Apple Maps has ads now

<figure> <img alt="Two screenshots of ads in Apple Maps" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Apple" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/Apple-Business-ads-on-Apple-Maps.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Ads have started popping up in Apple Maps, following Apple's <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/899597/apple-maps-ads-launch-summer-2026">announcement</a> in March that it would let businesses pay for top spots. They're appearing on my iPhone as the first entry in the "suggested places" section in search, but Apple says they'll also show up <a href="https://ads.apple.com/maps">at the top of search results</a>. According to <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/25/apple-maps-launches-ads-on-iphone-heres-whats-new/"><em>9to5Mac</em></a>, the ads began rolling out this week, and more users in the US and Canada will start seeing them over the next few weeks. </p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">They're marked with a blue "ad" icon, similar to the ads Google's had <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2016/5/24/11761794/google-maps-promoted-pins-announced-ads-coupons">in its Maps app</a> for years now. I was also greeted with a pop-up warning me about the ads when I launched the Maps app this morning:</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Maps may …</p></blockquote> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/985249/apple-maps-iphone-ads">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>