Apple is reportedly planning to integrate paid advertisements directly into Apple Maps as early as next year. According to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, this move would allow businesses to pay for more prominent placement in search results.
What's happening with Apple Maps?
Just when you thought Apple's ecosystem was a safe haven from ads, think again. According to a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is "gaining traction" on its plan to bring paid ads to Apple Maps, with a potential launch as early as next year.
This isn't about pop-up banners. The idea is to let businesses, like restaurants or shops, pay to have their listings featured more prominently when you search within the app. Gurman notes this concept is very similar to the Search Ads we already see in the App Store, where developers can pay to get the top slot in search queries.
Why is this a big deal?
The Apple Maps experience might look very different from this by next year. | Image credit — Apple
We all know that Google has been doing this for ages in Google Maps. If you search for "coffee" in Google Maps, the first result or two is often a "Sponsored" pin. It's just part of the deal when you use a "free" service from an advertising company.
But that's the whole point—Apple isn't supposed to be an advertising company. They sell premium, expensive hardware and have built their entire brand on being the privacy-first, user-focused alternative. This is where Apple faces a huge risk of backlash.
As Gurman points out, customers are already annoyed by the constant upselling for Apple's own services like Apple TV+ and AppleCare+ on devices they paid a premium for. Adding third-party ads to a core utility like Maps just feels like an "unseemly money grab," as Gurman aptly puts it. It risks cheapening the entire premium experience.
Do you use Apple Maps, Google Maps, or Waze for navigation?
Apple Maps
55.56%
Google Maps
11.11%
Waze
33.33%
Other
0%
My take on this situation
Honestly, this whole thing feels inevitable, but that doesn't make it any less disappointing. I'm mainly a Google Maps user, but every once in a while, if I'm using an iPhone, I switch to Apple Maps for its clean and straightforward UI, and the fact that it isn't trying to sell me something with every tap. While I find Google Maps to be incredibly powerful and way more accurate, its ad-first nature is a constant, low-level annoyance.
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Gurman's sources claim Apple's ad interface will be "better" and use AI to be "relevant." But let's be blunt: a "better" ad is still an ad. It's a distraction from the one thing I want Maps to do: get me from point A to point B.
This move isn't for users. It's for Apple's ever-growing Services revenue spreadsheet.
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Johanna 'Jojo the Techie' is a skilled mobile technology expert with over 15 years of hands-on experience, specializing in the Google ecosystem and Pixel devices. Known for her user-friendly approach, she leverages her vast tech support background to provide accessible and insightful coverage on latest technology trends. As a recognized thought leader and former member of #TeamPixel, Johanna ensures she stays at the forefront of Google services and products, making her a reliable source for all things Pixel and ChromeOS.
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