Apple last year started displaying ads in the App Store when a user searches for a particular app as a way to provide developers with a way to improve app discovery via keyword search.

Searching for a term like "to-do" or "calendar" or even something specific like "Tweetbot" surfaces ads that are purchased by developers.

Starting today, Apple is expanding search ads with a new ad product called "Search Ads Basic," while also renaming the existing search ad feature to "Search Ads Advanced," reports TechCrunch.

searchadsapple
Search Ads Advanced, like the initial Search Ads option, requires developers to pay whenever an ad is tapped. Search Ads Basic allows developers to pay for actual app installations received from the ad, rather than taps.

With Search Ads Advanced, developers are able to select specific keywords and demographics when delivering ads, while Search Ads Basic simply allows developers to choose a monthly budget and a maximum cost-per-install, with far less customization.

Search Ads Basic includes suggestions on how much a developer should pay based on historical data pulled from the App Store based on the type of app being marketed, and it uses App Store trends to target the ideal audience.

There's a maximum monthly budget of $5,000 for Search Ads Basic, but there are no limitations on which apps or companies can use the feature, so it's available to both independent developers and larger companies.

At launch, Search Ads Basic will be limited to the United States, rolling out to additional markets next year.

Top Rated Comments

amattholl Avatar
104 months ago
Apple isn't happy with their 30% cut, so they're going to take an even bigger cut. If you won't let them take a bigger cut, they'll bury you under people who will.

This is why I stopped developing iOS (and Mac) apps. Apple can go F themselves. All of their expenses add up to virtually nothing per download to maintain the App Store. Developers put in 99.99% of the effort, and Apple takes 30+%.

If this weren't true, then how about Apple remove the walls around their garden and let me distribute outside the store? I'll pay the pennies to throw my apps up on my website, and promote via word of mouth (IE, for free), same as I always have.
So you’re upset because Apple charges 30% of an app’s profits in return for putting the app on one of the largest and most profitable App Stores in existence.

99% of the effort? Get over yourself. You didn’t create the App Store, ecosystem, or devices that run the apps.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ArtOfWarfare Avatar
104 months ago
Apple isn't happy with their 30% cut, so they're going to take an even bigger cut. If you won't let them take a bigger cut, they'll bury you under people who will.

This is why I stopped developing iOS (and Mac) apps. Apple can go F themselves. All of their expenses add up to virtually nothing per download to maintain the App Store. Developers put in 99.99% of the effort, and Apple takes 30+%.

If this weren't true, then how about Apple remove the walls around their garden and let me distribute outside the store? I'll pay the pennies to throw my apps up on my website, and promote via word of mouth (IE, for free), same as I always have.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarpalMac Avatar
104 months ago
So you’re upset because Apple charges 30% of an app’s profits in return for putting the app on one of the largest and most profitable App Stores in existence.

99% of the effort? Get over yourself. You didn’t create the App Store, ecosystem, or devices that run the apps.
Obviously not, but the App store would have been an empty store, without those developers.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
960design Avatar
104 months ago
So you’re upset because Apple charges 30% of an app’s profits in return for putting the app on one of the largest and most profitable App Stores in existence.

99% of the effort? Get over yourself. You didn’t create the App Store, ecosystem, or devices that run the apps.
I agree. 30% to hit a potential market of a billion devices. If you have an issue with the 30% charge, you can deploy to the app stores for $0.00 ( free as you've requested ) and live off of ads ( or not ).

I prefer the walled garden of the app store. Weeds out most of the script kiddies.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Akagi Avatar
104 months ago
Is there a way to block ads on the App Store?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
scottwb Avatar
104 months ago
Giving it a go ... got my first sale of my app (£2.99) for £0.75 :)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

streaming black friday 2025

Black Friday Streaming Deals Include Big Savings on Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV, and More

Monday November 24, 2025 8:03 am PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a...
iOS 26 on Three iPhones

iOS 27 Will Reportedly Have Two Key Upgrades

Sunday November 23, 2025 8:48 am PST by
iOS 27 will reportedly have two major elements: quality improvements and new AI features. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that iOS 27 will be similar to Mac OS X Snow Leopard, in the sense that Apple is focused on improving "quality and underlying performance" over adding new features. Gurman said there is one exception to this rule, though, as he expects...
General Black Friday Deals 25 Red

Apple Black Friday Deals Available Now on AirPods, iPads, Accessories, and More

Friday November 21, 2025 8:48 am PST by
We're only a few days away from Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These New Features to Your iPhone

Thursday November 20, 2025 10:50 am PST by
iOS 26.2 is currently in beta testing. The upcoming update includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, including a new Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics for Apple Music, and more. In a recent press release, Apple confirmed that iOS 26.2 will be released to all users in December, but it did not provide a specific release date. Keep reading...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone to Debut These Three Breakthrough Features

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, and it's shaping up to include three standout features that could set it apart from the competition. The book-style foldable will reportedly feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera built into the inner display, according to a recent JP Morgan equity research report. That...
maxresdefault

The MacRumors Show: iPhone 18 Pro Looks Like a Huge Upgrade

Friday November 21, 2025 9:10 am PST by
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through all of the new features and improvements expected to come to next year's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos Apple's next-generation iPhones are less than ten months away and we already have a good idea about what to expect based on corroborated leaks, rumors,...
apple news banner

Apple News Loses CNN

Monday November 24, 2025 7:56 am PST by
American multinational news company CNN has abruptly pulled its content from Apple News, Semafor reports. CNN quietly removed its stories from Apple News over the weekend and there is no longer a feed from the network to subscribe to in the app. This effectively ends its distribution agreement with Apple while the two sides negotiate new terms. Discussions are apparently ongoing and CNN's...
Apple Shopping Event 2025

Apple Announces 2025 Black Friday Event, Here's What You Can Get

Thursday November 20, 2025 6:28 am PST by
Apple's annual four-day Black Friday through Cyber Monday shopping event is returning on Friday, November 28 through Monday, December 1 in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Thailand, and others. During the shopping event, customers can get an Apple gift card with...
amazon black friday

Amazon Kicks Off Black Friday Sale With Major Discounts on Apple Accessories, TVs, and More

Sunday November 23, 2025 7:12 am PST by
Black Friday deals have begun, and Amazon is one of the best places you can find steep discounts on numerous products this week. We've already collected all of the best Apple-related deals you'll find at Amazon (and other retailers) in our Apple Black Friday Deals post, so below you'll find other discounts on devices like Anker accessories, Beats headphones, video games, TVs, and more. Note:...