Home › Review request email vs text
Should I send Google review requests by email or text?
Short answer: Use the channel where you already have a reliable contact and permission to send. Email fits invoice-based work: the customer already gets receipts there, and you can include the job date and a direct Google review link. Text can work when you have a mobile number and prior consent, but autodialed U.S. texts need that consent first. InvoiceStars sends review requests by email today; text message requests are coming soon.
Email vs text for Google review requests
Both channels can carry the same ask: a short thank-you and a link to leave a Google review. They differ in how much context you can include, where the message lands, and which rules apply.
| Text (SMS) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Best when | You invoice by email and the customer expects messages there | You already collect mobile numbers and have consent to text |
| Room for context | Job date, invoice reference, who did the work | Usually one short sentence plus a link |
| Where it is read | Inbox on phone or computer; searchable later | On the phone, often soon after it arrives |
| U.S. rules (high level) | Commercial email rules such as CAN-SPAM (accurate headers, physical address, working opt-out) | FCC rules under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act: autodialed texts to a wireless number generally need prior consent; commercial texts typically need written consent; people can revoke consent anytime |
| InvoiceStars today | Yes — email after paid-in-full | Coming soon |
Public write-ups (for example Cloutly's email vs SMS overview) often recommend picking the channel that matches how the customer already books or pays, then stopping after a small number of asks for that job. We do not publish open-rate or conversion figures here; treat third-party numbers as theirs, not ours.
What U.S. texting rules mean for review requests
The FCC's consumer guide Stop Unwanted Robocalls and Texts (updated Feb 2026) states that FCC rules ban autodialed texts to a mobile phone unless the phone owner previously gave consent or the message is for an emergency. It also notes that commercial texts require written consent, that informational texts may use oral consent, and that people may opt out of robotexts at any time. That is a summary of published FCC guidance, not legal advice. If you text customers, keep records of how you got consent and honor stop requests.
Why email fits QuickBooks invoice workflows
QuickBooks Online already emails invoices and payment receipts. Asking for a Google review by email after the invoice is paid in full keeps the ask in the same channel as the paperwork. You can mention the paid job without stuffing a review link into the unpaid invoice email. For templates, see review request email templates and when to ask for a Google review.
- Ask after payment, not before the work is done.
- Send the same honest ask to every eligible customer — no rating filter first, no gift cards or discounts for posting a review.
- Use your direct Google review link (see how to find your Google review link).
- One reminder is enough for most jobs; then wait until the next paid visit.
How InvoiceStars sends requests today
InvoiceStars connects to QuickBooks Online through Intuit sign-in and emails each customer a Google review request when their invoice is paid in full (balance $0). Partial payments don't trigger a request. A deposit billed as its own invoice counts once that invoice is paid in full.
- Sends 2 days after payment by default, adjustable from 0 to 30 days.
- Asks each customer at most once every 90 days.
- Skips ap@ and billing@ style inboxes.
- Sends the same request to every paying customer, with no rating step first and no incentives.
- Works whether the invoice was paid online, by check or by cash, as long as it is recorded as paid in QuickBooks Online.
Requests go by email today. Text message requests are coming soon. InvoiceStars has a 14-day free trial, then $25/mo per location. Start your 14-day trial, read how QuickBooks review requests work, or run the free Review Score checker once to see where you stand.
FAQ
Should I send Google review requests by email or text?
Use the channel you already have consent and a reliable contact for. Email fits invoice-based work where the customer already gets receipts by email. Text can work when you have a mobile number and prior consent, but U.S. autodialed texts need that consent first. InvoiceStars sends review requests by email today; text message requests are coming soon.
Does InvoiceStars send review requests by text message?
Not yet. InvoiceStars emails a Google review request when a QuickBooks Online invoice is paid in full. Text message (SMS) requests are coming soon.
Do I need consent to text a customer for a Google review?
Under FCC rules that implement the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, autodialed texts to a wireless number generally need the recipient's prior consent. Commercial texts typically need written consent. Recipients can revoke consent at any time. This is a summary of published FCC consumer guidance, not legal advice.
When should I ask for a Google review after an invoice?
Ask after the work is done and the invoice is paid in full, not with the unpaid invoice. InvoiceStars emails the request 2 days after payment by default (adjustable from 0 to 30 days) and asks each customer at most once every 90 days.
FCC details are from the FCC consumer guide linked above, checked 2026-11-05. Features and laws can change, so check your own counsel and settings. Related: email templates, is review gating allowed?, does QuickBooks send review requests?, FAQ, pricing.