Apple to Introduce Search Ads in Maps
Apple is expanding its advertising efforts to Apple Maps, allowing businesses to pay for prominence in search results. The move, reported by Bloomberg, is part of a broader strategy to grow revenue from Apple’s services division.
How Apple Maps Ads Will Work
Similar to Google Maps, Apple’s latest advertising system will enable retailers and brands to bid for ad slots based on user search queries. For example, a restaurant could bid on keywords like “sushi” or “pizza” to appear at the top of search results when users search for those terms in Apple Maps. 9to5Mac details that the system will mirror the App Store’s search ad model, but focus on businesses rather than app installations.
Impact on Apple’s Services Revenue
Apple’s services division, which includes the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV+, iCloud, and advertising, generated over $109 billion in revenue in 2025. Introducing ads to Apple Maps is expected to further boost this revenue stream. Apple already features advertising within its App Store, News, and Stocks apps, and recently announced plans to expand ad slots within the App Store in the UK and Japan, with a subsequent rollout to the US and other countries. MacRumors covered the App Store ad expansion plans in January 2026.
Recent Apple Maps Updates
The introduction of ads comes alongside recent improvements to Apple Maps, including features like preferred routes for navigation, a visited places log, and natural language search powered by Apple Intelligence. These updates, part of iOS 26, aim to enhance the overall user experience.
Timeline for Rollout
Apple is expected to announce the new advertising feature this month, with ads beginning to appear in Apple Maps this summer on iPhone, other devices, and the web version of the app. 9to5Mac reports this timeline based on information from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg.