Critical reception towards "If I Don't Have You" was primarily positive upon its release. It received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best R&amp;B Performance at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. The song received positive comparisons to Keyshia Cole's 2013 single "I Choose You" and Alicia Keys' 2003 song "You Don't Know My Name". In a review for "Calling All Lovers", Diamond Hillyer of "Vibe" praised the song's composition as "sprightly instrumentals" that would appeal to listeners. Matthew Scott Donnelly of "PopCrush" wrote that the track was appropriate for those who are in "the mood for a good cry (or perhaps an all-out profound wail)". Idolator's Mike Wass praised Braxton's vocals on the single, but later reassessed "If I Don't Have You" as a "little undercooked" in comparison to other tracks on "Calling All Lovers".