Apple launches Ads on Maps advertising platform in US and Canada

Apple has launched its “Ads on Maps” advertising platform in the United States and Canada, allowing businesses to create campaigns to reach customers through targeted, location-based ads. While campaign creation is now open, Apple has indicated that the ads themselves will not begin serving to users for several more weeks.

The platform enables businesses to upload photos, include promotional messages, and utilize location and time-based targeting. Small businesses with five or fewer locations can manage media directly through Apple Business, while larger entities or existing Apple Ads advertisers will use the broader Apple Ads platform.

To encourage adoption, Apple is offering a promotional incentive: a 15% monthly credit on media purchases made via credit card through October 11, 2026. This credit is capped at $1,000 per month and is applied to the following month’s spending. Apple reports that over one billion relevant business searches occur on Apple Maps monthly, with approximately half resulting in user action.