How long until you overtake your competitor on Google Maps?
Enter four numbers. See how many reviews stand between you and first place — and how long they take to collect.
When you overtake them
Review count over time. The grey line is your competitor — the point is to cross it.
Show as a table and adjust the assumptions
| Month | If you ask | If you do nothing | Competitor |
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Frequently asked questions
How many reviews do I need to reach the top three on the map?
There is no fixed number — Google compares you with competitors in your area and trade. In practice it means reaching the review count of the strongest competitor in your town. That is why this calculator works with the gap, not an absolute figure. Position also depends on how recent the reviews are, your average rating and the distance from the searcher. The map pack matters: 44% of people searching locally click straight into the three-business map.
Is it legal to reward customers for reviews?
No. Google prohibits incentives for reviews — discounts, gifts, prize draws or "something extra" for five stars. Breaking that can get your reviews deleted or your whole business profile restricted. So-called review gating, filtering unhappy customers somewhere other than Google, is banned too. Asking is not banned — and asking is the part that works: 65% of customers write a review when someone asks them to.
How do I ask for a review so that it actually works?
Three things decide it: timing, channel and the number of clicks. Ask shortly after the purchase or the job is finished, while the experience is fresh. Send a direct link to the review form, not to your profile — every extra step loses people. And ask every customer, not only the ones you expect praise from; a profile of nothing but fives looks untrustworthy, and a few four-star reviews help it.