While Apple Maps has long been available on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac, it hasn't been available on the web. Google Maps has had that advantage, but Apple seems to want to compete in that regard now that it's available on the web as a public beta.
By visiting the newly launched site, you can now get directions (walking or driving) to places around the world, switch between three map styles, learn more about businesses, and even explore guides put together by the team behind Apple Maps.
It's worth noting that this public beta launched as Apple expanded its guidance for the 2024 Olympics in Paris and the MLS Leagues Cup, which will be streamed on MLS Season Pass. While the core features of Apple Maps are here, some of the more unique elements, like 3D buildings and overpasses, are gone.
In an accompanying statement, Apple noted that “Look Around” and other additional features will be rolling out in the coming months. During this public beta of Apple Maps on the web, it’s only available in English, and browser support varies by operating system. On a Mac or iPad, it’s supported in Safari and Chrome, while Windows PCs can use it in Edge or Chrome. Apple expects to add more languages and support for the web experience in the coming months as well.
However, much of the core Apple Maps experience is here, and many of the company's investments in its mapping offerings are visible. For example, beneath a location, you can easily see the hours, make a call, or even visit a site. In the case of a restaurant, you can also easily order food from Maps, as it will give you the option to open it in a new tab.
Guides may be the most fun experience on the web, as they are well organized around locations, such as places or districts within a city, but they are also organized around important events. It will be interesting to see what specific experiences that currently exist on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, or watchOS eventually make their way to the web.
It's a long-awaited project, though: Apple Maps was initially launched in 2012. The company has invested quite a bit in recent years to improve the experience and expand its feature set. One of the most unique features is 3D digital recreations of iconic buildings, from the Eiffel Tower to the White House, complete with Apple Stores, iconic music venues, and even small details of iconic city landmarks, all beautifully recreated.
If you want to try out the Apple Maps experience on the web, you can access it here or by typing “beta.maps.apple.com” into your browser. It’s also worth noting that this new experience integrates with MapKit JS so you can link to this new experience and to the app experiences.
Ultimately, Apple Maps on the web, compared to just an app on Apple devices, instantly opens it up to more people, and that may turn some customers away from Google Maps.
It will be interesting to see whether Apple introduces entirely new experiences for the web version to better compete with Google Maps or whether it sticks to porting over the core features that Apple Maps users already know. Only time will tell.
