Like it or not, ads will be coming to the Apple Maps app in 2026. They will appear in search results and in a Suggested Places section that will be added to the app in the United States and Canada. This month, ad slots went on sale for the first time, after Apple increased the number of ads served in the App Store earlier in 2026. So if you’re an app user, keep your eyes peeled for sponsored messages from companies trying to reach you.
The possibility of being able to disable advertisements seems distant, and so far Apple has said nothing about such an option. Maps’ ads will be context-based, meaning the system looks at the type of things you’re looking for in the app, the area of the map you’re looking at, and, if enabled, your approximate location. If you’re planning to restrict access to your location to avoid pop-up ads, this probably won’t do the trick. First, Maps will still be able to see the area of a map you’re looking at and serve ads based on it, and second, the app loses many very useful features once you turn off your location. For example, you can forget about turn-by-turn navigations.
If the very idea of ads on Apple Maps fills you with dismay, or you have other annoyances, like the large amount of storage it seems to take up, then there are a few other navigation apps you might want to check out instead.
Two ad-free map apps
Organic Maps is a popular open source maps app for iPhone and Android that could check a lot of boxes for people looking for an alternative to traditional navigation apps like Apple Maps and Google Maps. First of all, Organic Maps does not contain any advertisements. It also does not collect any data or identifiers from its users, making it perfect for privacy-conscious people. Launched in 2021 and using data from OpenStreetMaps, Organic Maps also does not require a subscription, making it completely free to use. With no advertising or fees, the project instead relies on donations and grants to survive. The app features hiking and cycling directions, voice guidance, route planning, bookmarks, and support for CarPlay and Android Auto. It also includes turn-by-turn navigation for driving, walking and cycling. You download the maps so they can work without a mobile data connection or Wi-Fi.
While Organic Maps is a solid enough app, if you want something more feature-rich, another open source app worth checking out is OsmAnd, for iPhone and Android. It offers a free, ad-free version, while the Maps+ tier costs $69.99 as a one-time purchase, or $14.99 per year for unlimited map downloads and more advanced features. The top-tier Pro plan costs $39.99 per year, $5.99 per month, or $450 as a one-time purchase, and includes features like 3D terrain, weather information, and enhanced backup and sync of your maps and data across devices. OsmAnd is a more powerful and configurable alternative to Organic Maps, with a level of customization and specialized mapping that goes beyond Apple Maps. If you prefer to avoid ads, Organic Maps and OsmAnd seem like two interesting alternatives, each offering their own unique approach to the map experience.
