Google review & local SEO statistics (2026)

of consumers read online reviews before choosing a local business.

now “always” read reviews when browsing for a local business — up from 29% a year earlier.

of consumers read reviews on Google specifically — still the most-read review platform.

review sites the average consumer now consults before making a decision.

of consumers will only use a business rated 4 stars or higher — up from 55% the previous year.

will only consider a business rated 4.5 stars or higher — nearly double the 17% from a year earlier.

of consumers avoid businesses rated below 3 stars, regardless of price.

reviews is roughly the point at which consumers begin to trust a business’s average star rating.

revenue increase from a one-star improvement in rating, in a landmark study of online reviews.

businesses rated above 4.5 stars earn markedly higher click-through rates than those below 4.0.

of consumers expect a business to respond to reviews — yet only a small minority of businesses do.

of people who search for something nearby on their phone visit a related business within a day.

of consumers use Google Maps when searching for a local business.

searches continue to climb every year as mobile, local-intent queries dominate.

of consumers have used ChatGPT or other generative-AI tools for local business recommendations — up from just 6% a year earlier.

of consumers now use Apple Maps for local search — nearly double the 14% a year earlier.