NFC card for Google reviews: plain card or Spotstar?
A plain NFC card costs around €15 once and takes customers to your Google review page. Spotstar costs €49 a month and also takes on what comes after the review: replying to every review, looking after your profile and analysing all your reviews. If you look after your reviews yourself, the plain card is enough.
The comparison at a glance
| Feature | Plain NFC card | Spotstar |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Around €15, once | €49 a month, cancel monthly |
| Design | Standard design, with a logo at some providers | Individual for your business, included in the price |
| Path to the review | Straight to the Google review page | Straight to the Google review page |
| QR code for older phones | Depends on the provider | On the back of the card |
| Replies to reviews | You write them | Spotstar drafts a reply to every review |
| Google profile | You maintain it | Spotstar suggests additions and posts, you approve |
| Review analysis | None | Themes across all reviews: what is praised, what is criticised |
| Usage figures | None | Dashboard shows how often each card is used |
| Replacement if lost | Buy a new one | Replacement card included |
| Review gating | Depends on the provider | None: every customer reaches the same Google page |
What both have in common
Both cards contain an NFC chip with the address of your Google review page. The customer holds their phone to it and can give stars straight away. You need a Google Business Profile for both, and with both you still have to ask your customers for a review yourself. How NFC compares with a QR code is covered in the guide NFC or QR code.
When the plain card is enough
The €15 card is the right choice if you only want to shorten the path to a review and are happy to do the rest yourself.
- You read your reviews regularly anyway and reply yourself.
- You get so few reviews that you can easily keep track.
- The look of the card does not matter to you.
- You want no running costs.
When Spotstar is worth it
Spotstar is meant for businesses where the work after the review gets left undone.
- Reviews go unanswered for weeks because there is no time in the daily routine.
- You want to know what customers keep praising or criticising without reading every review one by one.
- The card should suit your business and not look like a giveaway.
- You use several cards and want to see which one gets used.
Spotstar costs €588 a year. Whether that pays off depends on how much time you would otherwise spend on replies and analysis, and on how much your Google profile matters for new customers. More about the offer on the homepage.
What to check with any provider
- No review gating. There must be no page between the card and Google that intercepts unhappy customers. The guide on review gating explains why.
- Notice period and term. With services billed monthly, the small print is worth a look.
- No ranking promises. Nobody can honestly guarantee that your business will reach a particular position on Google.
Common questions
- Can I start with a plain card and switch to Spotstar later?
- Yes. Both lead to the same Google review page. Reviews you have collected by then stay in your profile.
- Do I need a Google Business Profile for both?
- Yes. Without a Business Profile there is no review page for a card to lead to. The profile is free from Google.
- Does Spotstar bring in more reviews than a plain card?
- The path to a review is equally short with both. Spotstar differs in the design of the card and in what happens after the review. Spotstar does not promise a particular number of reviews.
Guides
Start with your own card
Find your business on Google, create your account, and we design your card and post it to you.
€49 a month from launch, custom card included.