How to Get Reviews on G2 and Capterra: A Vendor Guide (2026)

B2B software buyers use G2 and Capterra as key touchpoints when researching software. AI tools increasingly reference these platforms when users ask for software recommendations—understanding how AI discovery shapes B2B software visibility is now essential. Star ratings and what customers actually say in reviews make an impact on purchase decisions. We can't measure the exact influence, but we know it works. Getting quality reviews on these platforms requires understanding their specific requirements and processes. At Blastra, we see that consistent, updated directory profiles amplify the impact of high-quality reviews across G2, Capterra, and other software discovery platforms.

What Changed in 2026: G2 Now Owns Capterra

Before you plan a review strategy, this is the single most important operational change to know about: G2 completed its acquisition of Capterra, GetApp, and Software Advice in January 2026. The three former Gartner Digital Markets platforms now operate under G2 as G2 Digital Markets, while G2 itself remains a separate, parent-level platform.

What this means for reviews today:

• Capterra reviews already syndicate across GetApp and Software Advice. One review submitted on Capterra appears on all three platforms automatically. This has been the case since the Gartner era and didn't change with the G2 acquisition.
• G2 reviews and G2 Digital Markets reviews remain separate. A Capterra review does not appear on G2, and a G2 review does not appear on Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice. For now, you have to collect on both sides if you want coverage on both.
• Review syndication between G2 and G2 Digital Markets is expected next. G2 has signalled that consolidating reviews across the full portfolio is part of the unification roadmap, though no timeline has been published. When it happens, a single review is likely to carry further — which is another reason to build volume on both sides now rather than wait.

For the strategic rationale behind the acquisition and how vendor pricing compares across the two sides, see our related coverage. For the rest of this guide, treat G2 and Capterra as two separate workflows — because operationally they still are.

Understanding the Review Process

Both G2 and Capterra take review authenticity seriously, implementing verification processes that take up to 3 business days on G2 and 5 business days on Capterra for vendor-sourced reviews (organic Capterra submissions can take up to 2 weeks). The time investment for customers is significant — each review takes 10-15 minutes to complete properly — so it's crucial to understand exactly what's required.

We built a little game inspired by how software review grids work — see how one bad review can knock you down a quadrant:

Verification Requirements

Both Platforms:

• Corporate email verification or LinkedIn profile connection
• Manual review process with 3-5 day approval time
• Identity verification to prevent fake reviews

G2 Specific:

• Screenshot requirement when the reviewer uses a personal email instead of a business email or LinkedIn — the screenshot earns a "Current User" label on the review
• More stringent verification process
• Optional voice review and AI chat features (though we tested these and don't recommend them as of early 2026)

Capterra Specific:

• No screenshot requirement
• Slightly streamlined verification process
• Integration with sister properties GetApp and Software Advice (all now owned by G2)

Platform Integrity Measures

Both platforms watch review quality carefully to prevent companies from gaming the system, and they really put effort into not approving fabricated reviews. However, there's a whole industry of people who make a business out of writing fake reviews and earning incentives by giving reviews across multiple platforms.

As a result, reviews from generic email addresses like Gmail face additional verification requirements — G2 requires a screenshot upload, and both platforms apply higher scrutiny to personal email submissions. We do not recommend trying to pay for fake reviews, as this can damage your reputation on these platforms and potentially get your company profile flagged or suspended.

Essential Review Components to Prepare

The most time-consuming part of the review process involves the written sections that require thoughtful responses. Here's what your customers need to prepare:

Review Title

Both platforms require a short sentence summarizing the customer's experience. This appears prominently and often determines whether prospects read the full review.

What You Liked Most

• G2: Minimum 40 characters
• Capterra: Minimum 100 characters

This section should highlight specific features, benefits, or outcomes that made the biggest positive impact on the user's work or business.

What You Liked Least

• G2: Minimum 40 characters
• Capterra: Minimum 100 characters

Even satisfied customers usually have constructive feedback. This section actually builds credibility when handled thoughtfully — no software is perfect, and honest critiques make reviews more trustworthy.

