X Premium Plus Users Still Seeing Ads Despite Paying for Ad-Free Experience

Users on X (formerly Twitter) have been surprised to see ads despite subscribing to the Premium Plus tier, which is advertised as an ad-free experience. While X’s help documentation states Premium Plus subscribers should enjoy a completely ad-free timeline, occasional sponsored posts and branded notification prompts—like “like-to-remind” suggestions—are still appearing in some feeds. This contradicts earlier policy statements that promised zero ads at this level.These unexpected ads are cropping up in areas outside the main “For You” and “Following” timelines. Premium Plus users report seeing promotional content in search results, profiles, Explore tabs, and notifications. Many feel blindsided, as their subscriptions advertised “no ads” in the core experience, not caveats about less-visible ad spaces.Reddit discussions and social media complaints reveal mounting frustration. One user on r/revancedapp mentioned, “I’m still seeing ads in searches,” even after subscribing. Another said ad-supported notifications and reminders keep slipping through patches meant to block them. These experiences suggest inconsistencies between X’s public messaging and actual ad delivery.X’s official documentation clarifies that Basic and Premium tiers only reduce ads, while Premium Plus is meant to eliminate them entirely from “For You” and “Following” feeds. Nevertheless, it allows “branded notification offerings” and ad content in non-feed areas—even for top-tier subscribers. This discrepancy between expectation and reality has left users feeling misled.Industry analysis notes that X has struggled with a shrinking advertising base, especially after major companies pulled ad spend amid content moderation concerns. To maximize revenue, X now accepts ads via third-party networks, leading to a flood of lower-quality promotions such as crypto scams and AI-based “undressing” apps. These types of content often slip through the platform’s filters and surface even to paying users.Critics argue that labeling X Premium Plus as “ad-free” becomes misleading when advertisements still appear in certain parts of the platform. Longstanding issues with transparent labeling and self-service subscription policies exacerbate the tension. Many see the current situation as a symptom of rushed feature rollouts and aggressive monetization strategies under Elon Musk’s leadership.For now, there’s no easy resolution for disenchanted Premium Plus users. X’s support channels remain largely unresponsive, and branding upgrades haven’t addressed the core discrepancy. The company will likely need to revise its marketing and payout practices—or update product tiers—to restore trust among users who feel deceived by incomplete definitions of “ad-free.”Looking ahead, this issue may pressure X to clarify what “ad-free” means and enforce stricter ad removal across all parts of the platform—or adjust subscriber tiers accordingly. Unless they improve transparency and consistency, top-tier subscribers may consider canceling their subscriptions or seeking alternatives offering clearer value.