· Reviews · 2 min read
SMS vs Email: Which Gets More Google Reviews?
We compared SMS and email for review requests. The results weren't even close.
The short answer
SMS wins. By a lot.
Text messages have a 98% open rate, compared to roughly 20% for email. But open rates are just the beginning — the real story is in the response rates.
Why SMS works for review requests
Speed. The average text message is read within 3 minutes of delivery. Emails can sit in an inbox for hours or days — if they’re opened at all.
Simplicity. A text message is inherently short. There’s no subject line to craft, no design to worry about. Just a quick, friendly message with a link.
Mobile-native. Your customers are already on their phones. A text message puts the review link one tap away. No switching apps, no opening a browser, no searching for your business.
Personal feel. Text messages feel like they’re coming from a person, not a company. That personal touch matters for small businesses.
When email still makes sense
Email isn’t dead — it just serves a different purpose. It’s good for:
- Longer follow-ups with multiple calls to action
- Newsletter-style content
- Receipts and documentation
- Customers who specifically prefer email
But for the single purpose of asking for a Google review? SMS is the clear winner.
The numbers in practice
Small businesses using SMS-based review requests typically see:
- 3-5x higher response rates compared to email
- Faster reviews — most come in within 24 hours of the request
- Higher completion rates — fewer people start and abandon the process
Combining both channels
The most effective approach is to lead with SMS and use email as a backup. Send a text first, and if the customer doesn’t have a mobile number on file, fall back to email.
Ricorda handles this automatically — it sends review requests via SMS by default, with email as an optional secondary channel. One message, maximum impact.
