50+ Google Review Response Templates You Can Copy Today

It's 11pm. You're about to close your laptop when the notification hits:

"New Google Review"

Your heart sinks. You click through. Read the words—maybe they're angry, maybe they're glowing, maybe they're somewhere in between.

And now you have to write something back.

But what? Something professional but not robotic. Grateful but not groveling. Something that won't make things worse—or waste your best reviews with a lazy "thanks!"

I've been there. It sucks.

That's why I built this: 50+ templates for every situation, organized by star rating. Copy them, customize them, post them. The hardest part is already done.

Here's the thing though—these templates are starting points, not finish lines. If you copy-paste the exact same response 50 times, customers notice. Google notices. It backfires.

The magic is in the personalization. I'll show you what that looks like as we go.

Quick Navigation

• 5-Star Review Templates (15 examples)

• 4-Star Review Templates (10 examples)

• 3-Star Review Templates (10 examples)

• 2-Star Review Templates (8 examples)

• 1-Star Review Templates (7 examples)

• Industry-Specific Templates

• The Template Formula

5-Star Review Response Templates

Your happiest customers took time out of their day to publicly praise you. Don't waste that.

A good response here does three things: makes them feel seen, encourages them to come back, and shows future readers what kind of business you run.

Let's start simple, then build up.

Short & Sweet Responses

Template 1: The Classic Thank You

Thank you so much for the wonderful review, [Name]! We're thrilled to hear you had a great experience. We look forward to seeing you again soon!

Template 2: The Appreciative

[Name], thank you for taking the time to share your experience! Your kind words made our day. We can't wait to serve you again!

Template 3: The Warm Welcome Back

We really appreciate your 5-star review, [Name]! It means the world to our team. See you next time!<br

Template 4: The Team Shoutout

Thank you, [Name]! We'll be sure to share your kind words with our team. They work hard to provide great service, and feedback like yours is what keeps us motivated!

Template 5: The Personal Touch

[Name], your review just made our week! Thank you for choosing us and for sharing your experience. We're so glad we could [specific service they mentioned]. Hope to see you again soon!

Why Template 5 works best: It references something specific from their review. This takes 5 extra seconds and completely changes how the response feels. The reader thinks: "They actually read what I wrote." That's the difference between a forgettable response and one that creates a loyal customer.

Detailed Thank You Responses

These next templates are for when you want to make a bigger impression—maybe a high-value customer, or someone whose review was particularly detailed.

Template 6: Highlighting Specific Praise

Thank you for the fantastic review, [Name]! We're so glad you enjoyed [specific thing they mentioned]. Our team takes great pride in [that aspect], and it's wonderful to know it made a difference in your experience. We appreciate you and look forward to serving you again!

Template 7: Service Excellence Focus

Wow, [Name]! Thank you for such a glowing review. We're absolutely thrilled that [specific aspect] exceeded your expectations. Providing exceptional service is our top priority, and reviews like yours remind us why we do what we do. Thank you for being a valued customer!

Template 8: Quality Emphasis

[Name], thank you so much for your kind words! We're passionate about [quality/service/product], and hearing that you noticed really means a lot. Your feedback motivates us to keep delivering our best. We can't wait to welcome you back!

Template 9: First-Time Customer

Welcome to the [Business Name] family, [Name]! We're so happy your first experience was a 5-star one. Thank you for giving us a try and for taking the time to share your feedback. We look forward to many more visits!

Template 10: Detailed & Personalized

[Name], we can't thank you enough for this wonderful review! Hearing that you loved [specific mention from their review] absolutely made our team's day. We work hard to [relevant aspect of your service], and knowing it resonated with you is incredibly rewarding. Thank you for your support—see you soon!

Customer Loyalty Responses

Template 11: Returning Customer

[Name], it's always a pleasure to see you! Thank you for another wonderful review and for your continued support. Customers like you are why we love what we do. See you next time!

