Tired of Yelp? 14 Alternative Business Review Websites

What are business review websites?

Business review websites collect customer reviews about the companies they do business with. These aren’t professional reviews, and they aren’t paid. They’re from actual customers sharing honest feedback.

For example, say you recently hired a local company to install a fence in your backyard. After the service is completed, you can review that company on a business review website. When you leave a review, you’ll often choose a letter or number rating. You’ll usually have the option to summarize your thoughts about the service you received.

By sharing your positive or negative experiences, you help other potential customers decide whether or not to use that company in the future.

Best Yelp alternatives for business reviews

Many consumers turn to Yelp when researching products and services. Additionally, small businesses use Yelp to boost brand awareness and enhance their local marketing strategy. However, Yelp isn’t the only game in town. Here are 14 Yelp alternatives that can help you generate positive online reviews and grow your business. 

1. Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business)

Google Business Profile, formerly called Google My Business, allows you to list your business on Google Maps and appear in local search results. It’s free to list your business and information, such as your business location, hours and phone number.

You can also invite your customers to leave a review on Google. Collecting and responding to Google reviews shows you care about customer feedback; more reviews will help you rank higher in Google searches. To get started, set up and personalize your Business Profile on Google.

2. Facebook Page reviews

If you use Facebook ads for your business, you probably already have a Facebook Business Page set up. Your Facebook Business Page is a great place to stay in touch with your customers and share helpful information about your business.

It’s also an excellent place to collect customer reviews. Take advantage of this feature by turning on the ratings and reviews option in your Facebook Page settings. From there, invite customers to leave reviews sharing their experiences with your company.

3. Angi (formerly Angie’s List)

Angi is a major name in business reviews. As a platform for accurate information about local businesses from vetted users, Angi guarantees its reviews are legitimate.

Users pay a membership fee to access the site and write reviews, which are graded in letter form. Businesses that sign up with Angi can interact with members, establish a profile, and respond to reviews about their company. Businesses can also take advantage of deals and discounts when they sign up with Angi. Organizations can sign up for an Angi account online. 

4. Better Business Bureau

The Better Business Bureau is one of the most trusted names in business ratings and reviews. The BBB grades businesses from A+ to F based on several factors, including reviews, complaints, and business responses to reviews and complaints. The BBB is a trusted organization, and its ratings could significantly impact a small business. 

The accreditation process ensures that a business makes a good-faith effort to resolve customer complaints and respond to inquiries. This effort makes a business more trustworthy in consumers’ eyes. Accreditation (and its fee) can give a business increased exposure online, access to workshops and webinars, and much more. Visit the BBB online to start the accreditation process for your business. 

5. ConsumerAffairs

Collecting reviews for a business is just one service ConsumerAffairs for Brands offers. When a business signs up, it receives access to numerous resources, including articles on how reviews and a strong reputation can increase revenue, how to find brand ambassadors, and how to convert negative customer experiences into positive ones. Visit ConsumerAffairs for Brands online to create a business account. 

6. Foursquare

While Foursquare is best known for its check-in feature, businesses that claim their listings also give customers the ability to leave ratings and tips (reviews) for other customers.

If you sign up for Foursquare for Business, you’ll be able to access user analytics, add your own tips, and offer customer rewards.

7. Glassdoor

The unique thing about Glassdoor is that it allows current and past employees to rate the companies they work for. This is a vital tool for job searching, helping job seekers learn as much about a company as possible.

When you sign up for a Glassdoor for Employers account, you can read reviews of your company as a workplace and find quality candidates when hiring employees for open positions.

8. HomeAdvisor

This site is similar to Angi (in fact, they have the same parent company). It helps customers find and review professionals for home improvement projects. All reviews are verified and go through an extensive screening process.

If you are a professional offering home improvement services, signing up with HomeAdvisor Pro allows you to connect with HomeAdvisor users in your area looking for a specific service.

9. Judy’s Book

While it’s not free to add or claim your business on this site, the perks of Judy’s Book for Business are worth it. It’s free for customers to review your business directly on the site, but if you receive other testimonials through social media, email, letters or other sources, Judy’s Book allows you to post them on your business page at no extra charge.

When you add your business to Judy’s Book, you also get a free mobile listing, competitor tracking, a higher search engine ranking and much more.

10. Manta

Manta is a small business directory that helps local U.S. businesses connect with consumers and each other. While customer reviews are not the site’s primary function, they are one of its features. Visit Manta online to add your business. 

11. Merchant Circle

MerchantCircle aims to connect customers with deals, advice and price quotes from local small businesses. Its search functions are structured primarily by city and business category. By default, it ranks the listings from highest-rated and most frequently reviewed, working its way down.

The MerchantCircle Help Center has various links to articles to help new businesses get set up.

12. OpenTable

Although OpenTable was once just for making restaurant reservations, customers can now leave reviews and star ratings. When you search for restaurants, a list based on your search criteria pops up.

One of the first things you’ll notice is the star rating under the restaurant name, the number of reviews, and the percentage of reviewers who recommend the restaurant.

If you are starting a restaurant or want to get an established restaurant on OpenTable, sign up on the OpenTable for Restaurants page to start collecting reviews and increasing your reservations.

13. Superpages 

Unlike most other review sites, Superpages isn’t tied to a specific category or service. So, whether your business is a restaurant, plumber, nail salon, electrician or anything else, you can register it and begin collecting reviews.

This site also allows users to write in-depth reviews specific to your business’s category, making it easier for potential customers to find the review and, therefore, your business. Visit Superpages online to claim or manage your free business listing.

14. VendOp

VendOp aims to connect people with vendors that best match their needs. Potential customers can search for vendors based on their needs and be presented only with vendors that provide those services, streamlining the search process.

The site also offers a community of real customers who share their experiences with vendors, so potential customers can better understand who they’re working with while helping other vendors improve their services. Visit VendOp online to learn how to use your LinkedIn account to sign up for this platform.

How can business review websites benefit your company?

Many businesses feel nervous at the thought of customers leaving them a review, but customer reviews can be a powerful tool for your company. Here are some of the ways business review websites can benefit you:

• Business review websites create social proof. If a customer is on the fence about purchasing from your business, they’re more likely to move forward if they receive a positive recommendation from a friend or family member. Positive reviews create social proof and help new customers feel comfortable doing business with you.
• Business review websites improve SEO. If you run a local business, you can’t afford to ignore business review websites. For example, receiving and responding to Google Business reviews will improve your business’s search engine visibility and increase the odds that local customers will find you.
• Business review websites help you provide better customer service. Nobody wants to receive a negative review from a customer, but it isn’t always a bad thing. If you respond to negative reviews and take steps to remedy the mistake, you could build more customer loyalty over the long run. And you learn valuable information about how to improve your business in the future.

Using business review websites to your advantage

Many companies rely on business review websites like Yelp to improve their reputation and visibility online. However, there are countless alternatives to Yelp to consider when seeking online reviews and business marketing tools. From Google Business Profile to ConsumerAffairs, these business review websites can help create social proof that your business is worth investing in. 

To encourage online business reviews from customers, consider offering incentives like online coupons or simply asking them to leave a review to help your company. Make it easy for customers to find your business on major review websites so they’re not inconvenienced by the request.

Sammi Caramela contributed to this article.