How does Apex Local work?

Apex Local automatically sends a personalized review request via email or SMS after your customer completes a service. If they don't respond, a friendly follow-up goes out at the right time. Happy customers leave reviews on Google, Facebook, and 70+ platforms. Our AI responds to every review with a thoughtful, on-brand reply. The whole thing runs on autopilot.

Will this work for my type of business?

Apex Local works for any local business that serves customers, including restaurants, dental offices, law firms, salons, auto shops, HVAC companies, plumbers, roofers, real estate agents, and chiropractors. If your customers can leave a Google review, we can help you get more of them.

How quickly will I see results?

Most businesses collect their first new 5-star review within 48 hours of going live with Apex Local. The automated follow-up system increases response rates 3–5x compared to asking manually. Most users double their review count within 30 days.

What if I get a negative review?

Apex Local protects your rating in two ways. First, our smart feedback forms let unhappy customers share concerns privately before posting publicly — giving you a chance to resolve the issue. Second, if a negative review does get posted, our AI helps you craft a professional, thoughtful response that shows future customers you care.

Is there a contract or commitment?

No contract, no cancellation fee, no commitment. Apex Local is month-to-month — we keep your business by earning it every month, not by trapping you.

I'm not tech-savvy. Is this hard to set up?

Setup takes under 5 minutes and zero technical skill. Connect your Google Business Profile, pick your message tone, and you’re live. If you can send a text message, you can set up Apex Local — and our team will walk you through it if you want.

How is this different from just asking customers for reviews myself?

Apex Local turns review collection into a system that runs whether you remember or not. You could ask manually, but life gets busy and you won't do it consistently. The platform sends requests at the optimal time, follows up automatically, responds to every review with AI, and tracks everything in a dashboard.

What happens after I sign up for early access?

We'll email you the moment Apex Local opens to new businesses. Early access members get first pick of plans plus a full 14-day trial — no credit card required. If it's not working for you, just don't subscribe.

Comparison

Apex Local vs Grade.us: Which Review Software Is Better for Local Businesses?

Grade.us is agency-only. Apex Local is direct, self-serve software for the business owner — no agency middleman.

Start Free 14-Day Trial →See Full Comparison ↓

No credit card required. Cancel anytime.

Our Pick for Most Businesses

Apex Local

Self-serve SaaS for local business owners

$99 – $249/mo

Month-to-month. Cancel anytime. 14-day free trial.

✓Direct to business — no agency middleman marking up the price
✓Transparent self-serve pricing ($99 / $149 / $249) vs Grade.us's agency-gated pricing
✓Same core capabilities plus AI visibility tracking, WhatsApp, 27 languages, NFC — all without needing an agency account manager
✓Start your free trial in 5 minutes — no sales call, no contract
✓Month-to-month billing, cancel anytime — agencies typically require 3-12 month contracts

Grade.us

Best for: Marketing agencies that want to resell white-labeled review management to their clients as an add-on service — not the client directly.

Agency-resold

Grade.us is sold exclusively to marketing agencies, who resell it to their clients at a markup. End-business pricing varies widely by agency and typically ranges $200-$500+/mo bundled with other agency services. Pricing verified April 2026.

•White-label capabilities built for agencies reselling to clients
•Established brand in the agency channel with a long track record
•Multi-location support for agencies managing 10+ clients
•Reliable review monitoring fundamentals

Feature-by-Feature

Apex Local vs Grade.us: Full Comparison

Feature	Apex Local	Grade.us
Target customer	Direct to business owner	Agencies only (white-label resale)
Starting price (end business)	$99/mo	$200-$500+/mo (agency markup)
Self-serve signup	Yes — 5 min, no sales call	No — must go through an agency
Contract required	No — month-to-month	Typically required by reselling agency
Review platforms monitored	70+	100+ (comparable)
AI review responses	Yes (27 languages)	Yes
AI visibility tracking (ChatGPT/Gemini/Perplexity)	Yes	No
WhatsApp requests	Yes	Varies by agency
QR codes + NFC	Yes	QR only
Who owns the dashboard	You	Your agency
Free trial	14 days, no credit card	14 days (agency-gated)

Pricing verified 2026-04-15. Grade.us pricing and features may change — verify current pricing on Grade.us's website.

Honest Take

When Grade.us is the better choice

Marketing agencies that want to resell white-labeled review management to their clients as an add-on service — not the client directly.

When Apex Local is the better choice

✓Direct to business — no agency middleman marking up the price
✓Transparent self-serve pricing ($99 / $149 / $249) vs Grade.us's agency-gated pricing
✓Same core capabilities plus AI visibility tracking, WhatsApp, 27 languages, NFC — all without needing an agency account manager
✓Start your free trial in 5 minutes — no sales call, no contract
✓Month-to-month billing, cancel anytime — agencies typically require 3-12 month contracts
✓You own the dashboard — you don't depend on your agency staying in business

FAQ

Common questions

Is Grade.us available directly to my business?+

No. Grade.us is sold exclusively to marketing agencies, SEO firms, and consultants who then resell it to end-clients under their own brand at a markup. If you want to use Grade.us, you must contract with an agency that offers it. Apex Local is direct — you sign up yourself, you own the account, you can cancel anytime.

How much does Grade.us cost for a business?+

There's no published direct price because Grade.us is agency-resold. Agencies typically bundle review management into service packages priced $200-$500+ per month per client, depending on service scope. Apex Local is $99-$249/mo direct, month-to-month, cancel anytime.

If I already work with an agency using Grade.us, should I switch to Apex Local?+

Depends. If your agency provides substantial other services (SEO, paid ads, content) and uses Grade.us as part of that, stay with the agency. If your agency is mostly charging you for review management, Apex Local direct will cost less and give you more control. Some businesses run Apex Local directly alongside their agency's SEO work.

Does Apex Local have the same features as Grade.us?+

The core capabilities are comparable — review monitoring across many platforms, request automation, widgets, reporting. Apex Local adds AI visibility tracking (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity), WhatsApp, NFC tap-to-review, and 27 languages out of the box. Grade.us monitors slightly more platforms (100+) because it's built for large agency portfolios.

Can I migrate my reviews from Grade.us?+

Reviews live on their source platforms (Google, Yelp, Facebook), not inside Grade.us. Switching platforms doesn't move your reviews. You just reconnect your accounts to Apex Local and continue.

Other Comparisons

Apex Local vs NiceJob →Apex Local vs Podium →Apex Local vs Birdeye →

Try Apex Local free for 14 days

No credit card. No sales call. No contract. Most businesses are live in under 15 minutes.

Start Your Free Trial →