How to Remove a Trustpilot Review

Trustpilot reviews shape trust before a customer reaches your site, but Trustpilot says disagreeing with a rating isn't grounds for removal. This page covers what qualifies, how flagging works, and what to do if a flag is denied.

Researched: October 2026

Quick overview

  • Disagreeing with a rating isn't a valid reason to flag a Trustpilot review.
  • A review can be flagged for only one reason, and a submitted flag can't be edited or deleted.
  • Trustpilot may ask the reviewer to change the review or provide documentation, usually within 3 days.
  • A review stays online if it doesn't breach the guidelines, if evidence is insufficient, or if the reviewer resolves the problem.
  • Trustpilot doesn't delete reviews, so a removed review can be reinstated if the reviewer later sends documentation.

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What actually qualifies for removal

Trustpilot's guidelines state: "Not liking a star rating or disagreeing with a negative review is not a valid reason for flagging it." For an actual removal, the review needs to fall into one of its flag reasons:

  • Harmful or illegal content (hate speech, threats, obscenity, defamation)
  • Contains personal information
  • Advertising or promotional content
  • Not based on a genuine experience
  • About a different business

How to flag it yourself

This costs nothing but time, and it's the correct starting point even if you plan to bring in help later.

  1. 1

    Flag the review and choose one reason

    Sign into your Trustpilot Business account, find the review, and flag it. A review can be flagged for only one reason, so choose the right one the first time. A submitted flag can't be edited or deleted.

  2. 2

    Wait for the assessment

    Trustpilot opens a ticket for its Content Integrity Team, which may use automated detection, a team of experts, or both. You can follow the status from the flag icon under the review or in Flagging activity, and you get the outcome by email.

  3. 3

    If denied, dispute it

    Reply to the decision email to explain why you think it's wrong. If you still disagree, submit a formal dispute using the link in the footer of the final decision email.

Notice: A name showing up on a review site like this one often shows up elsewhere too. Our free tool can give you an honest, confidential first look at what else is showing up.

If the appeal is also denied

The formal dispute is the last step. A review that is a real, unflattering experience and fits no flag reason can't realistically be removed, however the flag is worded.

Flagging also carries a risk. Trustpilot warns businesses that misuse it, and may restrict flagging on the account or place a Consumer Warning on the profile.

For a genuine review, the alternative is search suppression: building other content that outranks it in search results.

What we don't do

We won't post fake reviews, or pay for them, to push a negative one down, and we don't promise removal. Trustpilot decides, and a review stays online if it doesn't breach its guidelines or the evidence isn't enough.

Common questions

Can I get a negative Trustpilot review removed just because it's unfair?

No. Trustpilot's guidelines say that not liking a star rating or disagreeing with a negative review isn't a valid reason for flagging it. The review needs to fall into one of its flag reasons: harmful or illegal content, personal information, advertising or promotion, not based on a genuine experience, or about a different business.

What if the review isn't from a real customer?

Flag it as "not based on a genuine experience" and explain why. Trustpilot may ask the reviewer to provide documentation, and a review stays online if there isn't enough evidence of a breach.

Is there an appeal if my flag is denied?

Yes. Reply to the decision email to explain why you think it's wrong, and Trustpilot's Content Integrity team will review it again. If you still disagree, you can submit a formal dispute using the link in the footer of the final decision email.

How long does Trustpilot take to review a flagged review?

Trustpilot hasn't published a fixed timeline. When it needs the reviewer to change a review or provide documentation, it asks for action within 3 days, and complicated tickets take longer. You get the outcome by email.

Does Trustpilot delete reviews?

Trustpilot says it doesn't delete reviews. A review that is taken offline can be reinstated if the reviewer later sends documentation or updates it.

Do I pay if the review isn't removed?

Our removal services are no-removal, no-fee: you're invoiced only once we achieve the removal defined in your Service Agreement. Search suppression is billed for the work performed.

Related

Dealing with a review on a different e-commerce platform? See our Amazon or Sitejabber removal guides, or the full Review Removal & Suppression service. If a review stays up, search suppression moves it down, and Google De-indexing covers pages that shouldn't appear in Google at all.

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