Apple Maps is a mapping and navigation app built into iOS devices, such as iPad and iPhone. Since it comes pre-installed on Apple mobile devices as the default map option, Apple Maps commands a huge built-in audience, boasting "hundreds of millions" of users according to one statement from Apple. 

With its massive user base and rising popularity, Apple Maps is a powerful resource for growing your small business in 2024. Listing your business on Apple Maps can help you reach more customers, advertise your amenities (such as free parking or wifi), and even boost your local search rankings.

Not sure where to get started? This guide for small business owners explains how Apple Maps works, what features it offers, and how to easily manage your Apple Maps reviews.

Apple Maps Reviews: How does it work?

Apple Maps is a mobile app similar to Google Maps. As of July 2024, Apple Maps is available for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

Both apps provide detailed map views displaying street names, highway numbers, landmarks, hospitals, and business locations, plus helpful features and information like:

• Ratings and reviews of local businesses
• Directions for using public transportation (in select areas)
• Tools for booking ride sharing services (in select areas)
• The ability to filter and customize searches 

Here is a search on Apple Maps:

...while this screenshot shows the same search on Google Maps. 

Despite these similarities, there are also several differences between Google Maps and Apple Maps, which we'll compare later in this guide. But first, let's explain how Apple Maps works and break down its system for business reviews and ratings.

Apple Maps lets users create a business account for free. Once you've created and set up your account, you'll be prompted to submit various details about your business, like your hours and physical location, along with choosing your Apple business categories. 

Here's what a business page looks like from a visitor's perspective: 

You can add your business amenities and other special attributes, which are displayed in the "Good to Know" section. While the above example shows a typical restaurant page, with amenities like "brunch" and "takeout," here are some other screenshots showing hotel and healthcare examples:

When users tap the "More" button on your page, they'll see options to add photos of your business, add your business to their "Favorites," check out your menu or service offerings, and other actions. 

If you're the business owner, you can select the "Claim This Place" option at the bottom of the dropdown menu, which will bring you to Apple Business Connect — your hub for signing in and managing your account. 

To ensure that your page is optimized, here are some tips to follow: 

• Fill out as much information as possible about your business
• Make sure all of the information is accurate and up-to-date
• Upload images of your business 
• Provide a link to your website
• Choose an appropriate category for your business 
• Claim your business if a profile already exists 

Last but not least, let’s go over some points about ratings and reviews on Apple Maps. 

Most review sites work by allowing their users to rate and review businesses. Apple Maps functions a little differently, pulling in and displaying reviews from other platforms — in the example below, Tripadvisor. 

The app also allows users to rate businesses directly within Apple Maps. However, unlike with Google reviews, users can't rate a specific number of stars — only a general "thumbs up" for a positive experience or "thumbs down" for a negative experience. 

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Depending on how many “thumbs up” and “thumbs down” Apple ratings you receive, your business will receive a percentage-based score. The business in the example screenshot has earned a 92% overall rating, which is based on specific aspects of customers' experience like "Accommodations" (93%) and "Customer Service" (91%).  

Should you list your business on Apple Maps?

The short answer?

Yes.

The longer answer is that there are at least three powerful reasons to list your small business on Apple Maps:

1. You'll reach more customers. In 2021, 13% of consumers said they checked reviews on Apple Maps. In 2022, that figure rose to 15% — and by 2024, it increased to 16%, according to data from BrightLocal. Apple Maps is steadily growing more popular and influential, so it's essential to make sure you're listed if your business wants to remain competitive.
2. You can advertise your business. When you create a page on Apple Maps, you'll be prompted to supply information about your business, such as your hours, phone number, and street address. You can also input helpful details about the amenities you offer. For example, a restaurant can add attributes like "contactless payments," "late-night meals," "pets welcome," and "outdoor dining,” which lets the business set itself apart from its competitors. 
3. It's free and easy to create an account. As long as you have a compatible device like an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, it's simple to create a business account on Apple Maps.

To recap, the benefits of listing your business on Apple Maps include reaching a wider audience, educating new customers about your services, and gaining a free platform to advertise on.

