81 Yelp Statistics: Facts and Data You Need to Know in 2025

Posted: February 13, 2025 by Judith Cruz

Table of Contents

If you know about TripAdvisor, Facebook Reviews, and Google Reviews, you probably know about Yelp also. Or perhaps not. Online reviews are crucial to customers’ purchasing decisions, and Yelp is just one platform to help. But do people still use Yelp 2021? Let’s dig deeper into this question through these Yelp statistics.

Founded in 2004, Yelp is an American company that was developed to connect people with local businesses. These businesses include restaurants, salons, mechanics, boutiques, dental services, and more. Now that it’s so much easier to leave reviews on social media platforms like Facebook, you may wonder: is Yelp still popular?

If there’s one great definition for Yelp, it’s “low-key.” It may seem silent on the web, but it’s by no means underperforming. Yelp is low-key, having up to 73 million new users every month and more than 100 million unique monthly users on its website.

Still confused about its low-key popularity? Read these Yelp statistics.

Key Takeaways:

Yelp remains a powerful player in the online review industry with over 100 million unique monthly users and 73 million new users per month, according to Yelp statistics.
97% of consumers check Yelp reviews before making a purchase, proving its impact on buying decisions as revealed by Yelp statistics.
41% of local businesses rely on Yelp to drive revenue, while 44% integrate it into their social media strategy for increased visibility.
A one-star increase in Yelp ratings can result in a 9% boost in business revenue.
Yelp Ads are widely used, with businesses paying between $0.30 and $40 per click and $600 per 1,000 impressions.
Yelp statistics reveal that mobile usage dominates the platform, with 77 million users accessing Yelp via mobile apps and 76% of ad clicks coming from smartphones.
91% of Yelp users trust reviews as much as personal recommendations, emphasizing the platform’s credibility.
Fake reviews exist—about 20% of Yelp reviews are not authentic, making reputation management crucial, Yelp statistics reveal.
50% of all Yelp reviews are five-star, while 16% are one-star, highlighting the variance in user feedback.
According to Yelp statistics, Businesses in the food industry dominate Yelp, with 18% of total reviews focused on restaurants.

Top Yelp Statistics

Before going into details, let’s quickly scan these top Yelp statistics:

97% of consumers read Yelp reviews before buying a product or service.
The online review platform has approximately 20% fake reviews.
As for user status, 60% of people on Yelp are college graduates.
Advertisers are willing to pay anything between $0.30-$40 for each click on Yelp.
As for the site’s business rating, the average score is 3.78.
Online reviews on Yelp are trusted by 91% of consumers as much as family recommendations.
You may ask: what age group uses Yelp the most? According to Yelp statistics, the platform’s users are mostly aged 18-34.
As for the type of business industry, about 18% of customers review restaurants.
The platform charges $600 for every 1,000 impressions.

Yelp Visitor Statistics

Man working on laptop and holding a smartphone — Yelp users utilize both their mobile devices and desktops to access reviews and see brand recommendations.

Like other online review platforms, consumers access Yelp through desktops and mobiles. But over the years, the use of mobile apps has grown popular because of their convenience and ease of use. Below are some of Yelp statistics by visitor:

Yelp statistics reveal that of the total Yelp site visitors, approximately 90% are users from the United States.
Though mobile apps have grown popular over the years, there are still 69 million monthly users accessing Yelp through their desktops.
Meanwhile, 77 million users are accessing the site via mobile apps, according to Yelp statistics.
Globally, about 76 million monthly customers access Yelp websites, mobile applications, and platforms.
There are about 205 million reviews posted on the platform by the end of 2019. This was a 20% increase from 2018’s 171 million reviews.
Meanwhile, a 2021 Statista study showed that around 45% of online customers read reviews on Yelp before making a purchase.
35% of people searching for brand reviews on Yelp will visit the brand site they checked within 24 hours.
Moreover, visitors spend 3.39 minutes daily on Yelp’s page.
If you’re on Yelp and you’ve uploaded a well-established social profile, you’ll likely be 10 times more prolific in terms of the number of submitted reviews than anonymous reviews, according to Yelp statistics.
Yelp statistics reveal that overall, Yelp is the 74th most visited website in the United States. Countries like China and India also use Yelp, with their number of visitors accounting for 1.7% and 4.6% respectively.

