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.

Tag: Apple Ads

Top Rated Comments

amattholl Avatar
amattholl
105 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
ArtOfWarfare
105 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
CarpalMac
105 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
960design
105 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
Akagi
105 months ago
Is there a way to block ads on the App Store?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
scottwb Avatar
scottwb
105 months ago
Giving it a go ... got my first sale of my app (£2.99) for £0.75 :)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments

Popular Stories

Apple Wallet ID Illinois

Apple Plans to Expand iPhone Driver's Licenses to These 7 U.S. States

Wednesday December 24, 2025 8:40 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
Read Full Article • 32 comments
maxresdefault

Where's the New Apple TV?

Monday December 22, 2025 11:30 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was supposed to be the year that we got a refresh. There were rumors suggesting Apple would release the new Apple TV before the end of 2025, but it looks like that's not going to happen now. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...
Read Full Article • 164 comments
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Year With These 12 New Features

Tuesday December 23, 2025 8:36 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another nine months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models. The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID Front camera in...
Read Full Article • 93 comments
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Monday December 22, 2025 8:47 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 26.2, following more than a month of beta testing. It is a big update, with many new features and changes for iPhones. iOS 26.2 adds a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. Below, we have highlighted a total of eight new features. Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen A new slider in the Lock...
Read Full Article
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 Brings AirPods-Like Pairing to Third-Party Devices in EU Under DMA

Monday December 22, 2025 3:20 pm PST by
The European Commission today praised the interoperability changes that Apple is introducing in iOS 26.3, once again crediting the Digital Markets Act (DMA) with bringing "new opportunities" to European users and developers. The Digital Markets Act requires Apple to provide third-party accessories with the same capabilities and access to device features that Apple's own products get. In iOS...
Read Full Article • 96 comments
iPhone Fold Vertical Feature

Why Apple's Foldable iPhone May Be Smaller Than Expected

Tuesday December 23, 2025 5:21 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone, rumored for release next year, may turn out to be smaller than most people imagine, if a recent report is anything to go by. According to The Information, the outer display on the book-style device will measure just 5.3 inches – that's smaller than the 5.4-inch screen on the ‌iPhone‌ mini, a line Apple discontinued in 2022 due to poor sales. The report has led ...
Read Full Article • 191 comments
maxresdefault

10 Mac Apps Worth Trying in 2026

Wednesday December 24, 2025 9:27 am PST by
2026 is almost upon us, and a new year is a good time to try out some new apps. We've rounded up 10 excellent Mac apps that are worth checking out. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Alt-Tab (Free) - Alt-Tab brings a Windows-style alt + tab thumbnail preview option to the Mac. You can see a full window preview of open apps and app windows. One Thing (Free) -...
Read Full Article • 67 comments
iPhone Chips

Apple Clings to Samsung as RAM Prices Soar

Monday December 22, 2025 6:17 am PST by
Apple is significantly increasing its reliance on Samsung for iPhone memory as component prices surge, according to The Korea Economic Daily. Apple is said to be expanding the share of iPhone memory it sources from Samsung due to rapidly rising memory prices. The shift is expected to result in Samsung supplying roughly 60% to 70% of the low-power DRAM used in the iPhone 17, compared with a...
Read Full Article • 70 comments
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Iridescent Search

Samsung Developing 'Wide Fold' With iPhone Fold-Like Design Ahead of Apple's 2026 Launch

Tuesday December 23, 2025 11:55 am PST by
Samsung is working on a new foldable smartphone that's wider and shorter than the models that it's released before, according to Korean news site ETNews. The "Wide Fold" will compete with Apple's iPhone Fold that's set to launch in September 2026. Samsung's existing Galaxy Z Fold7 display is 6.5 inches when closed, and 8 inches when open, with a 21:9 aspect ratio when folded and a 20:18...
Read Full Article • 75 comments