Google Maps vs. Apple Maps: Where should you reply to reviews?

How does Apple Maps compare against Google Maps? And which one should your business be monitoring for reviews?

Apple Maps vs. Google Maps: Features and functionality

Since both are mobile navigation apps, Google Maps and Apple Maps share some functions in common. Here are a few examples of features on both Apple Maps and Google Maps:

• A search bar
• Street view and satellite view map display options
• The actual location of businesses, hospitals, airports, and other points of interest
• Business hours and contact information
• Directions for driving, walking, public transit, and more
• Up-to-date information about traffic conditions
• Dark mode settings 

When it comes to business ratings and reviews, Google Maps and Apple Maps function very differently, as the screenshots below highlight. Google Maps displays star ratings and reviews, on a scale of 1 star to 5 stars, directly from Google users. By comparison, Apple Maps displays ratings and reviews taken from an external source, along with a percentage-based score from Apple Maps “thumbs up” vs. “thumbs down” ratings. 

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For example, in the Apple Maps screenshot above, most of the ratings come from the review site Yelp. 

Google, on the other hand, shows an average rating (1.0 to 5.0 stars) based on Google user reviews. 

Apple Maps vs. Google Maps: Data collection and user privacy

One of the reasons for the growing popularity of Apple Maps may be its data collection policy, with Apple Maps providing greater protections for user privacy compared to Google Maps. According to Apple’s legal page, "We do not collect personal data associated with your Maps usage. Maps is designed to protect your information." 

Should you respond to reviews on Apple Maps or Google Maps?  

In short: both. 

In fact, you should respond to reviews on as many platforms as possible — not just Google Maps or Apple Maps, but also review sites like Yelp, Trustpilot, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). 

You should also monitor industry review sites that are relevant to your business, such as Edmunds (automotive), Avvo (legal), Angi (home services), Zocdoc (healthcare), or The Infatuation (restaurants).

Here are a few reasons why it's important to monitor multiple review platforms:

1. Boosting your brand visibility. Responding to reviews can improve your local search ranking on Google, make your business more likely to appear in Yelp searches, and boost your visibility on other influential platforms.
2. Converting more Apple Maps users. Apple Maps pulls in ratings and reviews from Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other outside sources. Responding to reviews on all platforms ensures that Apple Maps users will see your review responses, no matter where Apple Maps sources your reviews from.
3. Controlling your online reputation. The more platforms where you actively respond to reviews, the more control you'll be able to exert over your brand's image and online reputation.
4. Improving customer retention. Providing customers with friendly service helps increase retention. Swiftly and courteously responding to reviews is an easy way to provide a positive customer experience that reinforces brand loyalty.  

Manage reviews on Apple Maps, Google Maps, and 50+ other platforms with ResponseScribe

Apple Maps pulls in reviews from multiple sources, including Tripadvisor, Yelp, Yext, and other third-party sites. Monitoring all of these review sites, in addition to Google Maps — plus social media like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram — takes away valuable time and resources you could be spending on other projects.

ResponseScribe is an all-in-one review management solution that offers a fast, convenient, and reliable way to:

• Automatically monitor 50+ review sites, mobile apps, and social media networks for new reviews and ratings
• Provide your reviewers with personalized, branded responses in under 24 hours — guaranteed
• Get custom reports that provide your business with actionable data and insights
• Ensure professionalism, consistency, and on-brand messaging across all review responses

ResponseScribe is mobile-friendly and can be accessed through a secure login from any device or location. It's also cloud-based, so there's no software to install or maintain — just a fast and easy set-up process that only takes a few minutes to complete.

Once you sign up, we start responding to your reviews immediately using generative AI or experienced human writers, depending on your preferred content strategy. You can review each response before we publish, ensuring that every word aligns with your branding and meets your quality standards. Maybe that's why we've earned more than 10,000 satisfied customers, including leading brands like Kia, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, and Wyndham. 

Start your free trial of our review response service 

Accelerate your business' growth, improve your online visibility, and enhance your brand’s reputation — all with just a few clicks. Get started with ResponseScribe today and discover the easiest way to manage reviews on 50+ platforms.