It seems the “ad-free experience” touted for X’s most expensive subscription tier, Premium+, is becoming more of a suggestion than a guarantee. Users are now reporting a surprising increase in ads, even after shelling out for the top-tier service.
When X, formerly Twitter, rolled out its Premium+ offering, the big selling point was the promise of a completely ad-free feed. This was supposed to be the ultimate escape from the relentless advertising that peppers most social media platforms. But that promise now appears to be fading fast, with users across the platform expressing their frustration.
One user, @jael_was_here, rightfully mentioned, “Premium+ was supposed to be zero ads. They changed crap silently.” Many others are also feeling let down by this move.
For a while, Premium+ subscribers did enjoy a largely ad-free environment, particularly on their “For You” and “Following” timelines. However, the current situation paints a different picture. People are seeing promoted content pop up in various places, including replies and even profiles, which was supposedly covered by the Premium+ no-ads pledge.
“I just noticed that X has started displaying ads even to Premium+ accounts,” posted a popular tech enthusiast @yabhishekhd, who is also a Premium+ subscriber. “At this point, it’s better to stick with X Premium only especially since the price of Premium+ has also gone up.”
This isn’t just a minor annoyance for many. Premium+ is priced significantly higher than the standard Premium tier, often four times as much, making the sudden influx of ads feel like a raw deal. The main differentiating factor for Premium+ beyond the ad experience was access to features like Grok, X’s AI chatbot, and the ability to post longer articles. Now, if the ad-free promise isn’t holding up, the value proposition becomes a lot weaker.
Some users are even joking about it, calling them “premium ads” or “ads with extra cheese,” indicating a sense of disbelief and resignation. The situation is reminiscent of other platforms that gradually introduce more ads, even into their paid tiers, often leading to user backlash. For instance, Google recently sent Premium Lite subscribers emails notifying them that they will now see ads in Shorts content.
That said, I haven’t found any official statement or support page highlighting any changes to the Premium+ perks. When you click on the Premium+ benefits, X still mentions you’ll get a “fully ad-free” experience.
So it’s unclear if these ads Premium+ users are seeing in their feeds are a result of a glitch or if X is indeed planning to serve ads to Premium+ subscribers as well. For a platform still trying to stabilize its financial footing and retain users, breaking such a fundamental promise could prove to be a costly misstep. That said, I’ll keep a close eye on this and will update the article if there’s something to share.
In the meantime, if you’re a Premium+ subscriber on X feel free to drop a comment below to let me know if you’re seeing ads on your feed or not. Thanks in advance!
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Dwayne Cubbins
1119 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
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