Google Business Profile vs. Google My Business: What’s the Difference?

Google Business Profile and Google My Business are the same product — Google renamed Google My Business (GMB) to Google Business Profile (GBP) in 2022. If you still say “Google My Business,” you’re describing the same free listing that appears in Google Search and Maps. There’s no functional difference; only the name and how you manage it changed.

The naming confuses a lot of business owners, so here’s exactly what happened and what to call it now.

The short answer

They’re the same thing. “Google My Business” was the original name for Google’s free business listing product. In 2022, Google retired the Google My Business brand and renamed it Google Business Profile. Same listing, same purpose — appearing in local search and Maps and helping nearby customers find you.

What actually changed

The rename came with a shift in how you manage the listing:

• The name. Google My Business (GMB) became Google Business Profile (GBP).
• Where you manage it. Instead of a separate dashboard and standalone app, Google moved profile management directly into Google Search and Maps — you now edit your profile right where it appears by searching your business name while signed in, or through Maps.
• The standalone GMB app was retired. Management shifted into the tools you already use.

None of this changed the core function or the ranking factors. Your primary category, reviews, and profile completeness matter exactly as they did before.

Why the confusion persists

Old habits and old content. “Google My Business” was the name for years, so it’s baked into countless articles, courses, and conversations — and plenty of people still call it GMB out of habit. Search demand for both terms continues, which is why you’ll see the product referred to both ways. If someone says GMB and someone else says GBP, they mean the same thing.

What to call it now

Use Google Business Profile or GBP — that’s the current, official name. But don’t worry if a client, colleague, or older guide says Google My Business; you can treat the terms as interchangeable. What matters isn’t the label but whether the profile is optimized.

What actually matters (regardless of the name)

The name is trivia; the optimization is the real work. Whatever you call it, the same fundamentals drive results: choosing the most specific primary category, completing every field, earning steady recent reviews, and keeping your information consistent everywhere. (Here’s how to optimize it step by step, and the full Google Business Profile optimization service.)

Frequently asked questions

Is Google Business Profile the same as Google My Business? Yes — they’re the same product. Google renamed Google My Business to Google Business Profile in 2022, so the two terms refer to the identical free listing that appears in Google Search and Maps. There’s no functional difference; only the name and the way you manage the listing changed.

When did Google My Business become Google Business Profile? Google rebranded Google My Business as Google Business Profile in 2022, retiring the older GMB name. Around the same time, it moved profile management out of a standalone dashboard and app and into Google Search and Maps directly, where the profile appears.

Do I still use the Google My Business app? No — the standalone Google My Business app was retired. You now manage your Google Business Profile directly through Google Search (by searching your business name while signed in) and through Google Maps, rather than a separate app or dashboard.

Why do people still say Google My Business? Because the product carried that name for years, so it’s embedded in older articles, courses, and everyday habit, and many people still call it GMB. Search interest in both terms continues, which is why you’ll see it referred to both ways. When someone says GMB, they mean Google Business Profile.

How do I manage my Google Business Profile now? You manage it directly in Google Search and Maps. Sign in with the Google account that owns the profile and search your business name to bring up the management options, or edit it through Google Maps. From there you can update your category, information, hours, photos, and respond to reviews.

Does the name change affect my rankings or optimization? No — the rename didn’t change how the profile works or which factors drive rankings. Your primary category, reviews, and profile completeness matter exactly as before. Whether you call it GMB or GBP, the optimization work is the same, so focus on the fundamentals rather than the label.

Which term should I use, GBP or GMB? Use Google Business Profile or GBP, since that’s the current official name. But the terms are interchangeable in practice, so it’s fine if you or others still say Google My Business. The important thing is optimizing the profile well, not which name you use for it.

Written by Bryan Collins, SEO & AEO strategist. Whatever you call it, want it optimized? See managed GBP service or run a free site audit.