How does Google Maps make money?

Google Maps makes money via search services, related services, and advertising. Here is a closer look at the ways Google Maps makes money:

• Advertising. Google Maps has search listing ads. This is utilized when a Google Maps user searches for a specific business or location of a business, such as looking for a gas station or trying to find the nearest Target or another franchised business.

  Businesses are listed at the top of the search, and the companies only pay Google when users select their business.

• Branded location pins. This is another form of advertising that generates revenue for Google Maps. Sometimes Google Maps displays branded pins for businesses on their map, even when users have not searched for a specific type of business or a specific business location.

  Businesses pay Google Maps to be included in this feature.

• Google Maps API. Google Maps also makes money from selling its Google Maps API data to other businesses and developers of applications that need navigational or mapping services.