Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Apple to Expand App Store Search Ads With Multiple In-Result Slots in 2026

Placement will be determined automatically by auction rank rather than position bids.

Overview

  • New paid placements will appear further down App Store search results beyond the single top slot used today.
  • Existing search ad campaigns will be automatically eligible when the new units roll out in 2026 on devices running iOS and iPadOS 26.2 or later.
  • Advertisers cannot choose specific positions, and ad location may vary within a campaign based on bid amount and auction ranking.
  • Billing stays on cost per tap or cost per install, and the creative format remains the same using default or custom product pages with optional deep links.
  • Apple cites discovery metrics, including over 800 million weekly visitors, nearly 65% of downloads after a search, and about a 60% conversion rate for the top search ad.