Overall Experience

• G2: Minimum 40 characters
• Capterra: Minimum 100 characters

This is the opportunity for customers to provide a comprehensive summary of their experience, often touching on implementation, support, results achieved, and whether they'd recommend the software.

How Many Reviews Do You Need on G2 and Capterra?

Both G2 and Capterra prefer at least 10 reviews for optimal visibility and badge eligibility. On G2, 10 reviews is the minimum to appear on the Grid in most categories, and recency matters — G2 weights reviews from the past 18 months more heavily. On Capterra, 10 reviews within 24 months qualifies you for Shortlist consideration.

For competitive categories, aim higher. Products with 50+ reviews dominate Grid positions on G2, and Capterra's ranking algorithms also reward volume. But volume without recency is a losing strategy on both platforms — 15 fresh reviews outperform 50 stale ones.

The AI exception: Tests we've conducted on AI engines suggest that LLMs do not apply these thresholds the way platform algorithms do. Even if you have just 1-2 reviews, AI chatbots and language models may still quote them when users ask for software recommendations. This means the impact of reviews can be immediate — your first few reviews may start influencing purchase decisions through AI-powered research tools before you've built up the volume that traditional platform algorithms prefer. If your product is AI-native, G2 has created dedicated AI categories for specific use cases — many with lower competition than established categories, where even a handful of attributed reviews can put you on the Grid.

How to Get G2 Reviews

G2 reviews revolve around verification and timing. Here's the process that works.

Verification: Reviewers need a corporate email or LinkedIn profile. Personal email reviewers must upload a screenshot showing them logged into your product — this earns a "Current User" label. G2's verification takes up to 3 business days.

Review campaigns: G2 offers paid review campaigns through your vendor account. You can also send direct review links to customers. The review form requires minimum 40 characters per section (What You Like Most, What You Dislike, Overall Experience).

Timing with G2 reports: G2 publishes quarterly Grid reports — Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter. Reviews submitted before the quarterly deadline count toward that cycle's report. If you're aiming for a specific Grid position or badge, work backward from the deadline and start your campaign at least two weeks early.

Responding to reviews: On G2, replying to reviews requires a paid plan ($2,999+/year). This is a significant limitation — your customers took time to write about your product, and you can't participate in the conversation without paying. Factor this into your G2 budget planning.

How to Get Capterra Reviews

Capterra's review process is slightly different, and the reach is broader.

Verification: Capterra also requires corporate email or LinkedIn. No screenshot requirement. Vendor-sourced reviews take up to 5 business days for approval; organic submissions can take up to 2 weeks. Capterra requires 100 characters minimum per section — longer than G2's 40, which tends to produce more substantive reviews.

Incentivized campaigns: Capterra offers incentivized review campaigns with up to $25 gift cards for approved reviews. Incentives are for the act of reviewing, not for positive sentiment — Capterra is transparent about this distinction. This can be effective for mid-market products but rarely motivates C-level executives.

Syndication across G2 Digital Markets (GetApp + Software Advice): A major benefit of Capterra reviews is that they syndicate automatically across its sister properties, GetApp and Software Advice. The three platforms now operate as G2 Digital Markets following G2's January 2026 acquisition, so one Capterra review gets you coverage on all three without any extra work. Reviews still do not currently syndicate from G2 Digital Markets up to G2 itself — but G2 has signalled that this unification is expected next. Collecting on both Capterra and G2 today means those reviews are already in place when syndication lights up.

Responding to reviews: Unlike G2, you can respond to Capterra reviews on the free plan.

Strategic Advice for Getting Reviews on Both Platforms

Timing Matters

The best time to request reviews is immediately after a customer achieves a significant win with your product — whether that's completing implementation, reaching a milestone, or seeing measurable results. Strike while the positive experience is fresh.

