Google QR code vs HejSpoko
Is a free Google review QR code enough?
Yes, if your only goal is to send customers to Google reviews. Many businesses already use such a link. HejSpoko does not replace it — it adds a second option for customers who want to tell you directly what happened.
A free Google review QR code is a sensible way to direct customers to a public review page. It does not provide a private feedback channel or alert you quickly when a customer is unhappy. HejSpoko keeps the Google review option and adds a direct route to your business beside it.
The free option
When is a Google review QR code enough?
If your only goal is to collect Google reviews, a standard QR code is a reasonable solution. It is quick to create, costs nothing and takes the customer directly to Google.
The limitation appears when the customer is unhappy. The same link still leads in one direction: towards a public review. You usually learn about the problem only after the customer has published it.
The practical difference
What does a Google QR code do, and what does HejSpoko add?
Google reviews remain available in both cases. The difference is what happens when a customer wants to speak directly to you.
QR code directly to Google
Free
- Unhappy customer:
- The customer goes directly towards a public review.
- When you find out:
- After the review is published and you notice it.
- What you learn:
- A star rating and any text the customer chooses to publish.
- What you can do:
- You can post a public response below the review.
- Effort required to respond:
- The customer needs to continue to Google and complete a public review.
- Where the data stays:
- The review and its data remain on Google's platform.
HejSpoko
Subscription
- Unhappy customer:
- The customer sees two equal options: write to you or leave a public review.
- When you find out:
- A low rating can trigger an alert to you within one minute.
- What you learn:
- You can see the comment, category and QR source, such as a table or receipt.
- What you can do:
- You can reply directly by email and address the situation.
- Effort required to respond:
- A basic rating requires only one tap.
- Where the data stays:
- Private feedback stays in your overview and can be exported.
When something goes wrong
What happens when a customer gives a low rating?
The customer chooses
Before submitting the rating, the customer already sees both options: private feedback to you and a public review.
You receive an alert
A low rating sends an alert to the owner or manager's phone within one minute.
You can respond directly
If the customer leaves contact details, you can reply by email. Depending on the situation, you may also include compensation and continue the conversation.
No review gating
Does HejSpoko send only happy customers to Google?
No. Both options — private feedback and a public review — are shown before the customer submits a rating. They are presented as equal choices.
Review gating is therefore not merely disabled in HejSpoko. It is technically impossible, because no submitted rating exists at the moment when those two options are displayed.
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Does HejSpoko replace Google reviews?
No. Google reviews remain a public place where new customers can find your business and read other people's experiences. HejSpoko adds a second option beside the public review: customers can write directly to you, allowing you to learn about a problem earlier and respond to it privately.
Why is a direct link to Google not always enough?
If your only objective is public reviews, a direct Google link may be enough. It does not create a private channel between the customer and the business. An unhappy customer therefore has no equally visible way to tell you first, and you do not receive an immediate alert about the issue.
Does HejSpoko filter customers by their rating?
No. The private feedback option and the public review option are visible before the rating is submitted. HejSpoko therefore cannot send only satisfied customers to Google while hiding the option from unhappy customers. That type of conditional routing is not possible in the way the product is built.
What do I get beyond a standard QR code?
You get alerts for low ratings, private communication with customers and a structured overview of what people report. You can see totals, averages, items waiting for attention, categories, trends over time and the source of each QR code. The public review option still remains available to every customer.
Related pages
Read next
- Why we do not filter reviewsReview gating favors satisfied customers. Google prohibits selective positive review requests, and HejSpoko makes gating technically impossible.
- Where to put the QR codePlace the QR code where customers naturally pause: on a table, receipt, reception desk, room, counter or document they use before leaving.
- How to get more reviewsA practical guide to getting more Google reviews honestly: improve your profile, ask at the right time, respond consistently, and never filter customers.
Keep Google reviews. Add the second door beside them.
HejSpoko helps you see the feedback that a direct Google link would never bring back to you.