A Google review plaque is a sign fixed to a wall, door or counter front that opens your review page when a customer taps it or scans it. A review stand does the same job but sits on a counter, desk or table. As a rough guide, a plaque suits places with no spare counter space or where you want something fixed by the entrance, and a stand suits places where customers stand or sit at a counter while they pay or wait. We sell stands rather than plaques, but we've tried to give a fair comparison below.
What a review plaque is
Most review plaques are a flat panel of acrylic, wood or metal printed with "Review us on Google" or similar. Some have an NFC chip behind the surface, some have a printed QR code, and some have both. They're fixed in place with screws or adhesive pads, so they stay where you put them and don't take up any counter space.
Because a plaque is fixed, where you put it matters more than with anything else. A QR code can be scanned from a little distance, but an NFC chip only works when the phone is held right up against it, so an NFC plaque needs to be at a height people can comfortably reach.
What a review stand is
A stand is a small free-standing sign with an NFC chip inside, designed to sit on a counter, reception desk or table. Customers tap their phone on it while they're paying or waiting, and staff can point to it or pick it up and hold it out. It can move with you if you rearrange the shop, and it's easy to take to an event or a second site for the day. Our article on whether a review stand is worth buying goes into how they work day to day.
Where a wall plaque suits better
- No room on the counter. In a small shop or a busy bar, there may simply be nowhere for a stand to go without being knocked over or buried under bags and menus.
- Waiting areas. In a dental practice, garage or clinic waiting room, people are sitting down with time on their hands. A plaque on the wall by the seats, at hand height, is in front of them for longer than anything on the reception desk.
- By the exit. A plaque by the door catches people on their way out, which is often when they're thinking about how the visit went.
- Places where things go missing. If small items tend to walk off your counter, something screwed to the wall stays put.
- Matching a fitted interior. Some businesses want a sign that looks like part of the fit-out, in wood or brushed metal to match the rest of the décor.
Where a stand suits better
- Tills and reception desks. This is the moment most customers are in front of you with their phone already out to pay.
- When staff do the asking. A stand can be picked up and held out to the customer, which makes asking feel natural. A plaque on the far wall is harder to bring into the conversation.
- When you're not sure of the best spot yet. You can move a stand around for a few weeks and see where it gets used, without drilling any holes.
- Rented premises. If you can't fix things to the walls, a stand avoids the question.
Our guide on where to put review stands and stickers has more ideas for different kinds of business.
Things to check before buying a plaque
- Metal and NFC. Metal interferes with NFC chips. If a plaque is metal, or you plan to fix it to a metal surface, check the chip is designed to work on metal.
- Outdoor use. If it's going outside, make sure it's made for the weather and that the chip still reads through any protective layer.
- QR code size. If it has a QR code, it needs to be big enough and dark enough to scan from where people will be standing. Our guide to the free Google review QR code has tips on size and printing.
- Where the link goes. As with review cards, the chip or code should hold your Google review link directly rather than a seller's address that forwards on.
Using both, or neither
Plenty of businesses end up with a mix, such as a sign by the door with Google's free QR code and a stand at the till for people to tap while they pay. If you already have a sign you like, an NFC sticker on the front of it can turn it into a tap point, as long as it isn't metal.
If a stand sounds like the right fit, our Google review stands are £35 each and arrive programmed with your own review link. There's no monthly fee and UK delivery is free. There's also a multiple review platform stand at the same price if you collect reviews on more than one site. For an existing sign, our Google review NFC stickers are £25.
Common questions
Is a Google review plaque better than a stand?
Neither is better in every case. A plaque suits walls, waiting areas and tight spaces. A stand suits counters and desks where customers pay or check in.
What height should an NFC review plaque be?
Somewhere a customer can hold their phone against it without stretching or bending, roughly at chest height for someone standing, or lower if people will be seated.
Do review plaques need a subscription?
Not if the chip or QR code holds your Google review link directly. Ask the seller before you buy.
Can I put a review plaque outside?
Yes, if it's made for outdoor use. Fix it within easy reach, and test the chip and any QR code once it's up.