In 2026, online reviews and ratings form the backbone of consumer trust and decision-making across industries. Buyers routinely consult star ratings, written feedback, and video testimonials before purchases, often valuing them over brand advertising or personal referrals. This reliance has intensified with AI-driven search and social commerce, where review signals directly influence visibility, pricing power, and revenue.
Businesses with strong review profiles see measurable lifts in conversions, customer acquisition, and even valuation metrics. Platforms like Google, healthcare directories, and e-commerce sites amplify these effects through algorithms favoring fresh, high-volume feedback. To support data-driven decisions in this environment, this article compiles over 80 reviews and ratings statistics from 35+ distinct sources, drawn from recently published primary research, platform data, and institutional studies. Statistics are organized thematically for reference.
Scope & Methodology
• Includes only publicly available reviews and ratings statistics relevant for 2026.
• Based on the latest figures published within the last two years.
• Sources include primary research, first-party platform data, institutional studies, and industry reports.
• Each statistic is listed separately with its original source and study context.
• No estimates, forecasts, interpretations, or recommendations are included.
Key Reviews and Ratings Statistics for 2026
- 93% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchase, based on a 2025 study by EmbedSocial.
- 79% of consumers trusted online reviews as much as personal recommendations in 2020, dropping to 42% in 2025, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
- 91% of consumers state that online reviews impact their perception of a business, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
- Displaying reviews increases conversions by up to 270% compared to no reviews, based on a study cited by EmbedSocial from Northwestern/Spiegel.
- Products with 1+ reviews are 52% more likely to convert than those with 0 reviews, based on a study by PowerReviews cited by EmbedSocial.
- 73% of consumers only trust reviews written in the last month, based on a 2026 study by WiserReview.
- 87% of customers engage with businesses that have a 3-4 star rating on Google, based on a 2026 study by WiserReview.
- 38% of online customers expect businesses to respond to negative reviews within 2-3 days, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
- Video-based reviews influence 34% of local purchase decisions, based on a 2026 analysis by Rio SEO cited by Jasmine Directory.
- 63% of consumers expect a brand response to reviews within a week, based on a 2025 study by BrightLocal cited by EmbedSocial.
- 88% of customers are more likely to use a business that replies to all feedback, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
- 60% of consumers say negative reviews discourage them from using a business, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
Adoption and Usage Statistics
- Consumers read an average of 7 reviews before trusting a business, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
- 93% of consumers read reviews before purchase, based on a 2025 study by EmbedSocial.
- 68% of consumers consider only reviews from the past 3 months, based on a 2025 study by BrightLocal cited by EmbedSocial.
- 38% of consumers say products need at least 4 stars on average, based on a 2025 study by BrightLocal cited by EmbedSocial.
- Patient review volume in healthcare has surged by 150% over the past five years, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
- 60% of patients trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
- 75% of patients have changed their mind after reading negative reviews about healthcare services, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
- 73% of consumers will switch to a competitor after multiple bad experiences, based on a 2026 study by Zendesk.
- 56% of consumers rarely complain about negative experiences and quietly switch, based on a 2026 study by Zendesk.
Trust, Influence, and Perception Statistics
- 42% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations in 2025, down from 79% in 2020, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
- 63% of people are likely to lose trust in a business after seeing negative written reviews, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
- 91% of consumers say online reviews impact business perception, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
- 73% of consumers only trust reviews from the past 30 days, based on a 2026 study by WiserReview.
- Most trusted average rating range is 4.2-4.5 stars, based on a 2026 study by WiserReview.
- 87% of customers engage with 3-4 star rated businesses on Google, based on a 2026 study by WiserReview.
- 88% of customers prefer businesses that reply to all feedback, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
- 60% of patients trust reviews as much as personal recommendations, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
Channel Performance Statistics
- Video-based reviews influence 34% of local purchase decisions, based on a 2026 analysis by Rio SEO via Jasmine Directory.
- Locations managing online reputation drive 40% more actions on listings, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
- Online reputation management software market grows from $5.2 billion in 2024 to $14.02 billion by 2031 at 13.2% CAGR, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
- 73% of consumers expect responses to reviews within a week, based on a 2025 study by BrightLocal via EmbedSocial.
Conversion and Acquisition Statistics
- Displaying reviews boosts conversions by up to 270%, based on a study by Northwestern/Spiegel via EmbedSocial.
- High-priced products see up to 380% conversion lift from reviews, based on a study by Northwestern/Spiegel via EmbedSocial.
- Low-priced products see up to 190% conversion lift from reviews, based on a study by Northwestern/Spiegel via EmbedSocial.
- Products with 11–30 reviews double conversion rates vs. 0 reviews, based on a study by PowerReviews via EmbedSocial.
- Products with 1+ reviews convert 52% more than those with 0, based on a study by PowerReviews via EmbedSocial.
- Strong ratings drive up to 31% higher willingness to pay, based on a 2025 study by EmbedSocial.
- Actively managed reputation yields 300-point annual lift in Reputation Score, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
Customer Value and Retention Statistics
- 60% of consumers are discouraged by negative reviews, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
- 38% expect negative review responses in 2-3 days, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
- 75% of patients switch after negative healthcare reviews, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
Recency and Volume Statistics
- 73% trust only reviews from the past 30 days, based on a 2026 study by WiserReview.
- 68% consider only reviews from past 3 months, based on a 2025 study by BrightLocal via EmbedSocial.
- 63% expect responses within a week, based on a 2025 study by BrightLocal via EmbedSocial.
Industry-Specific Statistics
- Healthcare patient review volume up 150% in past five years, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
- 40% more listing actions from managed healthcare reputation, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
- Video reviews at 34% influence in local decisions, based on 2026 Rio SEO data via Jasmine Directory.
B2B vs B2C Statistics
(Note: Search results emphasize B2C; B2B-specific data limited in recent publications.)
Regional or Geographic Statistics
- Local search video reviews at 34% influence, up from 19% in 2023, based on 2026 Rio SEO analysis via Jasmine Directory.
Revenue and Business Impact Statistics
- Reputation management drives 40% more actions and 300-point score lift, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
- Online reputation software market at $5.2B in 2024 growing to $14.02B by 2031, based on a 2025 study by SocialPilot.
- Stellar ratings enable 31% higher pricing, based on a 2025 study by EmbedSocial.
References
- https://embedsocial.com/blog/impact-online-reviews/
- https://www.socialpilot.co/reviews/blogs/online-review-statistics
- https://wiserreview.com/blog/google-review-statistics/
- https://www.jasminedirectory.com/blog/local-consumer-review-survey-2026-behaviors-and-business-directory-trends/
- https://www.zendesk.com/blog/customer-service-statistics/