Best review management software for UK small businesses (2026)

We make RepBeacon, so read this with that in mind. We have tried to be fair: every competitor price and trial below is taken from that vendor’s own public homepage or pricing page, checked as of October 2026. Prices change, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy. If something here is out of date, tell us and we will correct it.

The short answer

• Want a free plan you can keep, plus automated SMS requests when you need them? RepBeacon.
• Want the lowest monthly price with unlimited invitations and phone support? CREATE Reviews (£14.99/month including VAT, no free trial but a 30-day refund promise).
• Only need help replying to reviews, not collecting them? Revvy (from £12/month).
• Only need a reviews widget on your website? Trustindex (free plugin for up to 10 Google reviews).
• Run an agency or many locations and want surveys, NPS and white label? GatherUp.
• A field-service business already using US-built job software? NiceJob, priced in US dollars.
• A multi-location brand with a budget for a sales-led platform? Birdeye.

What we compared

For a UK plumber, dental practice or garage, the questions that usually decide the purchase are: what it costs in pounds, whether you can try it without a card, whether SMS requests are included, whether you are tied into a contract, and whether the tool follows Google’s rules on asking for reviews. That last one matters more than most buyers realise. Google’s review policy does not allow “review gating” – sending only happy customers to Google and steering unhappy ones somewhere private. Tools that sell a “review funnel” or a “negative review filter” can put your profile at risk.

Feature and price table (as of October 2026)

“Not stated” means we could not find it on the vendor’s public pages; it does not mean the tool does or does not do it.

What RepBeacon includes today

To keep this honest, here is only what RepBeacon offers now. The Free plan covers one location with a Google review dashboard, Google Business Profile management, website review widgets and a performance overview. Starter adds automated review requests with 100 SMS per location each month and unlimited email. Pro raises the SMS allowance to 300 and adds AI reply drafts, multiple users and setup help. Anyone can use our free public tools without an account: the review link and QR generator, reputation audit, AI review response generator and review request SMS generator.

When RepBeacon is not the best fit

• You need many review sites, not just Google. Reviews Pro lists 67 sources and Trustindex 133. RepBeacon is focused on Google.
• You are an agency that wants white label. GatherUp and ReviewApp’s top plan are built for that.
• You want WhatsApp invitations today. CREATE Reviews offers WhatsApp; RepBeacon uses SMS and email.
• You only want to reply to reviews faster. Revvy is cheaper for that one job.
• You need deep integrations with US field-service software. NiceJob lists integrations such as Jobber and QuickBooks.
• You manage hundreds of locations and want listings, surveys and an account manager in one contract: look at Birdeye or GatherUp.

How to choose in four questions

1. Do you need to collect reviews, or just manage the ones you have? If you only need replies or a widget, a cheaper single-purpose tool may be enough.
2. How many customers do you serve each month? Multiply by your expected text share and check the SMS allowance. A cheap plan can become expensive if extra texts are charged.
3. Can you try it without a card? Run one real request to your own phone before you commit.
4. Does it keep every customer’s choice open? Ask the vendor directly whether unhappy customers can still reach your public Google review form.

Frequently asked questions

Compare individual tools: Birdeye · Podium · NiceJob · REVIEWS.io · ReviewApp · GatherUp · Trustindex.