The default sorting of reviews on a Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is not random. Google uses an algorithm that takes several factors into account to determine which reviews to display first. Here are the main known or assumed criteria:
1. Relevance of the review
Google aims to display the most helpful reviews based on their content:
Presence of useful keywords (e.g., “friendly staff”, “waiting time”, “quality of service”)
Level of detail and length of the review
Presence of photos
Number of “likes” or “helpful” votes from other users
2. Recency
Recent reviews are generally prioritized by default:
This helps reflect the current experience at the establishment
However, an older review that is highly relevant can still be displayed at the top
3. Reviewer’s profile
Some profiles carry more weight than others:
Local Guides or active contributors are often prioritized
Users who have posted many helpful or highly-interacted reviews tend to have more visible reviews
Geographic proximity and language can also influence sorting
4. Multimedia richness
Reviews including photos or videos often appear higher in the default sorting:
This encourages engagement and gives users a visual insight
Such content may also appear in the business’s image gallery
5. Balance of positive and negative reviews
Google aims to show a representative sample:
A mix of 5★, 3★, and 1★ reviews may appear among the top results
The goal is perceived credibility and transparency of the profile
6. Trust signals and manipulation detection
Google may downgrade certain reviews:
If a review appears automated or fake
If the business or reviewer shows suspicious behavior (sudden spikes in reviews, rating manipulation)
If the review is reported as inappropriate or violates Google’s policies
7. Personalization
In some cases, Google personalizes the display:
Based on a user’s previous searches or current location
The review order may vary from one user to another
In summary
Google’s default review sorting is mainly based on:
Perceived relevance
Recency
Content richness
Trustworthiness of the reviewer’s profile
A desire to present a balanced range of opinions
It is not a chronological order, nor a ranking based solely on star ratings.