Make It Easy

Since reviews require significant time investment, remove as many barriers as possible:

• Provide direct links to the review forms
• Offer to help customers prepare their responses
• Send reminder emails if needed
• Consider the character minimums when guiding customers on response length

Remember that leaving a comprehensive review is a massive effort for any customer. If your users are C-level executives, they should be hand-held through the entire process — and no $25 gift card will motivate them to complete reviews. For these high-value reviewers, personal outreach, offering to draft initial responses for their approval, or even scheduling brief calls to gather their thoughts can be far more effective.

Prepare Your Customers

Help your customers succeed by preparing them for the process:

• Explain the verification requirements upfront
• Let them know about the 3-5 day approval timeline
• For G2 reviews using personal email, remind them to have a screenshot ready showing them logged into your product
• Share the character minimums so they can prepare thoughtful responses

Conversion Reality: Why Handholding Matters

While there's no official industry benchmarking on review conversion rates, a Capterra representative once mentioned on a call that they typically see around 1% conversion from requests to completed reviews. This low conversion rate means if you want reviews, you should really focus on handholding your customers through the entire process rather than simply sending review requests.

Don't Forget to Respond

Once you have reviews, don't forget to respond to them. Engaging with reviewers shows prospects that you're actively involved with your customer community and care about feedback, whether positive or constructive. Keeping your directory and profile data consistent reinforces review responses and improves buyer trust.

Quality Over Quantity

While review volume matters for visibility and ranking algorithms, quality reviews that provide specific details about use cases, implementations, and results are far more valuable for potential buyers. A detailed review from a customer in the prospect's industry discussing relevant challenges and outcomes will influence purchase decisions more than dozens of generic positive reviews.

Focus on encouraging your most engaged, articulate customers to leave reviews rather than trying to maximize the total number of reviews from every customer.

Key Takeaways

1. Verification is strict: Both platforms require corporate email or LinkedIn verification — G2 takes up to 3 business days, Capterra up to 5 (or 2 weeks for organic)
2. AI amplifies impact: Even 1-2 reviews can influence AI-powered recommendations immediately
3. Handholding is essential: With only 1% conversion rates, personal assistance dramatically improves success
4. Quality beats quantity: Detailed, industry-specific reviews influence decisions more than generic praise
5. Capterra multiplies reach: Reviews syndicate across GetApp and Software Advice automatically

Understanding and respecting these platforms' review processes while providing excellent customer support throughout the review journey will help you build a strong presence on G2 and Capterra that drives real business results. This review strategy is a key component of building a lasting competitive advantage through directory presence.

FAQ: Answers to Common Questions

Why do G2 reviews require screenshots?

G2 requires screenshots only when reviewers use a personal email address instead of a business email or LinkedIn. The screenshot shows the reviewer logged into your product and earns a "Current User" label. Capterra doesn't require screenshots at all.

How long does review approval take?

G2: up to 3 business days. Capterra: 5 business days for vendor-sourced reviews, up to 2 weeks for organic submissions. Reviews undergo manual verification checking identity, corporate email, and content quality. Start campaigns at least two weeks before any deadline.

Can customers leave reviews from personal Gmail addresses?

Possible but harder. Both platforms prioritize corporate email verification. On G2, personal email reviewers must upload a screenshot showing product usage. On Capterra, personal email submissions face extra identity research. Business email or LinkedIn verification is easier for everyone.

What's the minimum character count for G2 vs Capterra reviews?

G2 requires 40 characters minimum per section. Capterra requires 100 characters per section. Capterra's longer requirement produces more substantive reviews but needs more preparation time.

How do I get C-level executives to leave reviews?

Skip the gift cards — executives value time, not $25. Offer personal assistance: schedule a brief call, draft the review for their approval, or have their assistant handle it. Remove friction entirely.

Related Guides

• How G2 Badges Work — G2 badges require paid plans to display; here's what you need to know
• How to Improve Your G2 Grid Position — Deep dive into G2's ranking algorithm and strategies to improve your position
• How Capterra Badges Work — Complete guide to earning Capterra badges with 2026 deadlines
• How SourceForge Badges Work — Percentile-based awards: top 5% for Leader, top 10% for Top Performer