Apple begins rolling out ads in Apple Maps for US and Canada

Apple has officially begun rolling out advertisements within the Apple Maps app, initially targeting users in the United States and Canada. The rollout includes sponsored placements in the ‘Suggested Places’ section before a search is initiated, as well as at the top of search results when a business has purchased relevant keywords. Each set of search results is limited to one advertisement, which is clearly identified by a blue ‘Ad’ label.

Users currently have no option to disable these advertisements. Apple has emphasized a privacy-first approach, stating that interactions with ads are not linked to a user’s Apple Account and that personal data remains on the device rather than being collected or shared with third parties.

To encourage adoption, Apple has offered businesses a 15% credit toward future advertising spend. The company has also implemented strict advertising policies, prohibiting certain categories such as home services, bail bonds, and cryptocurrency ATMs. While medical service advertisements may be permitted, they are subject to case-by-case review.