Business’ Revenue Statistics Based on Yelp Ratings

Graph showing increased revenue — What’s your target revenue? Try building up your presence on Yelp and achieve your goal effectively.

Yelp review ratings are one of the factors that affect a business’ revenue. A high rating means more customers trust your brand, therefore more customers purchase your product. On the other hand, poor ratings may affect potential customers’ perception of your brand, and skip your products even before trying them.

Below is a showcase of revenue statistics based on customer ratings on Yelp:

Yelp reviews are generally positive. In fact, 71% of users would recommend the brand or service they reviewed, Yelp statistics reveal.
Meanwhile, nearly 50% of reviews are five-star.
You may wonder: what percentage of Yelp reviews are negative? As per Yelp statistics, 16% of customers leave a one-star review.
Moreover, 22% wouldn’t recommend the brand or service they’re reviewing.
Yelp users saw a high increase of $1.1 billion in net revenue in 2019.
According to Yelp statistics, in the same year, there was an increase in sales revenue coming from mobile applications (97%) and advertisements (91%).
As per businesses on Yelp, every new star rating that they earn is a 9% boost in their revenue.
According to Yelp statistics, 41% of local businesses depend on the platform to drive revenue.
Meanwhile, 44% rely on social media to generate brand awareness.
Yelp’s total net revenue in 2020 was more than $870 million.
According to Yelp statistics, when it comes to business segments, Home & Local has the highest advertising revenue at 44% in Q4 of 2020.
This is followed by Other Streams at 20%, Restaurants at 11%, and Beauty and Fitness at 8%.

Yelp Review Audiences Statistics

The online review platform is crowded by almost all age groups. Though most online shoppers belong to the younger generation, Yelp can cater to the requirement of older generations. The following facts and figures will prove Yelp’s popularity not only among Gen Z but also Millennials and Generations Y and X.

As per Yelp statistics, nearly 42% of Yelp users in the United States are aged 18-34.
9% are above 55 years old.
Meanwhile, 37% are within the 35-54 age demographic.
When it comes to educational attainment, 4% of Yelp users are above degree qualification.
On the other hand, 2% have a college education.
Talking about income, 34% of users on the platform have $50,000 or less annual income, Yelp statistics reveal.
A meager 38% have over $100,000 income per year.
For Yelp categories, 23% is accounted for in the leading business category.
Meanwhile, 19% is in the restaurant category.
According to Yelp statistics, 7% of reviews on Yelp were removed because of suspected objectives.
On the other hand, 43% of Yelp reviews carry a 5-star ranking.
Meanwhile, 14% bear a 1-star ranking.
As revealed in Yelp statistics, there are about 26,000 reviews being published on the platform per minute. This data is taken from Yelp’s core demographics.
If you want to leverage your business online, you can tie up Yelp with a social media management tool that will help you acquire more customers and monitor audience engagements in real-time. Read this Postfity review to get started.

Mobile Statistics of Yelp Users

As mentioned above, most Yelp users access the app through their smartphones. It makes the search easier and provides audiences with all the information they need at their fingertips. Aside from being hassle-free, accessing Yelp on mobile is also stress-free.

Around 92 million people on Yelp use its mobile app version to access reviews, Yelp statistics reveal.
Meanwhile, there are 36 million unique mobile devices with which the Yelp app is used.
At the end of 2019, the platform saw a 72% increase in its reviews that were done through smartphones and mobile phones.
About 76% of advertisement clicks on Yelp were made from mobile phones, while searches accounted for 80%, according to Yelp statistics.
In June 2019, 72% of all new reviews on Yelp were submitted via mobile gadgets.
Moreover, the Yelp app on Google Play Store has currently more than 50 million downloads or installs.
As per Yelp statistics, the platform has 3 mobile apps available on Google Play Store and App Store—Yelp Stickers, Yelp: Food and Services, and Yelp for Business Owners.
Like any other business entity, Yelp has also seen a decline in its mobile app visitors during the pandemic. From 37.66 million in Q3 of 2019, the number substantially dropped to 29.61 million in Q4 of 2020.

