Apple has officially started rolling out ads in Apple Maps across the United States and Canada, with more users expected to see sponsored listings over the coming weeks. The ads appear inside search-related areas of the Maps app and look similar to normal business listings, although Apple marks them with a small blue “Ad” label.
Apple first announced plans for Maps ads earlier this year and said the feature would arrive during the summer. The rollout has now started, giving businesses another way to promote locations directly inside the app when users search for nearby places or services.
9to5Mac reports that Apple began showing the ads to users over the last few days, while the company plans to expand availability gradually across both countries.
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Where Apple Maps ads appear
Apple Maps can show ads in two main areas. Users can see sponsored businesses inside Suggested Places before entering a full search, while relevant ads can also appear after searching for a specific keyword or type of business.
Apple places one sponsored listing at the top of a set of search results when a business has purchased an ad for a matching keyword. The company does not currently provide a setting that lets users disable Maps ads, although every sponsored result includes the blue “Ad” tag.
Apple also says Maps ads follow its existing privacy rules. The company says a user’s location, ad views, and interactions are not linked to an Apple Account, while personal data stays on the device and is not shared with third parties.
Businesses started gaining access to Maps ad placements in August, and Apple has offered a 15 percent credit toward future advertising spending. However, Apple blocks certain categories, including home services, bail bonds, and cryptocurrency ATM ads, while some medical advertising requires individual review.
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