3 Popular Web Services That Are Actually Owned by Google

Have you ever wondered what services are from Google? With such a huge company like it is, keeping track of exactly what Google owns is tough.

Google is more than just Google. Here are some popular services you likely use every day but may not have realized were owned by Google.

1. reCAPTCHA

CAPTCHAs are those little widgets that ask you to type a few words, usually when posting a comment or signing up for a service. They serve to prevent bots from spamming websites. Google acquired reCAPTCHA in 2009, offering a better implementation than standard CAPTCHAs for two reasons.

First, it’s less annoying for people to solve as it allows suspected humans to complete it by just checking a box. Second, it helps improve Google services because the reCAPTCHA prompts you to enter text from street signs in Google Street View. It once had users transcribe books as well.

2. Blogger

Running your own blog is fun, but hosting and building a website might deter some. Blogger, bought by Google in 2003, makes it simple to get your own blog running. Selecting a theme and getting started is easy for newcomers, and you can even put ads on your blog to make some money.

3. YouTube

One of Google’s best-known properties, YouTube is the world’s largest video site. In fact, it’s the second-most popular site in the world behind only Google itself.

YouTube started in early 2005 when three former PayPal employees created it. Google bought the site in late 2006. Nowadays, users watch a billion hours of YouTube content every day.

Of course, this is a very limited look at all the services Google provides. Major offerings also include Google Translate, Chrome, Android, Google+, and more. Check out a much longer list of Google services if you’re interested in learning more.