Template 12: Long-Time Customer

[Name], thank you for being such a loyal customer over the years! We truly appreciate your continued trust in us and your kind words. Here's to many more great experiences together!

Template 13: Referral Mention

Thank you so much, [Name]! We're honored that you'd recommend us to others. Word-of-mouth from happy customers like you means everything to a small business like ours. We really appreciate your support!

Template 14: Special Occasion

[Name], we were so happy to be part of your [special occasion - birthday, anniversary, celebration]! Thank you for choosing us for such an important day and for sharing your experience. Congratulations again, and we hope to see you for the next celebration!

Template 15: The Ultimate Appreciation

[Name], reviews like yours are why we started this business! Your kind words about [specific mention] mean more than you know. Thank you for being such an amazing customer. We genuinely appreciate you and can't wait to serve you again!

4-Star Review Response Templates

Here's where it gets interesting.

Four stars seems fine—but it's actually a goldmine if you play it right.

A 4-star reviewer liked you but something wasn't perfect. If you respond well, you find out what, fix it, and turn them into a 5-star advocate. If you respond generically, they stay a "meh, it was fine" customer.

The goal here: express gratitude + show genuine curiosity about what could be better.

Template 16: Grateful with Curiosity

Thank you for the 4-star review, [Name]! We're so glad you had a positive experience. If there's anything that would make it a perfect 5 stars next time, we'd love to hear about it. Your feedback helps us improve!

Template 17: Acknowledging Room for Improvement

Hi [Name], thank you for your feedback! We're happy you enjoyed your experience, but we noticed there might be room for improvement. We'd love to know how we can make your next visit even better. Feel free to reach out to us at [email]!

Template 18: The Curious

[Name], thanks for the great review! We're always striving for 5 stars, so if there's anything we could have done differently, we'd genuinely love to know. Either way, we appreciate your business and look forward to seeing you again!

Template 19: Service-Focused

Thank you for the wonderful feedback, [Name]! We're glad you had a good experience with us. Our team is always working to improve, so if there's anything specific that would make your next visit perfect, please let us know. We appreciate you!

Template 20: Positive & Open

Hi [Name]! Thank you for the 4-star review—we really appreciate it. We're constantly working to deliver 5-star experiences, so any additional feedback you might have is always welcome. Thanks again for your support!

Template 21: Addressing Implied Concern

[Name], thank you for taking the time to review us! We're happy to hear you had a good experience, though we sense there might have been something that fell short. We'd love the chance to make it right—please reach out to us at [email]. We appreciate your honesty!

Template 22: The Perfectionist

Thanks for the review, [Name]! Four stars is great, but we won't rest until it's five! If you have a moment to share what would make your experience perfect, we're all ears. Thank you for helping us get better!

Template 23: Specific Thank You

Hi [Name], thanks so much for your feedback! We're thrilled you enjoyed [aspect they mentioned]. We're always looking to improve, so if there's anything else we can do to earn that 5th star, we'd love to hear from you. Thanks again!

Template 24: The Friendly Follow-Up

[Name], thank you for the kind words! We're glad you had a good experience with us. If there's anything we can do to make your next visit even better, don't hesitate to let us know. We appreciate your support!

Template 25: The Honest Appreciation

Thank you, [Name]! We appreciate the 4-star review and your honest feedback. We're committed to continuous improvement, so if there's anything specific we can work on, we'd value hearing from you. Hope to see you again soon!

3-Star Review Response Templates

Okay, now we're in trickier territory.

Three stars means: "It was... okay. Not great, not terrible."

The danger here is over-apologizing (makes you look worse than the review suggests) or being too positive (makes you look like you didn't read it).

The sweet spot: acknowledge there's room to improve, show genuine interest in learning more, but don't grovel.

Template 26: The Concerned Follow-Up

Hi [Name], thank you for your honest feedback. We're sorry to hear your experience wasn't what you expected. We'd love the opportunity to learn more and make things right. Please reach out to us at [email] so we can better understand what happened.

