Google Maps

Product brand

Google Maps is Google’s digital mapping and navigation service, providing maps, route planning, directions, and location-related tools.

Last updated October 14, 2026

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Overview

Google Maps is a digital mapping and location service developed by Google. Launched in 2005, it grew from a web mapping product into a widely used service available on the web and through mobile applications. Its core functions include displaying maps, finding places and businesses, calculating routes, and providing turn-by-turn directions. Features and availability vary by country, device, and local data coverage. The service combines map data and location information with tools for different travel modes, including driving, walking, cycling, and public transit in supported areas. It also offers place listings and user-contributed information such as reviews, photos, and updates. Street View provides ground-level panoramic imagery in locations where coverage is available. Google Maps is also part of Google’s broader mapping ecosystem, which includes developer-facing mapping services and APIs. Google Maps operates internationally under the Google brand and is part of Google LLC, within Alphabet Inc. It is a service rather than an independent publicly listed company. Its broad appeal rests on combining everyday navigation with searchable local information and integration with Google’s other services. The product continues to be maintained and expanded, although specific features, data coverage, and terms differ across markets.

History

Google Maps launched in February 2005 as a web-based mapping service. Its early development drew on technology from Where 2 Technologies, an Australian mapping startup acquired by Google. The service brought interactive maps and route-finding tools to a browser-based interface at a time when online maps were becoming an increasingly practical alternative to printed directions. Google subsequently extended the product beyond its initial desktop experience. A major expansion came with Google Earth, which Google introduced in 2005 after acquiring Keyhole, a company whose technology supported a globe-based interface for viewing geographic imagery. Google Maps and Google Earth have remained distinct products, while contributing to the company’s larger mapping and geospatial portfolio. Google Maps also expanded to mobile devices, making location search and navigation more accessible while people were travelling. The service developed from a map viewer into a multi-purpose location platform. Over time Google added or expanded route guidance for different modes of travel, searchable business and place information, user reviews and photos, and traffic-related features. Street View, introduced in 2007, added panoramic, ground-level imagery in selected areas and became one of the service’s most recognizable features. Coverage and feature availability have varied by location and changed as Google added data and capabilities. Google also opened parts of its mapping technology to outside developers. Google Maps APIs, later organized under Google Maps Platform, enabled businesses and developers to incorporate maps, directions, and related location functions into their own products. This created a commercial developer-facing offering alongside the consumer service. Google Maps is operated as a Google product rather than as a separately incorporated public company. Google became part of Alphabet Inc. when Alphabet was established as Google’s parent company in 2015. The product continues to serve consumers, businesses, and developers, combining navigation with local discovery and mapping tools. Its history has involved ongoing changes to data, features, interfaces, and market availability; a feature present in one country or version is not necessarily available everywhere.

2015
Google becomes part of Alphabet
2007
Street View debuts
2005
Google Maps launches
2005
Google Earth joins Google’s mapping portfolio

Products and positioning

A mass-market mapping and navigation platform that pairs route guidance with searchable local places and location information, with broad international reach and integration into Google’s services.

Google Maps
Consumer mapping service for maps, place search, route planning, and navigation.
Google Maps Platform
Developer-facing mapping services and APIs for incorporating Google Maps capabilities into applications and websites.
Street View
Panoramic ground-level imagery available in covered locations through Google Maps and related products.

Controversies

2021
Google Maps reported to show inaccurate Queensland information
A report described inaccuracies in Google Maps in parts of outback Queensland, including Eromanga being shown about 85 kilometers from its actual location. Local officials also criticized outdated Street View imagery and delays in correcting locations.
Source
2021
Google agrees to pay €1.1 million in France over hotel ratings
Google agreed to pay €1.1 million to the French government over hotel ratings generated by Google Maps using its own scoring system instead of official tourism-department data. The report says the system violated French law.
Source

2026.10.08
Reported2026.10.07
Google Maps adds fuel prices in the UK using government Fuel Finder data[6]Google Maps 在英国通过政府 Fuel Finder 数据新增油价显示bbc.co.uk
From Thursday 8 October 2026, Google Maps began displaying UK forecourt locations and fuel prices in search results, using data supplied via the government's Fuel Finder scheme, to help motorists find cheaper petrol and diesel as fuel costs soar. Google said it would check the data independently and would only display prices it has high confidence are up to date.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
2022.01.18
Reported2022.01.18
Google releases Google Maps version 6.1 for iOS[7]Google发布iOS版Google Maps 6.1autoevolution.com
Google released version 6.1 of Google Maps for iOS, available to download from the App Store; the article says a changelog was not provided.
2021.10.06
Reported2021.10.06
Google Maps adds fuel-efficient route suggestions in the US[8]Google Maps在美国推出节能路线建议techcrunch.com
Google Maps began showing users in the US which driving routes are the most fuel-efficient. When the most fuel-efficient route is also the fastest, the app defaults to that route.
Unconfirmed
Reported2021.10.06
Google Maps version 5.79 update[9]Google Maps 5.79版本更新autoevolution.com
Google Maps released version 5.79 for iPhone and CarPlay. The article says the update has no changelog and reports that it appeared to resolve intermittent navigation interruptions on CarPlay running iOS 15.
2021.08.13
Reported2021.08.13
Google Maps update 5.75 for iPhone and CarPlay[10]Google Maps 推出 iPhone 和 CarPlay 版本 5.75 更新autoevolution.com
Google Maps received version 5.75 on iPhone and CarPlay. The article reports that the update sometimes leaves the app stuck in dark mode in the author’s tests.
2021.06.03
Reported2021.06.04
Waymo and Google Maps partner to offer autonomous rides[11]Waymo与Google Maps合作提供自动驾驶出行服务thehindu.com
Waymo said it partnered with Google Maps to let users book fully autonomous ride-hailing services through the app.
2021.04.15
Reported2021.04.15
Google Maps reported to show inaccurate Queensland information[4]Google Maps reported to show inaccurate Queensland informationautoevolution.com
A report described inaccuracies in Google Maps in parts of outback Queensland, including Eromanga being shown about 85 kilometers from its actual location. Local officials also criticized outdated Street View imagery and delays in correcting locations.
2021.03.03
Reported2021.03.03
Google Maps begins accounting for railroad crossings in travel times[12]Google Maps开始在行程时间中考虑铁路道口androidheadlines.com
Google Maps began providing travel-time adjustments that take railroad crossings into account; the feature was described as part of a gradual rollout and may not be available everywhere.
2021.02.17
Reported2021.02.17
ParkMobile parking payments added to Google Maps[13]Google Maps 集成 ParkMobile 停车付款功能prnewswire.com
ParkMobile announced a new solution enabling users to pay for parking from Google Maps. The feature started rolling out on Android on the announcement date, with iOS availability planned for later.
2021.02.16
Reported2021.02.16
Google agrees to pay €1.1 million in France over hotel ratings[5]Google agrees to pay €1.1 million in France over hotel ratingsgizchina.com
Google agreed to pay €1.1 million to the French government over hotel ratings generated by Google Maps using its own scoring system instead of official tourism-department data. The report says the system violated French law.

Sources31 sources

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Overview

History

Products and positioning

Controversies

Recent events

Sources31 sources