Apple will reportedly bring search ads to its Apple Maps app next year
Apple is expected to introduce advertising to Apple Maps in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. This update will allow businesses such as restaurants and retailers to pay for their details to appear more prominently within user search results, marking a notable shift in Apple’s approach to its mapping service.
Following established models, the Apple Maps ad system will function similarly to App Store search ads, where companies can pay for promoted visibility based on specific user queries. Apple intends to surpass competitors, stating that its Maps ad interface should outperform options currently found in Google Maps and Waze in terms of design and usability.
To ensure search results remain useful, Apple will leverage artificial intelligence, matching promoted listings to relevant user interests and queries. This technology is intended to minimize unwanted intrusions and maintain the value of Maps for everyday users.
However, Apple risks pushback from customers who are increasingly vocal about advertising across its ecosystem. Many users have expressed concerns about more services integrating ads into devices that already command premium prices. Apple faces the challenge of balancing new revenue streams with customer expectations.
- GPS Navigation Service
- Free
- Proprietary
Related news
External links
- Apple is moving ahead with plan to bring ads to Maps appBloomberg
- Apple Reportedly Moving Ahead With Ads in Maps AppMacRumors
- Ads likely coming to Apple Maps in 2026AppleInsider
- Apple may introduce search ads to Apple Maps starting next year, per report9to5Mac
- Apple is reportedly getting ready to introduce ads to its Maps appEngadget
- Apple Maps Turning Into a Billboard? Ads Reportedly Coming SooniPhone in Canada
Comments
Apple has long relying of TomTom to get its data, but is thriving to get it's own. And mapping the whole world (even with very disparate level of precision around the globe) is a giant amount of work (translated in billions dollars since its inception 10 years again), with a big team of experts dedicated to it. And since Map is part of the Apple ecosystem, like other services, it must be financially independent (because of how Capitalism works). Now, knowing how much Apple is always willing to take a share of any transaction whatsoever, I'd expected Apple asking all shopkeepers displayed of the map to give 30% of their annual revenue. It's certainly Apple's plan B.
Apple realized selling good overpriced hardware was not as profitable as SaaS so that's why you've seen a push towards Apple Services, of course they need ads to make even more money and of course it has an impact on users privacy but hey Apple-fans are still going to defend them as a company even though Tim Cook doesn't give a f*ck about them and just want more money.
And you think Sundar Pichai does?
Of course not but the whole Google marketing isn't about Privacy unlike Apple. All tech giants seems to be in the same basket honestly.
I Disagree, look at each tech giant’s ultimate end state. For Apple it’s to sell you, like you said “ good overpriced hardware”. For google it’s about serving you ads. Whatever gets them ultimately to that end state is where they will go. If Apple thinks they can take the cream off the top by getting just a little more money from Apple Maps let them. There not collecting information there just selling space on their own platform.