Template 27: The Understanding

[Name], thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We're sorry it wasn't a 5-star visit. Your feedback is valuable to us, and we'd genuinely like to learn more about what we could have done better. Please contact us at [email]—we'd love to hear from you.

Template 28: Service Recovery

Hi [Name], we appreciate your review, though we're sorry to hear things weren't perfect. We take feedback seriously and would like to understand what happened. Please reach out to [Manager Name] at [email]—we'd love the chance to make this right.

Template 29: The Improvement-Focused

Thank you for your feedback, [Name]. We're disappointed your experience wasn't excellent, and we want to do better. If you could share more details about what fell short, we'd really appreciate it. Your input helps us improve for everyone.

Template 30: The Empathetic

[Name], we appreciate you sharing your experience. It sounds like things didn't go as smoothly as they should have. We'd love to hear more about what happened and how we can improve. Please feel free to contact us at [email] at your convenience.

Template 31: The Proactive

Hi [Name], thank you for the review. We're sorry your experience was just okay—we aim for great! We'd value the opportunity to discuss what happened and make your next visit better. Please reach out to us at [email] when you have a chance.

Template 32: Acknowledging Both Sides

[Name], thank you for your honest feedback. We're glad some aspects of your experience were positive, but we're sorry others missed the mark. We'd appreciate the chance to learn more and improve. Please contact us at [email] so we can do better.

Template 33: The Genuine Concern

Thank you for sharing, [Name]. A 3-star review tells us we have room to improve, and we take that seriously. We'd love to know specifically what we could have done differently. Your feedback genuinely matters to us—please reach out at [email].

Template 34: The Personal Outreach

Hi [Name], thank you for your review. We're sorry your experience wasn't exceptional. [Manager Name] would love to speak with you personally to understand what happened and make it right. Please contact us at [phone/email] at your earliest convenience.

Template 35: The Forward-Looking

[Name], we appreciate your feedback, though we're sorry it wasn't a 5-star experience. We're always working to improve, and your input helps. We'd love another chance to wow you—and we hope you'll give us that opportunity soon.

2-Star Review Response Templates

Deep breath. These ones hurt.

Two stars means they had a genuinely bad experience. Not "meh"—actually bad. They're telling the world not to come to you.

Your response needs to do two things:

1. Show future readers you take this seriously (damage control)

2. Actually try to make it right (because sometimes you can turn these around)

Here's the key: don't be defensive, don't make excuses, and move the conversation offline fast.

Template 36: The Sincere Apology

Hi [Name], we're truly sorry your experience fell short of expectations. This is not the standard we hold ourselves to, and we want to make it right. Please reach out to [Manager Name] at [email] so we can understand what happened and address it properly.

Template 37: The Urgent Response

[Name], thank you for sharing your feedback, though we're disappointed to hear about your experience. We take this seriously and would like to resolve it. Please contact us at [email] as soon as possible so we can discuss how to make things right.

Template 38: The Accountable

Hi [Name], we apologize that your experience didn't meet expectations. Your feedback is concerning to us, and we want to understand what went wrong. Please reach out to us directly at [email] so we can address your concerns and improve.

Template 39: Service Recovery Focus

[Name], we're sorry to hear this. A 2-star experience is not what we aim for, and we'd like to learn from your feedback. Would you be willing to speak with us about what happened? Please contact [Manager] at [email]—we genuinely want to make this right.

Template 40: The Problem-Solver

Thank you for your honest feedback, [Name]. We're sorry your experience wasn't positive. We'd like to understand specifically what went wrong so we can fix it—both for you and for future customers. Please reach out to us at [email] when you have a moment.

Template 41: The Concerned Owner

Hi [Name], I'm [Your Name], the [owner/manager] here at [Business Name]. I'm personally troubled to hear about your experience and would like to speak with you directly. Please contact me at [email] so I can understand what happened and make it right.