Purchase Statistics After Going Over Yelp Reviews

Man and woman looking at laptop screen — Happy customers purchase products from a single brand consistently. And sometimes, they’re influenced by positive reviews.

Yelp reviews play an important role in the popularity and promotion of a brand. Today, businesses rely heavily on review sites and social media for achieving success in their marketing campaigns and maintaining a good product image. Discover how Yelp has influenced users’ purchasing decisions through its reviews.

In 2020, Yelp has acquired 205 million total reviews, according to Yelp statistics.
As per Yelp statistics, 41% of businesses use reviews to generate more conversions, revenue, leads, and audiences.
50% of the total reviews on Yelp are about the top position brands.
Meanwhile, 70% of Yelp reviews fall under the recommended category, and 22% of reviews were under the not-recommended category.
92% of Yelp users make a purchase after visiting the platform.
Meanwhile, 82% of users purposefully go to Yelp when they intend to make a purchase.
According to general statistics, 85% of consumers trust online reviews and refer to them to make decisions.
Meanwhile, five-star reviews get 25% more clicks than reviews with only three stars.
Yelp is considered the second-best option for buying information, right next to Google. While Google has an average of 63% of customers visiting the platform before making a purchase, Yelp has 45%.
The third buying option is TripAdvisor at 30%, while Facebook takes the fourth spot at 21%.

Yelp vs Social Media Statistics

Studies show that Yelp users are also active social media users. In this regard, Yelp is also treated as a social network for brand and product information. See how Yelp is being linked to social media platforms.

As per statistics, there are over 4 billion active social media users around the globe. Yelp, being viewed as a social site, has become a major source of information about products, brands, and services, as per Yelp statistics.
You may ask: is Yelp still relevant 2021? According to a 2021 study, Yelp is ranked as the top 10 social network in the United States.
Furthermore, Yelp statistics 2021 revealed that 12% of US consumers regularly use the platform, which is almost the same as TikTok.
78% of users on Yelp are regular social media users.
Meanwhile, only 72% of people use social media platforms on a daily basis.
12% of Yelp users utilize the platform several times a week.
On the other hand, only 3% visit it once a week.
According to a survey, the people who use Yelp are small, local business owners and customers looking for a recommendation of places and brands. The same demographics are interested in social media.

Top Reasons Why Consumers Recommend Brands and Businesses Online

Man holding a smartphone — A customer’s thumbs up and five-star rating are impacted by different factors.

Different consumers have different needs. And there are several reasons why a customer would recommend your brand and products online. In this section, we’ll focus on the top drivers for US customers to endorse a brand on Yelp.

77% of Yelp users recommend brands when they like the product, according to Yelp statistics.
Meanwhile, 54% give a positive review to a company because of good customer service.
Yelp statistics reveal that 40% of the platform’s users endorse the services and products when they can relate to the brand personally.
On the other hand, 67% recommend the products and services when they like the brand.
46% of Yelp users leave a positive review because of giveaways and special discounts as revealed by Yelp statistics.
Meanwhile, 36% endorse products to show support for their favorite brands.

Want to get more brand and product recommendations outside Yelp? Up your social media game by using advanced social media software like the one in this Mentionlytics review.

Yelp Business Growth and Marketing Potential

Yelp isn’t just some quiet corner of the internet—it’s a marketing battlefield, a digital storefront, a battleground of customer trust where businesses rise or crumble under the weight of star ratings. Restaurants, boutiques, auto repair shops, beauty salons—whatever it is, if people need it, they’re searching for it, and Yelp? Yelp is where they decide. It’s a beast in disguise, humming along in the background, seemingly overshadowed by Google Reviews or Facebook Recommendations, yet pulling in millions of high-intent users every month. Ignore it at your own peril.

