The unavailability of ads in Apple Maps was one of the main reasons I always considered it slightly better than Google Maps. But it's now confirmed that we'll soon see ads in Apple Maps too.
But will you get the option to disable them, what about your privacy, and the most important question – will it remain exclusive to certain countries or roll out globally? Here's everything you need to know.
Why are ads even being added to Apple Maps?
According to a blog post published by Apple recently, ads in Apple Maps are part of a revamped strategy the company is calling Apple Business. In simple terms, it will basically allow Apple to increase its revenue.
By allowing ads in Apple Maps, the company could easily generate a good amount of money from a service that it used to offer for free, without asking for any money from users like you and me. Businesses like restaurants and gas stations will pay Apple a good amount to appear in your search results.
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Reports suggest that the tech giant made over $100 billion in 2025 just from its service businesses, which include things like the iCloud app, App Store purchases, and more. The addition of ads could take this figure even higher.
That said, advertisements will appear in the app's search interface, and they will be relevant to your search results. A new Suggested Places section will also be added, which will apparently display areas that are currently trending in your locality. For instance, if you search for restaurants, Apple Maps can recommend a trending restaurant in the Suggested Places section.
You can't run away from ads
Ads in Apple Maps. | Image by Apple
It doesn't matter whether you like it or not, you won't get the option to disable ads in Apple Maps. This is the same behavior that the company has adopted for the App Store.
Initially, the ads will only be shown to users in the United States and Canada. But why would Apple limit its earnings by displaying ads only in these two countries? That's why I strongly believe they will start rolling out to other regions as well.
What will you do once Apple Maps gets ads?
Apple Maps' other features easily overshadow ads for me.
13.79%
I'll switch to another navigation app like Waze.
72.41%
I won't update to iOS 26.5.
13.79%
29 Votes
Will your privacy take a hit?
From everything the Cupertino giant has shared about its ad implementation, it looks like the answer is a clear no. Your privacy would not take a hit. Your current location and the ads you show interest in within Apple Maps are not connected to your Apple account at all.
Furthermore, no data will be reportedly shared with any third-party services or advertisers. All that said, ads will appear on both iPad and iPhone.
Come on, Apple, you shouldn't have done this
I'm genuinely not impressed by the news that ads are coming to Apple Maps. I have the same feeling I had when I first encountered ads in Google Maps. In fact, you'll find plenty of posts online where users call out Google for adding ads to its navigation service.
So, basically, it looks like Apple is becoming the new Google. The worst thing is that you will see ads the moment you open Google Maps, no matter whether you have searched for anything or not. They will appear at the bottom of the homepage.
I really hope Apple doesn't go with this approach. The company has slowly started inserting ads into almost all its services. The App Store, Apple News+, and Stocks are a few of the services that already display ads.
That said, signs related to Map ads have reportedly been spotted in the iOS 26.5 beta update. Its stable build is likely to be available in late May or early June, and I believe ads will also go live with it.
Although there's no official way to opt out, you can try a workaround. Since ads will most likely appear in Maps with iOS 26.5, you should avoid downloading this update. However, I'd recommend this only if you really hate ads, as updating your device is really crucial for keeping it secure against the latest bugs and glitches.
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Aman Kumar is a news writer at PhoneArena covering Google Pixel phones, Android features, AI-powered smartphone tools, and mobile tech news. Before joining PhoneArena, he spent over five years writing about consumer technology for publications like MakeUseOf, How-To Geek, and Guiding Tech. His current daily drivers are the Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus, while his red iPhone SE (2nd gen) remains a personal favorite. Aman also appreciates bold smartphone experiments and still considers the Nokia N-Gage one of the industry’s most iconic designs.
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