Template 42: Taking Responsibility

[Name], thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We clearly didn't deliver the service you deserved, and for that, we sincerely apologize. We'd appreciate the chance to discuss this further and make amends. Please reach out to us at [email].

Template 43: The Committed

Hi [Name], we're sorry to hear your experience was disappointing. We're committed to doing better, and your feedback helps us identify where we need to improve. We'd value the opportunity to speak with you—please contact us at [email] at your convenience.

1-Star Review Response Templates

The big one. The moment of truth.

A 1-star review feels like a punch to the gut. Your instinct is to defend yourself, explain what really happened, maybe point out the customer was being unreasonable.

Don't.

Every word you write will be read by hundreds of future customers deciding whether to trust you. This is your chance to show them: "Even when things go wrong, this business handles it with class."

Here's how to do that:

Template 44: The Professional Response

Hi [Name], we're very sorry to hear about your experience. This is certainly not reflective of our standards, and we take your feedback extremely seriously. We would like the opportunity to discuss this with you directly and make things right. Please contact [Manager Name] at [email] at your earliest convenience.

Template 45: The Empathetic Owner

[Name], I'm [Your Name], the [owner/manager], and I'm genuinely troubled by your experience. This is not who we are or what we stand for. I would personally like to speak with you to understand what happened and do everything I can to make it right. Please reach out to me directly at [email].

Template 46: The Accountability Response

Hi [Name], we sincerely apologize for your experience. We clearly fell far short of your expectations, and we take full responsibility for that. We'd very much like to make this right. Please contact us at [email] so we can discuss how to resolve this.

Template 47: The Investigation

[Name], thank you for bringing this to our attention. We're very sorry for your experience and are looking into what happened. We'd like to speak with you directly to gather more details and find a resolution. Please reach out to [Manager] at [email] at your convenience.

Template 48: The Humble

Hi [Name], we're deeply sorry. Your experience is not acceptable, and we want to understand what went wrong so we can prevent it from happening again. We'd appreciate the opportunity to speak with you. Please contact us at [email]—we genuinely want to make this right.

Template 49: The Recovery Offer

[Name], we're so sorry your experience was this disappointing. We'd like to invite you back and personally ensure you have a much better visit. Please reach out to [Manager Name] at [email] so we can arrange this. We hope you'll give us another chance.

Template 50: The Genuine Apology

Hi [Name], there's no excuse for a 1-star experience, and we're truly sorry. We pride ourselves on quality and customer satisfaction, and we clearly missed the mark with you. We'd be grateful for the chance to make it right. Please contact us at [email] when you have time.

Industry-Specific Templates

Restaurant Review Response Templates

5-Star: Food Praise

Thank you so much, [Name]! We're thrilled you enjoyed your meal. Our chef puts a lot of love into every dish, and it means the world to hear it shows. We hope to welcome you back to our table soon!

Negative: Food Quality Issue

Hi [Name], we're very sorry to hear your meal didn't meet expectations. Food quality is our top priority, and we take this feedback seriously. We'd love the chance to make it up to you. Please reach out to [Manager] at [email] so we can discuss a complimentary visit.

Service Complaint

[Name], we apologize that our service fell short during your visit. This isn't the experience we want for our guests, and we're addressing it with our team. We'd love to invite you back as our guest—please contact us at [email] to arrange it.

Healthcare Review Response Templates

5-Star: Care Praise

Thank you for the kind words, [Name]! We're so glad we could help. Your health and comfort are our top priorities, and it's wonderful to know you felt well-cared for. We're here whenever you need us!

Wait Time Complaint (HIPAA-Compliant)

Hi [Name], we apologize for the wait time during your visit. We understand your time is valuable, and we're working to improve our scheduling. Thank you for your patience and for bringing this to our attention. We appreciate you choosing our practice.

