Apple Maps ads have finally arrived after months of buildup, with the first sponsored listings rolling out on iPhones across the US and Canada.
In March, Apple confirmed it would bring ads to Apple Maps. The ads were part of the greater Apple Business rollout.
It wasn't known exactly when Apple would begin rolling out the ads, but the company had set a tentative release date for Summer 2026. And, true to its word, we're now seeing ads popping up in Apple Maps.
When you open Apple Maps on iPhone, you'll see ads in two key places. The first is when you tap the search bar, but before you search for anything specific.
The second is in the actual search results. Apple has said that results will only appear here when relevant.
Apple has confirmed to 9to5Mac that the rollout began in the past few days. Ads are rolling out gradually in parts of the US and Canada.
Apple has promised a privacy-first advertising model. Unsurprisingly, the rules for advertising on Apple Maps are significantly stricter than those of Google Maps.
For instance, Apple Maps has strict prohibitions on certain advertising categories outright. Banned categories include bail bonding services and cryptocurrency ATMs.
Additionally, any home services ads are also banned. Medical services aren't banned outright, but will need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
