--- title: "Why You Might Not Choose Us for Reviews | Build My Digital" description: "When another review tool, or asking by hand, is the better buy than our Google Reviews Engine, and five questions to ask any review tool before you pay." canonical: https://buildmydigital.co.uk/review-engine-why-not/ --- When another review tool, or asking by hand, is the better buy than our Google Reviews Engine, and five questions to ask any review tool before you pay. Source: https://buildmydigital.co.uk/review-engine-why-not/ [Home](https://buildmydigital.co.uk/) · [Google Reviews Engine](https://buildmydigital.co.uk/review-engine/) · Why you might not choose us # Why you might not choose us. Our Google Reviews Engine suits a local business that finishes a steady run of jobs and wants every customer asked the same way, from its own number. Here is when something else is the better buy. Websites built free for local businesses. Then the systems that get you booked. £39 a month keeps us working on it to bring you more customers. No minimum term. ## When we are the wrong buy. ### Fewer than about ten jobs a month Ask by hand, which is quicker at that volume. Our [£179 profile setup](https://buildmydigital.co.uk/google-business-profile/) comes with your review link to send, and the engine is here when the volume is. ### You want one inbox, or payments Our engine covers your Google reviews, and drafts your Google profile's description of each service from your calls and reviews, for your approval. For texts, calls, emails and social messages in one inbox, or for taking payments, a platform such as Podium is built for that. See [our Podium comparison](https://buildmydigital.co.uk/review-engine-vs-podium/). ### Your customers expect WhatsApp Our ask goes as one text from your own number. We do not send it on WhatsApp, so choose a tool that does. ### You run a large group of sites A group that wants every location in one view, with listings and social media alongside, is better served by a platform built for many locations, such as Birdeye. See [our Birdeye comparison](https://buildmydigital.co.uk/review-engine-vs-birdeye/). ### You want it to start by itself from your job software Each ask starts when you send us the customer's first name and mobile, and a text or WhatsApp to us is enough. The ask firing by itself from a booking or invoicing tool is coming. NiceJob can do this now from Jobber, Housecall Pro or QuickBooks. See [our NiceJob comparison](https://buildmydigital.co.uk/review-engine-vs-nicejob/). ### You want email, a photo request or a QR card Our ask goes by text. The email version of the ask, the finished-job photo request, and a QR card or one-tap phone link are coming. None of them is part of the engine today. ### You want replies posted for you A reply is drafted for each Google review you or we paste in, for your approval before anything is posted, and a review of three stars or fewer is checked with you first. Posting is by hand. If you want replies to post by themselves, Birdeye offers that, and so does NiceJob on its Pro plan. ### You want reviews on other sites too Our ask carries your Google review link only. If Facebook or an industry review site matters as much to you, choose a tool that asks for those as well. ### You would rather run it yourself We run the engine for you, from the customers you send us. If you want to set up and run a tool yourself, and try it free first, NiceJob offers a 14-day free trial. ## Five questions to ask any review tool. Put these to every vendor you are weighing up, us included. Our own answer sits under each one. ### 1. Who gets the review link, and does that follow Google's rules? Google's policy for Maps reviews says a business should not [selectively solicit positive reviews from customers](https://support.google.com/contributionpolicy/answer/7400114). Ask whether every customer gets the same link, and what happens before they see it. **Our answer:** every customer is asked, in the same words, with your Google review link in the first message, no reward and no star rating. ### 2. What happens when a customer replies STOP? A customer who asks to stop should get nothing more by text from that business. Ask what the tool does with a STOP, and whether it covers every message it sends, reminders included. **Our answer:** every ask says how to stop, and the reminder never goes after a STOP. ### 3. What do you count, and what do you leave out? Ask what counts as an open, whether you see your Google review count against where you started, and whether the vendor claims which message produced which review. **Our answer:** the private results page and the Monday email show asks sent, delivered, link opens, your Google review count and rating against where you started, and replies waiting. ### 4. What is the contract, and how do I leave? Some tools start with a fixed term that renews unless you give notice by a set date. Ask for the length of the first term, the notice period, and whether payments can be refunded. **Our answer:** £299 setup, then £49 a month. Cancel monthly, no exit fees. Message costs are billed to you by your own provider. ### 5. Where does my customers' data go? You are handing over your customers' names and mobile numbers. Ask where they are kept, who else handles them, and how a customer can have them deleted. **Our answer:** you send us your customers' first names and mobiles so the asks can go out, and the ask goes from your own number. Anyone can ask to see, correct or delete what we hold by emailing [hello@buildmydigital.co.uk](mailto:hello@buildmydigital.co.uk), as our [privacy notice](https://buildmydigital.co.uk/privacy/) says. ## How we compare with the tools people name. Side by side with [NiceJob](https://buildmydigital.co.uk/review-engine-vs-nicejob/), [Podium](https://buildmydigital.co.uk/review-engine-vs-podium/) and [Birdeye](https://buildmydigital.co.uk/review-engine-vs-birdeye/), each on what that company publishes. What this page says about other tools was read on their own websites on 30 September 2026, and each comparison lists its sources. Prices and features change, so please confirm the details with the vendor before you decide. **Google Reviews Engine: £299 setup, then £49 a month.** Message costs billed to you by your own provider. Cancel monthly, no exit fees. [How the engine works](https://buildmydigital.co.uk/review-engine/). ## Get your website, free. Tell us your business name and town. We’ll send back a scan of your current web presence and a preview of your site. The build costs nothing, and you don’t have to book a call to get it. Open Monday to Friday, 7am to 10pm. Calls and WhatsApp answered same day, emails within one working day. Or [book a callback](https://buildmydigital.co.uk/book/) at a time that suits you. Find us on