How to scrape Google Maps reviews (more than 5) in python
Tags: python, google, reviews, places
Published: 2020-12-28 21:14:55

## Scrape reviews with Google Places API?

The official way of getting reviews from [Google Places API](https://developers.google.com/places/web-service/autocomplete#place_autocomplete_responses) is limited to 5 reviews and it's barely enough even for the most simplest task.

> “predictions” contains an array of places, with information about the
> place. The Places API returns up to 5 results.

## Google Maps Reviews API by Outscraper

Professional marketers and data-scientists employ many 3-d party services like [Outscraper](https://outscraper.com/google-maps-reviews-api/) for their needs. It allows you to get started within 5 minutes.

You can use [UI version](https://app.outscraper.com/googleReviews) and extract reviews to CSV file or there is [API](https://outscraper.com/docs/api/) and [SDK](https://pypi.org/project/google-services-api/) that you can use from your code.
In the following example, I'll show some demo using Python 3.

## Extracting Google Maps Reviews using python SDK

We will need python 3+ and Outscraper SDK
`pip install google-services-api`

Extracting 100 reviews for [Golden Unicorn](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Golden+Unicorn/@40.7129056,-74.0072196,13.86z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c25a2665c2cc5d:0xede58acf7633b27a!8m2!3d40.7136854!4d-73.9971873?shorturl=1)
```python

from outscraper import ApiClient

api_cliet = ApiClient(api_key='SECRET_API_KEY')
reviews_response = api_cliet.google_maps_business_reviews(
    'Golden Unicorn, East Broadway, USA', limit=100, language='en')
```

The `SECRET_API_KEY` can be found on the [profile page](https://app.outscraper.com/profile) after registration. There is a Free Tier that you can use each month.

