Google Business Profile vs Yelp for Business (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Google Business Profile if

• Fits if you run a shop, restaurant or trade that serves customers in person
• Works for chains managing 10 or more locations in bulk or through the API

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you're online only or list properties for rent or sale, as neither can have a profile
• Watch out: nothing can be edited until the profile is verified, and Google chooses how
• Skip it if you need Bing, Apple Maps or Yelp too, as those are claimed separately
• Tight if you want the Gemini connection, which works only for a personal account with one verified profile

Pick Yelp for Business if

• Fits if you run a restaurant or local service whose customers look you up on Yelp
• Works for owners who want to answer reviews and quote requests from their phone

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you want rivals' ads off your page, as that's in the $180-a-month Upgrade Package
• Watch out: a claimed page can show as unclaimed again after 90 days without a login
• Watch out: Yelp says its minimum ad budgets are subject to change
• Pricey if you run a restaurant, as Guest Manager is from $129 a month yearly and Host AI from $249
• Skip it if you need Google, Apple Maps or Bing listings too, as it manages the Yelp page only

Google Business Profile

• Only businesses that meet customers face to face qualify; online-only businesses and properties for rent or sale cannot have a profile.
• A profile must be verified before it can be edited or shows performance data, and Google chooses the method: phone, text, email, video or mail.
• It covers Google Search and Maps only; listings on Bing, Apple Maps and Yelp are claimed and managed separately.
• The Gemini connection works only with a personal account that manages a single verified profile, and chat by WhatsApp or text is limited to select regions.

Yelp for Business

• A claimed page can be shown as unclaimed again if the owner has not logged in to Yelp for Business for 90 days.
• Yelp says its minimum ad budgets are subject to change; self-serve ads have no term contract and can be cancelled at any time.
• Restaurant tools are sold separately: Yelp Guest Manager from $129 a month billed annually ($159 monthly) and the Yelp Host AI phone service from $249 a month.
• It manages the Yelp page only; listings on Google, Apple Maps and Bing are claimed separately.

Google Business Profile

Profile on Search and Maps

Set hours, phone, website, booking and social links, and a street address, service area or place marker, and add photos, videos, products, services or a menu.

Reviews

Read and reply to customer reviews from the profile, and report reviews that break Google's policies, including review extortion scams.

Posts and offers

Publish updates, offers and events with photos, video and an action button; they show in the Updates or From the owner section of the profile.

Performance report

Views, the searches people used, calls, website clicks, direction requests, messages and bookings over a chosen date range, downloadable for several profiles at once.

Bulk locations and API

Businesses with 10 or more locations can upload them by spreadsheet and request bulk verification; the Business Profile APIs manage listings and reviews at scale.

Gemini connection

Connected to the Gemini web app, it can update hours and links, draft review replies and posts, summarize reviews and report performance and search keywords.

Yelp for Business

Free business page

Claim an existing page or create one, then keep the phone number, address, website, hours and services current; most new pages are approved within 24 hours.

Reviews and messages

Reply to reviews in public and answer messages and requests for quotes, calls or consultations from people who found the page.

Page activity

Track page visits, leads and other customer activity from the web account or the Yelp for Business app on iOS and Android.

Yelp Ads

Pay for placement in Sponsored Results and on rival pages, choose whether the ad button calls, messages, opens the website or gives directions, and pause or cancel at any time.

Upgrade Package

Up to seven page features depending on eligibility, including badges, a logo, a chosen photo order, a call-to-action button and removal of competitor ads.

Multi-location pages

Each page can be claimed and managed on its own; businesses with 11 or more locations get custom solutions and a dedicated team for bulk updates.

Google Business Profile

• Free$0

  Profile on Search and Maps, review replies, posts and offers, performance reports, bulk location management and the Business Profile APIs.

Yelp for Business

• Yelp Business Page$0

  20+ free features: business details, photos, replies to reviews and messages, quote and call requests, and page activity.

• Yelp Ads$150

  per month and up, as an ad budget

  Ads in Sponsored Results and on competitors' pages, targeted by location and keyword. The ads page puts the minimum at $5 a day on average.

• Upgrade Package$180

  per month

  Business Highlights, logo, photo slideshow, call-to-action button, posts, a portfolio where eligible, and no competitor ads on your page.

• Yelp Ads & Upgrade Package$270

  per month and up

  Both together, plus the option to show a Verified License on the page.