Auto-reply vs approve every draft

Two modes exist in reviewsGBP, and they are not the same product.

Manual mode

Manual mode generates a draft. You read it, edit it, then post to Google. That is the right default when you want every public sentence to pass through you — new locations, mixed teams, or reviews that mention staff by name.

Auto-reply

Auto-reply posts only for the star ratings you enable, after an optional delay, using your tone and custom instructions. It is for the 4- and 5-star volume that is usually thank-you notes, not investigations. One-star reviews are excluded from auto-post on purpose.

A practical split

Auto-send 5-star (and maybe 4-star) with a short delay, keep 3-star and below as drafts. You still see everything in the inbox. You still own the Google account. Disconnecting a location revokes that location’s OAuth token.

AI is a starting point

Drafts can miss local facts, promotions, or a complaint that should go offline. If a draft is wrong, regenerate or rewrite — then post. Google’s policies still apply to whatever goes out under your listing.