Okay so yes, the ads on the free version are annoying. Basically, they pop up whenever you get a new spot opened. It got a bit overwhelming, but I actually really love this game so I purchased the ad free version. You still have the free items with ad things scattered around, so if those are what bother you, you might not want the ad free version. The graphics are lovely, and it's a surprisingly in depth game, but the ads make it hard to enjoy fully.