Google Business Profile · Guide

Google My Business vs
Google Business Profile

Whether there is any real difference between Google My Business and Google Business Profile, why Google changed the name in 2021 and which term to use now so you are not confused by either.

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Updated: June 2026
Written by: Andrew Odgers, Managing Director
Reading time: 6 minutes
The short answer

There is no real difference between Google My Business and Google Business Profile, because they are the same tool: Google renamed Google My Business to Google Business Profile in 2021.

The change was mostly about wording and where you manage your listing, with Google moving the controls directly into Search and Maps rather than a separate app but the listing itself and what it does are unchanged.

Google Business Profile is the current, correct term, though many people and older guides still say Google My Business, so when you see either, treat them as the same free listing that puts your business on Google.

The detailed answer

Two names, one tool

If you have read anything about local SEO, you will have seen both Google My Business and Google Business Profile, sometimes in the same article. It is natural to wonder whether they are different things. The short answer is no. Here is the full story so you are never confused by either term.

They are the same tool

Google My Business and Google Business Profile are two names for the same free tool that manages your business listing on Google. There is no difference in what it does, only in what it is called, so anything written about one applies equally to the other, whichever name is used.

One tool, two labels. What it is is covered in What Is Google My Business?

Google renamed it in 2021

In late 2021 Google rebranded Google My Business as Google Business Profile. The old name had been in use for years, which is why it lingers but the official term is now Google Business Profile, so that is the name Google itself uses across its help pages and tools today.

The rename is the whole difference. The basics are in What Is Google My Business?

The management moved into Search and Maps

Alongside the rename, Google moved profile management for many businesses directly into Google Search and Google Maps, retiring the old standalone app. So rather than a separate dashboard, you now often manage your profile by searching your own business name while signed in, which is where the controls appear.

Where you manage it changed too. Claiming your profile is covered in How to Claim Your Google Business Profile

The listing itself is unchanged

Despite the new name and management location, the listing and what it does are the same: it shows your details, reviews, photos and posts and helps you appear in local search and the map. The rename did not change the value or function, only the branding around it.

Function stayed the same. Optimising it is covered in How to Optimise Your Google Business Profile for Local SEO

Which term should you use?

Use Google Business Profile, since it is the current, correct term. That said, Google My Business is still widely understood and used, so you will not be wrong to recognise it, you just may sound a little dated. When you see either, treat them as the same thing without a second thought.

Google Business Profile is the current term. The setup is covered in How to Set Up a Google Business Profile for a New Business

Why the old name lingers

Google My Business was the name for the better part of a decade, so it is deeply embedded in guides, courses and habits. Name changes take time to filter through, which is why you still see the old term constantly, even though Google retired it a while ago in favour of the new one.

Old habits stick. How Google ranks profiles is covered in How Does Google Decide Which Businesses Appear in the Local Pack?

What it means for you

Practically, the name makes no difference to how you use the tool. Whether you call it Google My Business or Google Business Profile, the steps to claim, verify, optimise and manage your listing are the same, so you can follow any good guide regardless of which term it uses.

The how to is identical either way. The full picture is in the Google Business Profile Guide

In short, there is no real difference between Google My Business and Google Business Profile: they are the same tool, renamed in 2021, with management moved into Search and Maps. Google Business Profile is the current term, so when you see either, treat them as the same free listing.

This guide is part of our complete Google Business Profile Guide. The hub brings together every question a business asks about Google Business Profile, from setting up and verifying through to optimisation, reviews, insights and ranking in the map, each written in plain UK English.

Part of the guide Google Business Profile Guide View all guides →
Keep reading

More from the Google Business Profile guide

Getting to grips with it? Start with What Is Google My Business?, add your business via How Do I Add My Business to Google?, then claim it with How to Claim Your Google Business Profile

GBP Guide

What Is Google My Business?

Read article → GBP Guide

How Do I Add My Business to Google?

Read article → GBP Guide

How to Claim Your Google Business Profile

Read article →
Frequently asked

Google My Business vs Business Profile

What is the difference between Google My Business and Google Business Profile?
There is no real difference, because they are the same tool: Google renamed Google My Business to Google Business Profile in 2021. The change was mostly about wording and where you manage your listing, with Google moving the controls into Search and Maps rather than a separate app but the listing itself and what it does are unchanged. Google Business Profile is the current term, though many still say Google My Business.
When did Google My Business become Google Business Profile?
In late 2021. Google rebranded Google My Business as Google Business Profile and the official term has been Google Business Profile ever since. The old name had been in use for years, which is why it still lingers in guides and conversation but Google itself now uses Google Business Profile across its help pages and tools, so that is the current, correct name.
Are Google My Business and Google Business Profile the same thing?
Yes, exactly the same. They are two names for the same free tool that manages your business listing on Google, with no difference in what it does, only in what it is called. Anything written about one applies equally to the other, so you can follow any good guide whichever term it uses, since the listing and its function are identical under both names.
Why did Google change the name?
Google rebranded the tool as part of simplifying how businesses manage their presence, moving profile management for many businesses directly into Google Search and Maps and retiring the old standalone app. The rename to Google Business Profile reflected that shift but it did not change the listing itself or what it does, only the branding and where you manage it from.
Which term should I use now?
Use Google Business Profile, since it is the current, correct term that Google itself uses. That said, Google My Business is still widely understood, so you will not be wrong to recognise it, you just may sound a little dated. When you see either term, treat them as the same thing, because there is no practical difference between them for managing your listing.
Where do I manage my profile now?
For many businesses, directly in Google Search and Google Maps rather than a separate app. Alongside the rename, Google moved profile management into Search and Maps and retired the old standalone dashboard, so you now often manage your profile by searching your own business name while signed in to your Google account, which is where the management controls appear.
Does the name change affect how I use it?
No. Practically, the name makes no difference to how you use the tool, since whether you call it Google My Business or Google Business Profile, the steps to claim, verify, optimise and manage your listing are the same. You can follow any good guide regardless of which term it uses, because only the branding changed, not the function or the way you work with it.