How to Get More than 5 Reviews from Google Places API

Normally when you use the Google Places API you are limited to 5 reviews.

In this guide, I'll share two methods of programmatically getting more than 5 Google My Business reviews.

Why Not Use the Google Places API?

In the Google Places API REST documentation, it states:

Unfortunately you have no control over what reviews to fetch, how many reviews, or being able to paginate these reviews when using the Google Places API.

This is an inherent limitation of the Google Places API: we can only fetch 5 of the "relevant" reviews.

Fortunately, there are some workarounds that use APIs beyond the Google Places API.

Method 1: Google My Business APIs

The Google My Business APIs are the first alternative to consider if you want to get more than 5 reviews from the Google Places API.

The Google My Business APIs, which are part of the Google Business Profile APIs, provide programmatic access to manage Google My Business (GMB) locations.

The endpoint we're interested in is accounts.locations.reviews.

As described in the documentation, this endpoint returns a paginated list of Google reviews for a specified business profile.

Most importantly, the maximum page size is 50 reviews, and we can paginate to retrieve all reviews for a business location.

But there's also some significant downsides to using the Google My Business APIs.

The biggest hurdle is that the GMB APIs require requesting access.

This process can be tedious and time-consuming, taking up to 2-4 weeks for approval. Plus, in order to become approved you need a valid registered business.

Here's an overview of using Google My Business APIs to fetch more than 5 reviews instead of the Google Places API.

Pros of using the Google My Business APIs to fetch more than 5 reviews

Cons of using the Google My Business APIs to fetch more than 5 reviews

Method 2: Featurable Widgets and the Free Featurable API

The other method for getting more than 5 reviews from the Google Places API is to use the free Featurable API.

Featurable lets you create embeddedable widgets, which you can render fully custom using the Featurable API and react-google-reviews.

Please note: the Featurable API does not allow programmatic access to the GBP APIs.

Simply sign up with your Google account, give the necessary permissions, and you are ready to start fetching more than 5 reviews.

Here's an overview of using the Featurable API to fetch more than 5 reviews instead of the Google Places API.

Pros of using the Featurable APs to fetch more than 5 reviews

Cons of using the Featurable API to fetch more than 5 reviews

How to Use the Featurable API to Get More Than 5 Reviews

Here's how easy it is to fetch more than 5 Google reviews using the free Featurable API:

Step 1. Create a Featurable widget

Use the Getting Started guide to create a Featurable widget.

After creating and customizing your widget, you can render it (and more than 5 reviews) using the Featurable API.

Step 2. Embed or custom render your widget

Using the GET /widgets endpoint, you can then render your Featurable widget programmaticaly.

Summary

While the Google Places API limits you to only 5 reviews, there are two methods you can use to fetch more than 5 reviews without web scraping or other TOS violating methods.

1. Use Google My Business APIs

The Google My Business APIs are comprehensive and provide full access to reviews for any GMB locations you manage.

But in order to use these APIs, you need to pass multiple rounds of approval, written and video applications, and wait 2-4 weeks or more.

2. Use the Featurable API

The Featurable API also offers programmatic access Featurable widgets, which can have more than 5 reviews.

See the Featurable API documentation for more information.