Google Business Profile API vs Place ID: two ways to load your reviews
To manage reviews in one place, you first have to load them. There are two common routes, and Loculens supports both.
Google Business Profile API
This is Google's official route for businesses that manage their own profiles. It gives full review history and requires Google to approve access for the app. Once you connect, Loculens uses it with no extra setup.
Place ID
A Place ID is Google's identifier for a location on Maps. Loculens can load reviews for a Place ID through Apify, which needs no Google approval. It bills per review returned, so Loculens applies a monthly cap, only fetches what is new each night, and shows the spend in a footer.
Which to use
| Business Profile API | Place ID | |
|---|---|---|
| Needs Google approval | Yes | No |
| History | Full | Fetched per sync |
| Best for | Profiles you own | Starting quickly |
For setting up many locations, read the Braivex guide to Google Business Profile for multiple locations. Then see the Loculens dashboard.
Property businesses with several offices may also like Housieve for London listings.
Finding a Place ID
Google provides a Place ID Finder in its Maps Platform documentation: search for the business and it shows the ID. Each branch has its own Place ID, so a group with ten sites has ten. Keep them in a simple list with the branch name, because you will need them again when a site moves or rebrands.
Shops connecting several data sources to one view may also like VirtualPA, which links ads, email and sales with your own keys.
More from Braivex
- ReelSieve turns an Airbnb listing link into a walkthrough video saved to your own Google Drive.
- Housieve scores London listings from Rightmove, Zoopla, OnTheMarket and Gumtree every morning.
- HireSieve screens CVs for UK hiring teams, and every score quotes the CV line behind it.
- VirtualPA gives small shops a daily marketing brief from their ads, email, sales and stock.
- Reachwyn plans a week of LinkedIn posts in your own voice, and nothing publishes until you approve it.
Read more guides on the Braivex blog.
Questions
Do I need Google approval to use Loculens?
No. You can start with Place ID; the Business Profile API needs approval.
Does Place ID cost more?
It bills per review returned, which Loculens caps monthly.
Which review source does Loculens prefer?
Business Profile API when connected, then Place ID.
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