Google review cards: do NFC and QR cards work, and are they worth it?
A card that opens your Google review box with a tap or a scan can turn happy customers into reviews on the spot. Here’s how NFC and QR cards differ, what they cost in the UK, and how to make your own for free.
- A Google review card sends customers straight to your review box, by a QR code, an NFC chip they tap with their phone, or both.
- UK sellers charge from about £5–£15 for a single NFC card. Printed QR cards cost much less per card when bought in packs.
- Google itself recommends printing a review QR code, and you can make one free from your Business Profile or with our tool.
- Never offer a discount or gift for a review. Google bans it, and it can get reviews removed from your profile.
The best moment to ask for a review is when a customer has just told you they’re happy. The problem is that “search for us on Google and leave a review” rarely happens once they’ve left. A review card closes that gap: the customer taps or scans it, and the review box opens on their phone.
This guide explains the two kinds of card, what UK sellers charge, the rules you need to follow, and how to make a card yourself for nothing. More genuine reviews are one of the biggest things you control for Google Maps SEO in Birmingham and anywhere else.
What is a Google review card?
It’s a small card, sticker or stand that links straight to the “write a review” box on your Google Business Profile. There are two ways it does that:
| QR code card | NFC card | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Customer points their camera at the code | Customer taps their phone on the card |
| Works on | Any smartphone with a camera | iPhone XS and later; Android phones with NFC switched on |
| Best for | Counters, receipts, invoices, flyers, van stickers | Counters and tables where staff hand it over |
| Can the link change later? | No, unless the code points to a link you control | Many cards can be re-programmed |
| Cost | Pennies per card when printed in bulk, or free to print yourself | About £5–£15 per card from UK sellers |
Most NFC cards also print a QR code on the back, so they work for every customer. That combination is the safest choice if you buy one.
What UK sellers charge
We checked UK sellers that rank on Google for review cards in November 2026:
| Product | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Single NFC review card | From about £5 to £15, depending on the seller and design |
| Printed QR review cards, packs of 500 to 2,000 | About £75 to £125 a pack from one specialist printer |
| Print your own QR card | Free, plus your printing |
Before you buy, ask two questions: is there a monthly fee, and what happens to the card if you stop paying it? Some cards point to the seller’s own link first, which they then forward to Google. If that service stops, the card stops working. A card programmed with your own Google review link doesn’t have that risk.
Do review cards break Google’s rules?
No. Google’s own advice is to “ask customers to visit a Google link or scan a QR code”, and it suggests printing the QR code and displaying it in your shop. What Google bans is the reward, not the card:
- No incentives. Google says offering free or discounted goods or services in exchange for posting, changing or removing a review is “fake engagement” and “strictly prohibited”.
- Let customers use their own phone. A review should come from the customer’s own Google account; Google says customers must be signed in to a Google account to post one. Don’t post reviews for them on a shop tablet.
- Ask everyone, not just happy customers. Google says a mix of positive and negative feedback often feels more trustworthy. In the UK, hiding or suppressing negative reviews is also against consumer law.
How to get your review link and QR code for free
From Google: on a computer (not your phone), open your Business Profile, select Read reviews, then Get more reviews. You can copy the link or right-click the QR code to save it. Google says the QR code can only be created in a computer browser.
With our tool: paste the link from Google Maps into our free Google review link generator. It gives you the direct review link, a QR code and a printable counter card in your browser, with no sign-up.
Where to put the card
| Business | Best place |
|---|---|
| Shop, salon, café | On the counter next to the card machine |
| Trades and mobile services | Handed over at the end of the job, or printed on the invoice |
| Garages and clinics | At reception, and in the follow-up text or email |
| Restaurants | With the bill |
The card works best with a sentence from a person: “Thanks for coming in. If you have a minute, a quick Google review really helps us.” Then follow up the same day with the link by text or WhatsApp, for customers who didn’t scan it there and then.
Is it worth buying an NFC card?
If your staff hand customers something at the till, an NFC card is quick and memorable, and £5–£15 is a small cost for a few extra reviews. If you mostly work on site, send invoices or talk to customers by phone, a printed QR code and a review link in your messages will do more, and they cost nothing.
Whichever you choose, the card only works if you ask. Once reviews start coming in, reply to them: see how to respond to Google reviews for templates.
Sources
- Google: Create a Google link or QR code to request reviews
- Google: Tips to get more reviews
- CMA: Fake reviews guidance (CMA208)
- UK review card prices checked on seller websites, November 2026 (NFC Studio, The Online Printer, Review-Cards.co.uk, ReviewCards.co.uk).
Frequently asked questions
Do Google review NFC cards work on iPhones?
Yes, on recent iPhones. iPhone XS and later can read NFC tags without an app: the customer holds the top of the phone near the card and taps the notification. Older iPhones need an extra step, which is why most cards also print a QR code that any phone camera can scan.
Are Google review cards allowed?
Yes. Google recommends asking customers to visit a review link or scan a QR code, including printing the QR code in your shop. What’s banned is offering anything in return, such as a discount or free gift, for posting, changing or removing a review.
Do I need to pay a subscription for a review card?
Not necessarily. Many UK sellers sell NFC cards with no monthly fee, and the review link itself is free from Google. Some products add a paid dashboard or the ability to change the link later; check what happens to the card if you stop paying.
Can I make a Google review card for free?
Yes. Get your review link and QR code from your Business Profile on a computer, or paste your Google Maps link into our free review link generator, which also creates a printable counter card.