Google review cards in Australia: how they work, what they cost, what's allowed

This page answers the questions Australian business owners actually ask before buying a tap-to-review card. It's written by Tap2scale, and we sell them, so keep that in mind with our recommendations. The facts below are checkable, though, and the caveats are real.

What a Google review card is

A Google review card is a plastic card, acrylic plaque or counter stand with an NFC chip inside. The chip holds one thing: a web address. When a customer holds their phone near the card, the phone reads that address and opens it. If the address is your Google review link, your review form opens with your business already loaded. The customer writes the review and leaves. The card does nothing else. It stores no data, tracks nobody and needs no power.

What they cost in Australia

Expect roughly $15 to $45 per item depending on the format and how many you buy. Tap2scale's current pricing is a useful reference point:

Mini review cards: $19 for one, dropping to about $11.95 each at 20
Counter plaques and free-standing counter signs: $39 for one, dropping to about $31 each at 10
Complete Bundle (two plaques plus five mini cards): $129

Tap2scale ships free Australia-wide on orders of $75 or more. Other Australian suppliers price similarly. Be wary of anything under about $8 a card. That usually means a thin sticker-grade tag that stops working after a few months on a wet counter.

Which phones can read them

Every iPhone from the iPhone 7 onwards reads NFC tags from the lock screen, with no app and no settings to change. Almost every Android phone sold in the last several years does too, although on some Android models NFC can be switched off in settings.

Are review cards against Google's rules?

The card itself isn't. A card that opens your public Google review page does exactly what a link in an email signature does, just faster. Asking customers for reviews is completely fine.

Two related practices are banned under Google's policies on prohibited and restricted content for Maps contributions, and both can get reviews removed or a listing penalised:

Review gating. Asking customers how they felt first, then sending only the happy ones to Google and the unhappy ones to a private form. Some review products are built around exactly this. It isn't allowed.
Incentivised reviews. Offering a discount, a free coffee, entry into a draw or anything else in exchange for a review. That includes offering it only for positive reviews.

Policies change, so check Google's current review policies yourself before running any review campaign. This page is general information, not legal advice.

How to set one up properly

Claim your Google Business Profile first. A card pointing at an unclaimed or unverified listing wastes the tap. It's free to do.
Get your short review link. Google generates one from your Business Profile. Test it on your own phone before it goes on a card.
Put it where the moment is. The card belongs where you say thank you: at the till, on the counter, in the bill folder. A card in a drawer collects nothing.
Actually ask. The card makes leaving a review easy, but you still need to ask. A quick "If you've got ten seconds, just tap that" does far more than a card sitting there silently. Ask everyone, not just the customers you think are happy.
Reply to every review. Replies are public, the next customer reads them, and Google tends to favour active profiles.

How many do you need

One per point of contact, not one per business. A café with one counter needs one. A salon with a reception desk and a styling floor needs two or three. A gym with a front desk, a studio and a second site needs more. Each extra spot where customers stop is another chance for a tap.

Where review cards don't work

If your customers never stand in front of you, because you're online-only, phone-only, or deliver and invoice work remotely, a tap card has no moment to work in. An emailed or texted review link will do more for you, and any supplier who says otherwise is selling you something you don't need.