Google $100 Million AdWords Clicks Class Action Settlement

Google LLC

If you advertised through Google AdWords in the United States between 2004 and 2012, you may be eligible to receive a cash payment from a class action settlement.

Google LLC has agreed to pay $100 million to resolve a class action lawsuit that alleged the company misrepresented its AdWords location targeting and smart pricing features, resulting in advertisers being charged for clicks outside their selected locations and for alleged overcharges on certain bundled ad placements.

Who is eligible for a Google settlement payout?

You are a class member if you qualify for one or both of the following categories:

Location Targeting Class:

You are a person or entity residing in the United States.
You advertised through Google's AdWords Program between January 1, 2004 and March 22, 2011.
You paid for clicks on your Google AdWords advertisements and those clicks did not originate from the location you selected as an advertiser.

Search Bundled Clicks Class:

You are a person or entity located in the United States.
You advertised through Google’s AdWords Program between June 1, 2009 and December 13, 2012.
You paid for clicks on ads on Google’s Display Network where your settings allowed ads to show on both the Search and Display Networks, and did not set a Display Network bid different from the Search Network bid.

How much is the Google AdWords class action payment?

Pro Rata Cash Payment: Your settlement payment amount will be determined by the proposed Allocation Methodology detailed on the settlement website. Your payment amount must be at least $1.00 in order to qualify.

Location Targeting Class damages will be calculated as the total cost of clicks that did not originate from a selected location.
Search Bundled Clicks Class damages will be calculated using the a formula that is attributable to the alleged 6% overcharge Google applied to these purchases. Click Cost – (Click Cost / 1.06 \* 1)
If a paid for click qualifies for both classes, only the Location Targeting click damages will be included in your payment. There will not be a recovery from both classes for any click.
Only one payment will be issued per Customer ID/Account Number. Class members should not submit more than one Payment Form per Customer ID/Account Number.

How to claim a Google class action rebate

To receive an AdWords payment, class members must submit a completed Payment Form by the deadline of July 20, 2025. You can file a claim online or print the PDF claim form and mail it to the settlement administrator.

Settlement Administrator's mailing address:

AdWords Clicks Class Action, c/o Settlement Administrator, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Required Payment Form information

Settlement Notice ID, if available
Google Customer ID required on claim form if you did not receive a settlement email notification
Company or Entity name if not submitting as an individual

Payout options

You can choose one of the following payment methods:

Paper check mailed to address provided
Virtual Prepaid MasterCard
Venmo
ACH transfer, available for online claim submitters only

$100 Million Google AdWords settlement fund breakdown

The $100,000,000 settlement fund will include:

Settlement administration costs: Estimated at $897,972
Attorneys' fees: Up to $33,000,000
Attorneys' expenses: Not to exceed $4,200,000
Service awards to class representatives: Up to $20,000 total
Payments to class members with completed Payment Forms: Remaining settlement funds after deductions

Important dates

Deadline to File a Claim: July 20, 2025
Deadline to Request Exclusion or Opt Back In: July 20, 2025
Final Fairness Hearing: August 21, 2025

When is the Google AdWords Clicks class action settlement payout date?

Payments will be issued to class members with completed Payment Forms after the court grants final approval of the settlement and any appeals are resolved.

Why did this class action lawsuit and settlement happen?

This lawsuit was brought against Google LLC by advertisers who claimed that Google misrepresented its AdWords location targeting and smart pricing features. Plaintiffs alleged that Google charged for clicks outside of advertisers’ selected locations and manipulated the smart pricing formula, resulting in overcharges. Google denied all allegations but agreed to settle to avoid the expense and uncertainty of further litigation.