Let’s talk numbers. A single additional star can inflate revenue by 9%. A full 92% of users pull out their wallets after scrolling through listings. And those paid Yelp Ads? A gold mine—businesses throwing down between $0.30 and $40 per click, racking up thousands in exposure. There’s no fluff here; the dollars-and-cents game on Yelp is as real as it gets. The platform charges $600 per 1,000 impressions, and businesses still pour money into it. Why? Because eyeballs convert on Yelp, and conversion is everything.

But it’s not just about being there—it’s about playing the game. The digital space is ruthless. A glowing five-star review? That’s currency. A scathing one-star takedown? That’s a wound that bleeds trust. Yelp statistics confirm it: 97% of consumers are reading these reviews before making a decision. That’s practically everyone. And 91% of them believe a stranger’s words just as much as a personal friend’s recommendation. That means a neglected profile—unanswered complaints, outdated business hours, low-quality photos—is a slow, silent business killer.

And here’s the kicker: Yelp is a mobile-first monster. Forget desktop dominance—77 million users prefer to scroll through Yelp on their phones, checking out reviews, scanning menus, hunting deals. Mobile ads? 76% of clicks come from smartphones. If your business profile isn’t optimized—crisp images, a catchy description, correct hours, instant responses to reviews—you’re losing out. Plain and simple.

Still think Yelp is playing second fiddle to Google? Think again. Yelp statistics show 41% of businesses are hooked, relying on it to drive revenue. Meanwhile, 44% mix it into their social media strategy, doubling down on digital visibility. It’s not about whether Yelp works. It’s about how well you use it.

This isn’t a maybe. This isn’t a nice-to-have. This is a power play. Businesses that engage, that use reviews as a weapon instead of a liability, win. They don’t just exist—they dominate. The market doesn’t care about your excuses. Customers don’t wait around for a better online presence. Either you optimize or you fade.

FAQ

Is Yelp still relevant in 2022?
Yes. Yelp statistics show that it still attracts millions of users each month and influences consumer decisions significantly.
Who uses Yelp the most?
The largest user group is aged 18-34, making up 42% of Yelp’s audience.
How does Yelp impact business revenue?
Businesses see a 9% increase in revenue for every additional star rating they earn.
Do Yelp reviews really influence purchasing decisions?
Yes, 92% of Yelp users make a purchase after visiting the platform, and 85% of consumers trust online reviews.
How much do Yelp Ads cost?
Advertisers pay between $0.30 and $40 per click, while 1,000 impressions cost around $600.
Is Yelp more trusted than other review platforms?
Yelp is ranked as the second-best platform for buying decisions after Google Reviews, surpassing TripAdvisor and Facebook Reviews.
What types of businesses benefit the most from Yelp?
Restaurants, home services, beauty salons, and local businesses see the highest engagement and revenue growth from Yelp.
How do Yelp’s mobile statistics compare to desktop use?
77 million users access Yelp via mobile apps, making mobile engagement essential for businesses.
Are there fake reviews on Yelp?
Yes, approximately 20% of Yelp reviews are fake, which is why the platform actively filters suspicious reviews.
Should businesses actively respond to Yelp reviews?
Absolutely. Engaging with reviews—both positive and negative—builds trust, improves reputation, and enhances customer relationships.

A Note on Customer Management and Online Reviews

Customers make your businesses survive, and one way of maintaining them is by acquiring positive reviews online. Among many marketing strategies, word of mouth is still the most powerful. Even strangers are trusted by online shoppers, so long as the review is well-detailed.

Fortunately, Yelp is an all-in-one platform that connects customers to local businesses and provides useful information at the same time. It competes well with Google Reviews, TripAdvisor, and Facebook Reviews, maintaining a good reputation since its inception. If you’re thinking that Yelp is dead, it’s nowhere near it and Yelp statistics prove it. The platform is still consistently getting online reviews and additional users over the years.

On the other hand, if you haven’t accessed Yelp yet, try installing it on your smartphone today. It’s especially helpful if you’re a traveler constantly looking for vacation places or just an ordinary individual who loves to eat at deli restaurants.

Want to know how to reach more customers via mobile marketing? Read these “84 Mobile Marketing Statistics: 2021 Facts and Figures.”

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