7 min 
From 2019 to 2026, the usage and dependency on online reviews have expanded rapidly.
It has become a significant feature in shaping consumer behavior and business strategies globally.
The emergence of various review platforms has even been noticed, which impacts purchasing decisions across industries.
This makes it a good time for businesses to understand the importance of online reviews and capitalize on them.
Therefore, this article will cover a collection of statistics to help you understand the global growth of online reviews.
Top online review statistics
- More than half of Yelp reviews are five stars, showing that many users are happy.
- 81% of people check Google reviews before visiting a business.
- Fewer people read Facebook reviews from 2020 to 2021.
- Only 1-2% of buyers leave reviews on Amazon.
- 30% of online reviews are fake.
- 85% of users trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
- Only 4.4% of positive reviews mention pricing.
- 56% of people choose businesses that respond to reviews.
- Two-thirds of people are more likely to hire a lawyer with reviews.
The power of online reviews
By 2025, online reviews are expected to have a significant impact on consumer behavior and business success.
1. Nearly 95% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchase.
Positive reviews significantly boost sales and enhance customer trust, while negative online reviews can discourage potential buyers by highlighting issues that sway their decision-making.
Maintaining high ratings and positive feedback is crucial for businesses.
Using tools like WiserReview, businesses can request reviews automatically and respond from one place to stay ahead.
2. Studies show that a one-star increase can lead to a 5-9% rise in revenue.
Reviews also improve search engine rankings.
The focus on authenticity and detailed feedback ensures that reviews are essential in the digital marketplace.
A brief snapshot of how reviews shape consumer behavior
These statistics underscore the substantial impact of online reviews on consumer behavior, highlighting their importance in shaping purchasing decisions and fostering trust.
3. 53% of customers expect businesses to respond to negative reviews within a week, while 87% of businesses do not address them at all.
4. 68% of consumers form an opinion after reading between one and six online reviews. Almost 9 out of 10 can determine whether to trust a brand by reading 10 reviews or fewer.
5. 20% of consumers look at one review site before deciding, and 59%of consumers look at more than two review sites before making a decision.
6. 87% of people want to see 3—to 5-star reviews on a business before they consider using it.
Online review statistics for e-commerce
Web statistics reviews for e-commerce platforms are crucial indicators of consumer behavior and business performance.
It influences trust, sales, and overall business success.
7. Products with at least 5 reviews have a 270% greater chance of being purchased compared to those with no reviews.
8. Customers spend up to 31% more on products with excellent reviews, and 86% hesitate to purchase from online stores with negative online reviews.
9. 62% of consumers are worried that AI might be impersonating individuals and leaving fake reviews on products.
10. 11% of French e-shoppers leave a review or comment on products only through social media.
Product reviews statistics
11. 93% of consumers agree that their purchasing decisions depend on reviews from other people.
12. Product review statistics show that 50% of customers are willing to purchase if the company or business responds only to positive reviews.
13. 87% of customers stated that reviews left by ordinary people in businesses have a much greater impact on their purchasing decisions than opinions from celebrities.
14. 60% of consumers refer to comments every week before making purchasing decisions.
Check it out: Customer product reviews & UGC app for ecommerce
The power of customer review statistics
15. Customers spend 31% more when products or services have great reviews. However, if there is a negative review, up to 40% of potential customers may be discouraged.
16. According to research, 62% of people worldwide would stop using a platform if they found out that reviews were being censored.
17. Up to 58% are willing to pay extra if the products have great reviews.
18. According to consumer review statistics, 96% of customers specifically look for negative reviews to learn how a business addresses those issues.
Online review statistics for home services
Online review statistics for home services, such as contractors and plumbers, are crucial because they influence consumer trust, the choice of a service provider, and the business’s online reputation.
They are crucial for attracting customers and ensuring business growth in a competitive market.
19. 85% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
This is good news for contractors and local businesses, as a strong online presence with positive reviews can significantly enhance their credibility and attract more customers.
20. 82% of buyers find review sites valuable in their search, which is why home services and local businesses should provide reviews on several review sites.
21. 57% of buyers will only use a business if it has an average star rating of 4 stars or above on local reviews.
22. Businesses with an average star rating of 4 stars or higher generate 32% more revenue than those with lower reviews.
Check it out: Review & testimonial software for home services
Online review statistics for automotive
Online review statistics are crucial for automotive businesses, including car dealerships, auto repair shops, and auto parts stores.
They shape consumer trust in major purchases and ongoing maintenance.
23. Electric Vehicle (EV) reviews generate more 1-star ratings than the average review in automobiles.
24. Customer deals: Very few consumers read negative reviews before visiting a new financial service, and 55% searched them on Google.
25. This has an impact on the overall experience, with only 3.8% of positive reviews and 2.1% of negative reviews mentioning it.
Check: Automotive review software to win more buyers
Pricing issues for service departments
26. Only 4.4% of positive reviews mention pricing, which suggests that more of the mentions come from negative reviews.
27. Almost 5 times as many negative reviews comment on price as positives. 20.7% of negatives focus entirely on this topic.
