Overview
- Apple confirmed that ads started appearing for Maps users in the United States and Canada on Tuesday, August 25, and the company says placement will ramp up to more users over the coming weeks.
- Ads show in two locations: Suggested Places when you tap the search bar and at the top of relevant search results, with only one paid result per search and a blue "Ad" label that cannot be turned off.
- Apple says Maps ad matching and interaction data stay on the user’s device, are not tied to an Apple account, are not collected or stored by Apple, and are not shared with third parties.
- Apple’s Advertising Services policy blocks specific categories from Maps ads, including home services, bail bonds, and cryptocurrency ATMs, while medical-service ads are reviewed case by case.
- Apple opened bookings for businesses in August and offered an introductory 15% ad-credit to early buyers, a move that could boost local business visibility but has already prompted user complaints about losing an ad‑free experience.