Managed in | Google Merchant Center | Google Business Profile |
Triggered by | Post-purchase opt-in survey | Anyone with a Google account |
Tied to a purchase | Yes | No |
Appears in | Google Shopping, Google Ads (Seller Rating) | Google Search, Google Maps |
Can you reply to reviews? | No | Yes |
Covered by our app | Yes | No |
Which one do I need?
If your goal is to improve your seller rating in Google Shopping and Ads, Google Customer Reviews (and our app) is what you need.
If your goal is to get more reviews on your Google Business Profile (the listing in Search and Maps), that's a different program and would require a separate approach.