Response
```
{
  "id": "373f43de-7394-479b-a0bd-d2666def8ddf",
  "status": "Success",
  "data": {
    "name": "Golden Unicorn",
    "full_address": "18 E Broadway, New York, NY 10002",
    "borough": "Manhattan",
    "street": "18 E Broadway",
    "city": "New York",
    "postal_code": "10002",
    "country_code": "US",
    "country": "United States of America",
    "us_state": "New York",
    "state": "New York",
    "plus_code": null,
    "latitude": 40.7136857,
    "longitude": -73.99718659999999,
    "time_zone": "America/New_York",
    "site": "http://www.goldenunicornrestaurant.com/",
    "phone": "+1 212-941-0911",
    "type": "Cantonese restaurant",
    "subtypes": "Cantonese restaurant, Bar, Chinese restaurant, Dim sum restaurant",
    "posts": null,
    "rating": 4,
    "reviews": 2051,
    "photos_count": 2383,
    "google_id": "0x89c25a2665c2cc5d:0xede58acf7633b27a",
    "place_id": "ChIJXczCZSZawokRerIzds-K5e0",
    "reviews_link": "https://www.google.com/search?q=Golden+Unicorn,+18+E+Broadway,+New+York,+NY+10002&ludocid=17142260180301623930#lrd=0x89c25a2665c2cc5d:0xede58acf7633b27a,1",
    "reviews_id": "-1304483893407927686",
    "photo": "https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipOilwEHwjKXdH9PAaq490iCTrpfaEfvfO3vNsxq",
    "working_hours": {
      "Monday": "9:30AM–3:30PM",
      "Tuesday": "9:30AM–3:30PM",
      "Wednesday": "9:30AM–3:30PM",
      "Thursday": "9:30AM–3:30PM",
      "Friday": "9:30AM–3:30PM",
      "Saturday": "9:30AM–4:30PM",
      "Sunday": "9:30AM–4:30PM"
    },
    "temporarily_closed": null,
    "about": {
      "Service options": {
        "Delivery": true,
        "Takeout": true
      },
      "Health & safety": {
        "Mask required": true,
        "Staff required to disinfect surfaces between visits": true
      },
      "Highlights": {
        "Great tea selection": true
      },
      "Popular for": {
        "Breakfast": true,
        "Lunch": true,
        "Dinner": true
      },
      "Accessibility": {
        "Wheelchair accessible entrance": true,
        "Wheelchair accessible seating": true,
        "Wheelchair accessible parking lot": false
      },
      "Offerings": {
        "Comfort food": true,
        "Small plates": true
      },
      "Dining options": {
        "Catering": true,
        "Dessert": true
      },
      "Amenities": {
        "Good for kids": true,
        "High chairs": true
      },
      "Atmosphere": {
        "Casual": true
      },
      "Crowd": {
        "College students": true,
        "Groups": true,
        "Tourists": true
      },
      "Planning": {
        "Dinner reservations recommended": true,
        "Accepts reservations": true,
        "Usually a wait": true
      }
    },
    "price_range": "$$",
    "reviews_per_score": {
      "1": 152,
      "2": 86,
      "3": 307,
      "4": 655,
      "5": 851
    },
    "verified": true,
    "reserving_table_link": null,
    "booking_appointment_link": "http://www.goldenunicornnyc.com/menu.aspx",
    "owner_id": "109794426950456075294",
    "owner_title": "Golden Unicorn",
    "owner_link": "https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/109794426950456075294",
    "location_link": "https://www.google.com/maps/place/Golden+Unicorn/@40.7136857,-73.99718659999999,14z/data=!4m8!1m2!2m1!1sGolden+Unicorn!3m4!1s0x89c25a2665c2cc5d:0xede58acf7633b27a!8m2!3d40.7136857!4d-73.99718659999999",
    "reviews_data": [
      {
        "google_id": "0x89c25a2665c2cc5d:0xede58acf7633b27a",
        "autor_link": "https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/109132427106491791258?hl=en-US",
        "autor_name": "Benjamin Qiu",
        "autor_id": "109132427106491791258",
        "review_text": "Keeping it real out here in CT\n\nWish I get to go inside but nonetheless had my first outdoor dimsum experience and was quite a positive experience.  Despite limited seating we were able to be seated with very little wait, the ordering process was simple with menu in both English and Chinese. Staff were very patient and professional, even made sure we were warm enough from the heating lamp. We ordered our favorite dishes and they were simply amazing.\nTimes are tough during COVID but this is one place that's doing things right. Will love to visit again soon.",
        "review_img_url": "https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipPlgEuTFN8m_lePXzdcOCC0PA-fzV5Htc0Tk2eW",
        "owner_answer": null,
        "owner_answer_timestamp": null,
        "owner_answer_timestamp_datetime_utc": null,
        "review_link": "https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m5!14m4!1m3!1m2!1s109132427106491791258!2s0x0:0xede58acf7633b27a?hl=en-US",
        "review_rating": 5,
        "review_timestamp": 1609111047,
        "review_datetime_utc": "12/27/2020 23:17:27",
        "review_likes": 0
      },
      {
        "google_id": "0x89c25a2665c2cc5d:0xede58acf7633b27a",
        "autor_link": "https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/100406104884094884994?hl=en-US",
        "autor_name": "Cynthia Gomez",
        "autor_id": "100406104884094884994",
        "review_text": null,
        "review_img_url": null,
        "owner_answer": null,
        "owner_answer_timestamp": null,
        "owner_answer_timestamp_datetime_utc": null,
        "review_link": "https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m5!14m4!1m3!1m2!1s100406104884094884994!2s0x0:0xede58acf7633b27a?hl=en-US",
        "review_rating": 5,
        "review_timestamp": 1609018749,
        "review_datetime_utc": "12/26/2020 21:39:09",
        "review_likes": 0
      },
      {
        "google_id": "0x89c25a2665c2cc5d:0xede58acf7633b27a",
        "autor_link": "https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/112779066937104499139?hl=en-US",
        "autor_name": "Steven Magallanes",
        "autor_id": "112779066937104499139",
        "review_text": null,
        "review_img_url": null,
        "owner_answer": null,
        "owner_answer_timestamp": null,
        "owner_answer_timestamp_datetime_utc": null,
        "review_link": "https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m5!14m4!1m3!1m2!1s112779066937104499139!2s0x0:0xede58acf7633b27a?hl=en-US",
        "review_rating": 4,
        "review_timestamp": 1608797697,
        "review_datetime_utc": "12/24/2020 08:14:57",
        "review_likes": 0
      },
      {
        "google_id": "0x89c25a2665c2cc5d:0xede58acf7633b27a",
        "autor_link": "https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/103001143875467131446?hl=en-US",
        "autor_name": "Sandra",
        "autor_id": "103001143875467131446",
        "review_text": "(Translated by Google) I've been here before and have never forgotten my experience. I want to go back so bad. The meal was excellent.\n\n(Original)\nIch war schon einmal hier und habe meine Erfahrung nie vergessen. Ich möchte so sehr zurückgehen. Das Essen war ausgezeichnet.",
        "review_img_url": null,
        "owner_answer": null,
        "owner_answer_timestamp": null,
        "owner_answer_timestamp_datetime_utc": null,
        "review_link": "https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m5!14m4!1m3!1m2!1s103001143875467131446!2s0x0:0xede58acf7633b27a?hl=en-US",
        "review_rating": 5,
        "review_timestamp": 1608058639,
        "review_datetime_utc": "12/15/2020 18:57:19",
        "review_likes": 0
      },
...
      {
        "google_id": "0x89c25a2665c2cc5d:0xede58acf7633b27a",
        "autor_link": "https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/107401903433772909404?hl=en-US",
        "autor_name": "Chris Clarke",
        "autor_id": "107401903433772909404",
        "review_text": "One of the best places for dim sum. Delicious",
        "review_img_url": null,
        "owner_answer": null,
        "owner_answer_timestamp": null,
        "owner_answer_timestamp_datetime_utc": null,
        "review_link": "https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m5!14m4!1m3!1m2!1s107401903433772909404!2s0x0:0xede58acf7633b27a?hl=en-US",
        "review_rating": 5,
        "review_timestamp": 1605630176,
        "review_datetime_utc": "11/17/2020 16:22:56",
        "review_likes": 0
      }
    ]
  }
}
```

That's it!


[Python package page](https://pypi.org/project/google-services-api/)

[API docs](https://app.outscraper.com/api-docs)