Apple announced that advertisers will soon be able to target customers on Apple Maps in the U.S. and Canada. Businesses with a physical location and an Apple Maps listing can use this service. Users will see these ads alongside search results.
The ads are part of Apple’s new Apple Business, which includes email, calendar, and directory services, along with tools for managing employee devices.
There will be one ad per Maps search result, marked with a blue halo and labeled as an ad, similar to the App Store ads.
Introducing ads to Apple Maps allows Apple to generate additional revenue without changing its product significantly. Users are accustomed to ads on map services, like Google Maps. The move could boost Apple’s profits significantly as its ads business expands.
Apple assures users their privacy is protected. Ad interactions won’t be linked to user accounts, and personal data remains on the device without being collected or shared.
To create and run an ad, businesses must have an Apple Maps listing. They can upload photos, add promotional messages, and set their budgets. Ads are placed using automated matching based on user searches. Campaigns can be started or stopped at any time.
Larger advertisers have advanced options, like scheduling and location targeting.
The addition of ads in Maps, reported by Bloomberg, involves a bidding process. Apple confirmed the ads use an auction-based pricing model, where advertisers pay based on outcomes like views or clicks.
Apple’s advertising business expansion accompanies a change in business offerings. Apple’s tools and services will be unified under the name Apple Business.
From April 14, 2026, Apple Business will launch in 200 countries and regions, providing a suite of business tools, including a new employee directory, email, and calendar.
Employee accounts come with free 5 GB iCloud storage. U.S. businesses can upgrade storage plans, starting at $0.99 per user/month (up to 2 TB user storage). AppleCare+ for Business is available, priced per user or device, starting at $6.99/month.
The offering includes free tools for businesses, improved MDM for app distribution, now offered for free.
Smaller businesses can use “Blueprints” to set up employee devices easily, while larger companies can manage app deployments via API.