AI & Automation6 min readOctober 2, 2026

Auto reply to Google reviews: four levels of control (and which to start with)

Want an auto reply to Google reviews without losing control? Westify's four policies: Review everything, critical ones, Autopilot, Custom.

The most common question before someone starts isn't about price or Google. It's this: 'Do I approve each response, or does the system publish on its own?'

Short answer: you decide. Westify has four reply policies. Each one fits a different stage of trust. This guide is how to pick, and how to move when you're ready. If you're still weighing whether automation belongs in your workflow at all, start with westify.app/blog/automated-review-responses-everything-you-need-to-know.

The four reply policies

The names match Settings → Reply policy.

Review everything is the default. In the panel: 'Every reply comes to you to approve before it posts.' Every draft waits for your OK, whether the review is 1★ or 5★. You can Edit, Regenerate, or Approve. This is the starting mode for a reason: you see how the voice sounds on real reviews before you loosen control. Who it fits: new accounts, medical or legal-sensitive businesses, high-end restaurants, anyone tuning brand voice, and multi-location groups in the first weeks.
Review the critical ones. In the panel: '3–5★ post automatically. 1–2★ come to you to approve before they post.' Positive and middling reviews can post without a tap. Low-star reviews still stop for you. You get email alerts on 1–2★ so you can act from your phone. Who it fits: most restaurants, boutiques, clinics, and shops after the voice feels consistent.
Autopilot posts without waiting for a tap on each reply. Westify alerts you to 1–2★ reviews along with their reply. Nothing posts until you approve it. Autopilot is optional and only unlocks after you've reviewed a sample. Autopilot is not the day-one setting. It's the one many owners move to after they've seen drafts they trust. Who it fits: high volume after 30–60 days of solid drafts, and owners who want time back and still get low-star alerts.
Custom. In the panel: 'You choose what happens at each star.' Per-star actions are Post, Post and alert, I approve, and I write it. Use it when one setting doesn't fit every star. For example, post 5★, approve 3–4★, and write 1–2★ yourself. Who it fits: operators who know their risk by star rating and want a precise dial.

What happens when a review comes in

Review in. It lands in Reviews.
Draft ready. A reply in your saved voice.
You approve. Edit, Regenerate, or Approve.

Read the draft for one detail from the review before you approve. Specificity is what makes a reply feel human. For voice setup, tone, sign-off, and what not to mention, see westify.app/blog/build-brand-voice-review-responses.

How to choose and when to change

Start on Review everything. Tune the voice. Approve a sample.
When 3–5★ drafts consistently please you, try Review the critical ones.
After more volume and trust, consider Autopilot. It unlocks only after that sample.
Use Custom anytime you need a star-by-star rule.

You can change policies anytime without reconfiguring the voice. Stricter in peak season, looser when volume is calm. Both are fine.

Guardrails that never change

Injury, illness, or legal threats: write those yourself, or with counsel. Don't batch them.
You're still responsible for what goes public.
Westify drafts for Google Business Profile reviews, not Yelp, TripAdvisor, or Facebook.
Westify drafts in your voice. You edit, then approve.

For a list of lines a draft should never use, see westify.app/blog/what-an-ai-review-response-tool-should-never-be-allowed-to-say. For the full how-to by star rating, see westify.app/blog/how-to-respond-google-reviews-complete-guide.