Apple Maps on the web
It's taken 12 years, but Apple Maps is finally available on the web for those still looking to print directions on paper or search for business information on a Windows computer.
Apple Maps actually first made its way to the web with MapKit JS in 2018, which let websites embed Apple Maps instead of Google Maps. Now, the entirety of Apple Maps is available as a website, but it's in beta.
The web version of Apple Maps is a simple clone of the mapping interface found on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. However, you'll not be using it for turn-by-turn navigation.
The interface should be familiar to anyone who's ever seen Apple Maps. A sidebar shows options for search, guides, and directions. Pick a business, and you'll get the pane with hours, phone numbers, website, menus, Yelp, and user reviews.
If you get directions to a location, it'll show the overview and step-by-step instructions. Go to the print menu, and the directions are automatically formatted for printing.
Apple wants to add Look Around, its version of Google Street View, in a future update. Developers can also link out to Maps on the web for more specific integrations.
Google has long dominated online mapping, so much so that chances are if you see a map on a website, it's Google's. Apple has been able to penetrate this market slightly, with some websites taking advantage of the MapKit JS — most famously DuckDuckGo in 2019.
Apple has claimed in the past that Apple Maps is by far the most popular mapping app used on iPhone, which makes sense due to default power. But in order to take even more mindshare from the market, Apple has to have its maps everywhere.
Print out your driving directions from Apple Maps on the web
So, finally, we've arrived 12 years later at Apple Maps on the web. While it likely won't be a huge blow to Google, it is at least another option for those who prefer Apple Maps and may be stuck on a work Windows PC while looking for local business info.
Apple Maps is available on the web in English only. It works in Safari, Chrome, and Edge browsers for now, and additional browsers and languages will be added with time.