28. Poor communication is a leading factor that contributes to negative reviews 37% of the time.
Online review statistics for financial services
Online review statistics for financial services, including banks, mortgage lenders, financial advisors, and insurance providers, are necessary since people entrust their money to such institutions.
More than half say that a business’s response to reviews is a big deal.
29. 56% of online shoppers say that a business’s reviews have changed their perspective on the business.
Customers care about how businesses respond to reviews when making purchasing decisions.
Responses to reviews reveal how the business will treat its customers.
30. 38% of consumers read negative reviews before visiting a new financial service, and 55% searched them on Google.
31. 81% of consumers say that they leave a business review four times a year or less than that, and 20% have never left one.
32. Almost 90% of consumers say they use online reviews to make their banking decisions
Online review statistics for legal services
Online Review Statistics are essential for legal services, such as law firms, since people often require legal assistance in emergencies.
When clients find it quicker, this can help the success rates.
33. 2/3rd of consumers are more likely to hire a lawyer.
Two-thirds of consumers in a survey said they would be more likely to hire a lawyer with online reviews.
34. This is especially true for younger consumers. 81% of millennials (age 18 to 35) are more inclined to hire lawyers with online reviews.
35. Even a majority of Baby Boomers (age 55 to 70) feel the same way.
36. 59% of people say they have used online reviews when choosing a professional service provider, such as a lawyer or doctor.
Online review statistics for wellness
Online reviews matter in spas, salons, and gyms since personal experience is essential to consumers, and they have expectations about their results.
37. 49% of Americans say that they were influenced to choose their current hair salon based on the online reviews of the business.
38. 87% of customers will skip over any salon, spa, or barbershop with an online rating lower than 4 out of 5.
39. Around 55% of all reviews revolved around Massage and Hair Color. The rest include hair spas, manicures, and so on.
40. Some awards reward salons that keep a minimum of 60 online reviews with an average of 4 stars over 12 months.
Check: Patient review software for healthcare providers
Online review statistics for B2B
Businesses rely on other businesses for success, so online reviews of software providers, marketing agencies, and other relevant services can offer a track record of such businesses.
B2B buyers check review sites before purchasing
41. 89% of B2B buyers who use review sites say they often or always check review sites before buying any business software.
42. 33% of them check often, 56% check always, and 11% check sometimes.
43. More than 50% of all review site users go through online reviews throughout the buying process.
44. 30% of all B2B SaaS marketplaces leverage reviews as social proof to encourage installing apps.
45. Less than 45% of small businesses will consider more than 5 vendors when reading online reviews.
Online review statistics for travel
Online reviews matter in hotels, resorts, tourist attractions, and other similar establishments, as planning a trip can be time-consuming.
Online reviews on the internet can make tourists’ lives easier, and they are more likely to lean towards a particular business.
A high percentage of travelers do not post unsolicited online hotel reviews, so businesses must solicit reviews from their customers proactively.
46. Only 22% of travelers will post an unsolicited online hotel review, which is less than one in four.
47. 81% say they always read reviews before booking a hotel and focus on the company’s response to guest reviews.
48. 86% of people would pass off a good deal from a company with negative reviews.
49. One unaddressed negative review can drive away 30 out of 50 customers.
50. 3 out of 4 customers said they avoid using online ads due to false advertising, making online reviews even more valuable to customers.
Check: Travel & tourism review software to boost bookings
Review platform-specific online review statistics.
Platform-specific online review statistics offer valuable insights into how consumers interact with and perceive various review sites, including Yelp and Google Reviews.
These platforms play a crucial role in shaping consumer opinions and influencing purchasing decisions.
Below are the customer review statistics of a few platforms.
Google online review statistics
Google is a multinational technology company.
It offers a range of services and products, including advertising solutions, cloud computing, software, and hardware.
More than half like to check Google Reviews before visiting the business
51. 81% of internet users are more likely to check Google reviews before visiting the business in person.
52. Last year, 63.3% of consumers checked Google reviews before visiting a business, making it the most trusted review source.
The exact number of users reported checking Google over other review sites.
53. Businesses with positive Google reviews can see an 18% increase in their revenue rates on Google search results.
54. Google hosts 73% of online reviews alone, and it hosts 88% of all online reviews.
Also see: 8 Best Google Review Management Software
Yelp online review statistics
Yelp is an online platform where users can post reviews and rate local businesses, including restaurants, shops, and service providers.
Yelp reviews provide valuable insights into consumer experiences across various businesses.
55. As of 2023, Yelp has over 287 million reviews on its platform.
This vast number encompasses various categories, including restaurants, shops, home services, and healthcare providers.
56. A study indicated that a one-star increase in a Yelp rating leads to a 5-9% increase in revenue for a business.
57. On average, 26830 new reviews are posted on Yelp every minute, highlighting the platform’s mic and active user engagement.
