It’s 2025, and one way or the other, Apple Maps nonetheless doesn’t have adverts. Whereas nearly all the competitors has applied some type of commercials of their cellular apps, the Maps app stays ad-free. Sadly, which may not be the case for for much longer.
Within the newest version of his Energy On publication, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman stated that whereas there’s “no timeline or energetic engineering being accomplished” on Apple Maps adverts, the corporate has not too long ago instructed workers that it’s “exploring” the thought of bringing adverts to the platform. The adverts would present up within the type of paid search outcomes, much like Google Maps or Yelp, the place companies will pay to have their listings present up forward of others on related searches.
Not solely is that this not the primary time we’ve heard rumors about Apple Maps adverts, however Gurman himself reported on their impending arrival practically three years in the past.
Right here’s what Gurman claimed in a 2022 version of his publication: “I imagine the engineering work is already underway to launch search adverts within the Apple Maps app, and we must always start to see or not it’s applied someday subsequent yr.”
Clearly, that didn’t come to fruition however don’t be shocked in the event you see sponsored outcomes if you search in Apple’s Maps apps within the coming months.
In the meantime, Apple remains to be engaged on bringing an ad-supported subscription to Apple TV+ as properly. Much like its mapping counterpart, the premium streaming service is likely one of the remaining holdouts within the trade with no cheaper advert tier on provide.
