Are you thinking of Apollo? If so, the app was never free. Well, it was free to download, but you had to unlock the Pro level to be able to post, which was worth every penny because it’s a legitimately great app.

He later introduced an Ultra level behind a subscription, which had access to other QoL features that didn’t really affect general Reddit usage. None of the levels have any advertising beyond him occasionally (once, maybe twice a year) putting up a banner to alert users to any seasonal discounts he was offering.

Ignore my ranting…