By the end of 2022, Yelp’s reviews had increased
58. Approximately 52% of Yelp reviews are 5-star reviews, showing a generally positive trend among users.
59. The breakdown of the rest is 16% for 4 stars, 8% for 3 stars, 6% for 2 stars, and 16% for 1 star.
This distribution of Yelp reviews, with the majority being positive, suggests that businesses on the platform generally perform well in the eyes of their customers.
TripAdvisor online review statistics
TripAdvisor is an online platform that provides user-generated reviews, photos, and ratings of hotels, restaurants, attractions, and other travel-related services.
It helps you plan and book trips by providing recommendations based on millions of reviews.
TripAdvisor submits approximately 280 new reviews and opinions every minute to the site.
60. 77% of users say that they usually look for reference reviews on TripAdvisor before choosing a hotel.
61. Over 878 million reviews and opinions are available on TripAdvisor, covering more than 8.8 million accommodations, airlines, experiences, and restaurants worldwide.
62. 72% of travelers worldwide say their booking decisions are influenced by online reviews, with TripAdvisor being a primary resource.
Facebook online review statistics
Facebook is a social media platform that allows users to create profiles, connect with friends and family, share content, and join various groups and communities.
It also offers messaging, event planning, and advertising services.
63. 93% of Facebook users are suspicious of fake reviews on the platform, so businesses need to ensure the authenticity of reviews.
64. When reviews are shared on social media platforms, the conversion rate is 40 times higher for Facebook.
65. Facebook holds 19% of online customer reviews, according to research done by Online Reviews Statistics.
Consumer review reading rate drops
66. 54% of consumers used Facebook to read online reviews in 2020. However, this percentage dropped to 48% in the year 2021.
Facebook has experienced a decline in consumer reviews, which may be a contributing factor to this drop in numbers.
Amazon customer review statistics
Amazon is the world’s largest online retailer and marketplace, offering a wide range of products and services, including e-commerce, cloud computing, and digital streaming.
67. Only 1 to 2% of consumers post online reviews after purchasing an item from Amazon.
68. Building up reviews at such a slow rate takes longer. A seller would need to sell 10,000 products to receive 100 to 200 reviews.
Amazon is implementing a one-click review strategy to increase the rate of consumer reviews.
69. Amazon has over 750 million reviews, out of which 42% may be fake. Some products are more likely to have fake reviews than others.
70. 79% of Amazon online shoppers are influenced by the products with the best ratings and reviews.
71. 56% of consumers said that they would leave a review if they received excellent-quality products.
Fake online reviews statistics
Fake online reviews are reviews posted on various platforms to mislead consumers.
These can be positive reviews businesses create to boost their ratings or negative ones posted by competitors to harm their reputations.
Fake reviews are a growing concern in the digital marketplace.
72. About 30% of online reviews are fake.
73. About 700 businesses fabricated their reviews, for which the Federal Trade Commission issued them a fine for fake endorsement.
This percentage differs according to platform and industry.
74. 82% of consumers have read a fake review in the past year.
The credibility of e-commerce is affected by such fake review statistics.
75. Fake reviews can mislead consumers, resulting in an estimated $152 billion loss for honest businesses annually.
76. 75% of consumers are concerned about the authenticity of online reviews.
77. 69% are concerned about images in fake reviews, and 68% are concerned about fake videos.
Want to dive deeper? Here’s an interesting blog on fake review statistics.
Wrap up
The global growth of online reviews has been remarkable over the past few years. They have also immensely influenced consumer choices and business strategies.
Moreover, the increasing reliance on reviews highlights the critical role they play in shaping market perceptions and driving purchasing decisions across diverse sectors worldwide.
The above statistics also illustrate the variation in how a business is perceived based on its type and the number of reviews it has.
Maintaining strong customer relations requires businesses to continually monitor reviews and enhance their online reputation by responding to both positive and negative customer feedback.
Sources:
Yelp | Harvard Business School | Enterprise Apps Today | TripAdvisor | Weforum | Bazaarvoice | Researchgate | Invoca
Frequently asked questions
Online reviews help customers decide if they can trust a business. Good reviews attract new buyers, while negative reviews can drive them away.
Research shows that more than 90% of consumers read reviews before buying. Reviews have become part of almost every purchase decision.
Google is the most trusted platform for reviews. Customers often check a Google Business Profile before visiting a store or booking a service.
Negative reviews can lower trust, but they also make feedback look real. A professional and helpful response can turn a bad review into a chance to show good service.
Most shoppers form an opinion after reading between 5 and 10 reviews. A consistent pattern of positive feedback matters more than just one or two comments.
Yes, fake reviews damage credibility. Many buyers are quick to spot reviews that sound dishonest, and this can make them avoid a business.
It’s best to ask regularly, right after a purchase or service. Fresh reviews keep a profile active and help customers see that the business is trustworthy today.
Yes. Most people expect replies within a few days. Responding shows that the business values feedback and cares about customer experience.
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