Free tool
Google star rating simulator
Enter your rating and review count, set the reviews you get each month per star, and follow the curve: in which month do you reach 4.5 or 4.8?
Displayed rating in 12 months
4.6 ★
from 4.2 · 180 reviews
Target 4.5
Month 5
Or 28 five-star reviews at once
Target 4.8
Not reached in this period
Or 132 five-star reviews at once
Rating month by month
Months elapsed
Impact of a single 1-star review today
4.2 → 4.1 (-0.05)
1 five-star reviews would be needed to get back to the previous displayed rating.
What this simulator is for
Your Google rating is an average: the more reviews you have, the harder it is to move. This simulator answers a simple question: what happens if I receive this many reviews of this rating every month? You set one slider per star, from 5 to 1, and the curve shows how the rating evolves month by month over the period you choose.
It differs from the calculator that tells you how many five-star reviews to add in one go. Here you think over time, with a steady flow of mixed reviews, which matches how a business that gets reviews every week actually behaves.
How to read the results
The first card gives the displayed rating at the end of the period. Google rounds to one decimal, so that rounded value is what the simulator uses to check your targets. The next two cards show the month in which you reach 4.5 and then 4.8, or tell you the target is not reached at the chosen pace.
If a target is never reached, it is often because your mix of reviews has an average that is too low. A useful rule: your rating can only converge towards the average of the reviews you receive. To go beyond 4.8, you need mostly five-star reviews, sustained over time.
The effect of a single 1-star review
The red block computes what one single 1-star review received today would do to your rating, and how many five-star reviews it would take to get back to the previous level. On a young listing with a few dozen reviews, the impact is clear. On a listing with several hundred reviews, it is barely visible.
That is a good argument for building a solid base of reviews: the larger it is, the less one isolated, unfair review weighs. It also puts the fear of bad reviews in perspective, and it reminds you why replying to each one calmly is worthwhile.
Setting a realistic pace
A business receiving ten reviews a month does not have the same path as one receiving two. Try several scenarios: your current pace, then the pace you could reach by asking for a review every time, with a QR code on the table or a rewards game.
AvisBonus helps with exactly that: the customer leaves a review, spins a wheel and wins a gift. Once you have measured your pace, come back here, adjust the sliders and see when your rating will cross the next milestone.
Frequently asked questions
How does Google calculate the displayed rating?
It is the average of all ratings, rounded to one decimal. The simulator applies the same rule, month after month.
How is this different from the rating calculator?
The calculator tells you how many five-star reviews to add at once. The simulator projects the change over time with a monthly flow of reviews of several ratings.
Why is my target never reached?
The rating converges towards the average of the reviews you receive. If that mix is below your target, the curve will not reach it: raise the share of five-star reviews.
Are the results reliable forecasts?
They are mathematically exact for the scenario you enter, but the future depends on your real review pace. Use them to compare scenarios.
Is my data saved?
No. All the calculation happens in your browser; nothing is sent or stored.
Turn every customer into a Google review
Build your reward wheel in minutes: customers spin, leave a Google review and walk away with a prize.