AdWords Rebrands to Google Ads (2018)
AdWords became Google Ads; DoubleClick merged into Google Marketing Platform.
DateJul 24, 2018
PlatformGoogle Ads
TypePlatform event
Who it affectsAll advertisers
What happened
On July 24, 2018, AdWords was renamed Google Ads to reflect that it covered search, display, YouTube, apps and more. Google also launched Google Marketing Platform and Google Ad Manager.
Who it affected
All advertisers.
What it means for marketers today
Older guides referring to ‘AdWords’ describe the same platform, but many settings and features have changed since then.
Related
See the full Google Ads History: Every Major Change (2000–2025)