Apple Maps will introduce ads this summer | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Apple Maps will introduce ads this summerComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...TechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsAppleCloseApplePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AppleApple Maps will introduce ads this summerApple is also launching a new small business plan setup that handles everything from laptops to local advertising.Apple is also launching a new small business plan setup that handles everything from laptops to local advertising.by Emma RothCloseEmma RothNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma RothMar 24, 2026, 3:44 PM UTCLinkShareGiftImage: Cath Virginia / The VergeEmma RothCloseEmma RothPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.Apple will soon allow businesses to buy advertisements in its Maps app. In an announcement on Tuesday, Apple says ads may appear at the top of your search results in Maps, as well as in a new “Suggested Places” list. They will arrive in-app in the US and Canada this summer.The company describes its Suggested Places feature as an experience that displays recommendations “based on what’s trending nearby, the user’s recent searches, and more.” It notes that it will clearly mark ads in the app, and that a “user’s location and the ads they see and interact with in Maps are not associated with a user’s Apple Account.” Apple maintains that it doesn’t collect user data or share it with third parties, as it’s all stored on-device.Ads could appear in your search results and in a new “Suggested Places” section. Image: AppleThe news comes just one day after Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple planned on allowing businesses to bid on certain keywords in Maps, like “sushi,” allowing their location to appear at the top of a user’s search results. Apple says ads in search results will appear “based on relevance.”Retailers and restaurants purchase ads in Maps by joining Apple’s new Business platform, which is set to replace its previous initiatives: Apple Business Connect, Apple Business Essentials, and Apple Business Manager. The platform, which launches on April 14th, is free and allows companies to manage apps, emails, security, cloud storage, and more across a range of devices. Businesses can also access their brand profile, edit how their company appears in place cards across Apple’s apps, manage tap-to-pay settings, and more from the Apple Business platform.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Emma RothCloseEmma RothNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma RothAppleCloseApplePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AppleAppsCloseAppsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AppsiPhoneCloseiPhonePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All iPhoneNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularNvidia CEO Jensen Huang says ‘I think we’ve achieved AGI’The US government just banned consumer routers made outside the USDonut Lab’s solid-state battery could barely hold a charge after getting damagedConfronting the CEO of the AI company that impersonated meVideoSome writing advice from Project Hail Mary’s Andy WeirThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Apple’s Maps application is set to undergo a significant shift this summer with the introduction of advertising, marking a notable departure from its traditionally ad-free model. This development, announced by Apple on Tuesday, will initially roll out across the United States and Canada, impacting both users and businesses. The core of the change revolves around two key features: targeted advertising within search results and a new “Suggested Places” section. Users will encounter advertisements at the top of their Maps search queries, and a dynamically generated list called “Suggested Places” will display location recommendations based on trending nearby locations, recent user searches, and other relevant data. Critically, Apple emphasizes that these ads will be clearly marked and that user location data and associated advertising interactions are not linked to an individual’s Apple account, maintaining a commitment to data privacy – storing all data on-device. This strategy utilizes a new Business platform, replacing existing initiatives like Apple Business Connect, Business Essentials, and Business Manager, launching on April 14th. This platform is free to use and provides businesses with a centralized hub to manage their digital presence across Apple’s ecosystem. Specifically, participating businesses can optimize how their brand appears across Maps, manage tap-to-pay settings, update their company information, and ensure relevancy through keyword bidding, potentially securing top placement in user searches for terms like “sushi.” Apple’s stated aim is to base these search result advertisements on relevance, aiming to deliver pertinent suggestions to users. Retailers and restaurants will gain access to this platform to promote their businesses within Maps. The new advertising system represents a diversification of Apple’s revenue streams, building upon its established software and hardware offerings. The introduction of this advertising framework also reflects broader industry trends as technology companies seek new ways to monetize their user bases, particularly in navigation and mapping applications. The move is accompanied by Emma Roth’s reporting, highlighting Apple’s planned keyword bidding system, presenting a more granular control for businesses seeking to influence user search results within Maps. The strategic implementation of these features underpins Apple’s broader push toward a more integrated and robust business ecosystem, supporting both consumer and commercial applications of its mapping technology.