---
title: One of Apple’s fastest growing revenue streams? Advertising.
description: Launched in 2016, Apple’s ad business is an under-the-radar gold mine.
---

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# [One of Apple’s fastest growing revenue streams? Advertising.](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/10202021-apple-advertising)

 Written by [Rob Litterst](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/author/rob-litterst) | Oct 20, 2021 8:01:03 AM

Under Steve Jobs, Apple dropped some of the most memorable ads of all time, including:

- “1984” which [ran](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtvjbmoDx-I) during the 1984 Super Bowl and staged a direct assault on IBM
- The “Get a Mac” [campaign](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rV-dbDMS18) starring Justin Long, which took aim at PCs

Now, the most successful hardware company of all time is [cashing](https://www.ft.com/content/074b881f-a931-4986-888e-2ac53e286b9d) in on its own advertising business, per the *Financial Times*.

#### **Search Ads is a secret juggernaut**

Apple [launched](https://www.macstories.net/news/apple-starts-selling-app-store-search-ads-launching-october-5th/) Search Ads in 2016 to give developers an easy way to get their app in front of new users. The business gained steam early, with analysts [estimating](https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/10/22/apple-looking-at-2-billion-from-search-ad-business-alone-by-2020) the business unit did **$500m** in revenue in 2018.

However, a recent update in iOS 14.5 that opted users out of ad tracking by default pushed the business to the next level:

- Apple’s ads are now responsible for **58%** of all iPhone app downloads, up from 17% a year ago
- Analysts project Apple will make **$5B** off ads this year and **$20B** per year by 2024

Before the iOS update, data on ad performance was available in real time and down to the individual user. Now, data is delayed up to 72 hours and only available in aggregate — a huge blow to Facebook, Google, Snap, and TikTok.

#### **But it’s not hurting everyone**

The lack of transparency on Apple’s devices has pushed marketers to spend more on Android, pushing the ratio of spending from 50-50 to 70% Android, 30% Apple.

Apple is also [facing](https://9to5mac.com/2021/10/18/apples-ad-business-windfall/) criticism for giving itself a free pass when it’s unclear if the company is in compliance with its own privacy rules.

Regardless, with its growing focus on services and [massive](https://deadline.com/2021/04/apple-investment-streaming-appletv-1234744324/) investments in Apple TV+, this could be just the beginning for Apple’s ad empire.

[View full post](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/10202021-apple-advertising)

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