General Negative (HIPAA-Compliant)

[Name], we're sorry to hear your experience wasn't positive. Due to privacy regulations, we can't discuss specifics publicly, but we take all feedback seriously. Please contact our patient services team at [email] so we can address your concerns directly.

Home Services Review Response Templates

5-Star: Job Well Done

Thank you, [Name]! We're so happy you're pleased with the work. Our team takes pride in every job, and your satisfaction is what we work for. If you ever need us again, we're just a call away!

Quality Issue

Hi [Name], we apologize that our work didn't meet your expectations. We stand behind our services and want to make this right. Please contact [Manager] at [email] so we can schedule a time to address the issue at no additional cost.

Pricing Complaint

[Name], thank you for your feedback. We understand pricing is important, and we strive to provide clear estimates upfront. We'd like to discuss your concerns and ensure you understand the value of the work completed. Please reach out to us at [email].

Retail Review Response Templates

5-Star: Product Love

Thank you, [Name]! We're so glad you love your purchase. We carefully select our products, and it's wonderful to hear you're happy. Thanks for shopping with us—we hope to see you again soon!

Return/Exchange Issue

Hi [Name], we're sorry to hear about your experience with returns. We want our policies to be fair and customer-friendly. Please contact our customer service team at [email] so we can review your situation and find a solution.

Product Quality Complaint

[Name], thank you for letting us know. Product quality is very important to us, and we're sorry your purchase didn't meet expectations. Please reach out to us at [email] with your order details, and we'll make it right.

The Template Formula That Works Every Time

Every great review response follows this simple structure:

The 4-Part Formula

1. Thank — Express genuine gratitude

2. Personalize — Reference something specific from their review

3. Address — Acknowledge concerns or reinforce positives

4. Invite — Encourage them to return or continue the conversation

Visual Breakdown

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐

│ 1. THANK │

│ "Thank you for taking the time to share, [Name]!" │

├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤

│ 2. PERSONALIZE │

│ "We're so glad you enjoyed the [specific item]..." │

├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤

│ 3. ADDRESS │

│ "We're sorry about the wait time and are working │

│ to improve..." │

├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤

│ 4. INVITE │

│ "We hope to see you again soon!" OR │

│ "Please reach out to us at [email] to discuss." │

└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

The Problem with Templates (And How to Fix It)

I need to be honest with you about something.

If you copy-paste these templates word-for-word, 50 times, without changing anything... it'll backfire.

Customers will notice. Google will notice. You'll come across as lazy or automated—the opposite of what you want.

Here's what happens:

• Reader sees your response: "Thank you for the wonderful review, [Name]!"

• Scrolls down, sees same exact response to someone else

• Thinks: "They didn't even read these. This is copy-paste spam."

• Trust = gone

The fix is simple but non-negotiable: Personalize every single one.

That doesn't mean rewriting from scratch. It means:

• Change the opening

• Reference something specific they mentioned

• Match their tone (casual reviewer? casual response)

• Sign with your actual name

Takes 30 extra seconds. Makes all the difference.

If you're getting more reviews than you can humanly personalize, there's a cheat code: our AI Review Response Generator reads each review and writes a unique response in your voice. I built it because I was drowning in reviews myself. Free to try, no signup required.

The Bottom Line

You now have 50+ templates covering every star rating and situation you'll encounter.

Three rules to make them work:

1. Personalize every response — Reference something specific from the review

2. Respond within 24 hours — Speed signals that you care

3. Respond to ALL reviews — Not just the bad ones, not just the good ones

Bookmark this page. You'll be back.

And if you're managing dozens of reviews and need help, check out the AI tool. It genuinely saves hours.

Related Resources

• How to Respond to Negative Google Reviews (with Examples)

• How to Respond to Positive Google Reviews

• Does Responding to Google Reviews Help SEO?

• The Complete Guide to Google Review Management