Highlights
- Apple is reportedly planning to introduce paid search ads in Apple Maps by spring 2026.
- The system will resemble App Store ads, using keyword bidding and AI algorithms to ensure sponsored listings are relevant and visually refined.
- Critics warn of consumer dissatisfaction citing growing ad presence across iOS despite premium device pricing.
Apple may soon start showing advertisements within Apple Maps with the feature expected to roll out in 2026. The tip comes from the latest edition of Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter. The move is said to be part of Apple’s broader push to expand its advertising business across iOS. Here’s what we know so far.
Ads in Apple Maps Soon
The Bloomberg report suggests that Apple’s internal advertising division is “gaining traction,” and the company now has a roadmap to integrate paid placements into Apple Maps’ search feature next year. This would allow businesses to pay for higher visibility in search results, giving them more prominent placement when users look for relevant locations or services.
Gurman notes that the system will function “quite similar” to the App Store’s advertising model, where developers can bid on specific keywords to improve discoverability. However, unlike the App Store that displays ads on its main page, Apple Maps won’t feature homepage ads, at least initially.
Apple reportedly plans to use AI algorithms to ensure that sponsored listings remain “relevant and useful” to users. Gurman also claims that Apple is working to make the Maps advertising interface more intuitive and visually polished than Google Maps, according to Bloomberg.
Possible Consumer Backlash
While the move could open a new revenue stream for Apple, Gurman warns that it also comes with risks. “The big risk Apple faces here is a potential consumer backlash,” Gurman wrote. “Some customers are already unhappy that the iPhone has been turned into a digital billboard for services like AppleCare+, Apple Music, Apple TV and Fitness+. The company also pushes web-like ad slots within Apple News. When you consider that an iPhone can cost up to $2,000, some see this as an unseemly money grab.”
If Apple sticks to its current timeline, ads in Apple Maps could make their debut with iOS 26.4 or iOS 26.5. As for possible timing, it will most likely arrive sometime in the spring of 2026.
Apple is yet to officially confirm this development that would signal a continued expansion of Apple’s advertising ecosystem.
FAQs
Q1. When will Apple Maps start showing ads?
Answer. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple plans to roll out search ads in Apple Maps by spring 2026, likely with iOS 26.4 or iOS 26.5.
Q2. How will ads work in Apple Maps?
Answer. Businesses will be able to bid on keywords to appear more prominently in search results, similar to the App Store’s ad model. Homepage ads won’t be included initially.
Q3. Will Apple use AI to manage these ads in Apple Maps?
Answer. Yes, Apple reportedly plans to use AI algorithms to ensure sponsored listings in Maps are relevant and useful, with a more polished interface than Google Maps.