diff --git a/surfsense_web/app/(home)/free/layout.tsx b/surfsense_web/app/(home)/free/layout.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9447d34dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_web/app/(home)/free/layout.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import type { ReactNode } from "react";
+import { AdSenseScript } from "@/components/ads/adsense-script";
+
+/**
+ * Wraps the /free hub and all /free/[model_slug] subpages. Mounting
+ * <AdSenseScript /> here loads adsbygoogle.js across the entire /free route
+ * tree, which is what powers both the manual <AdUnit /> slots and AdSense
+ * Auto ads. Because the script lives here (not in the root layout), Auto ads
+ * is naturally scoped to /free and its subpages only.
+ */
+export default function FreeSectionLayout({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
+	return (
+		<>
+			<AdSenseScript />
+			{children}
+		</>
+	);
+}
diff --git a/surfsense_web/app/(home)/free/page.tsx b/surfsense_web/app/(home)/free/page.tsx
index 5cea9b6d2..89a4735ae 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/app/(home)/free/page.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/app/(home)/free/page.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import type { Metadata } from "next";
 import Link from "next/link";
 import { AdUnit } from "@/components/ads/ad-unit";
 import { ADSENSE_SLOTS } from "@/components/ads/adsense-config";
-import { AdSenseScript } from "@/components/ads/adsense-script";
 import { BreadcrumbNav } from "@/components/seo/breadcrumb-nav";
 import { FAQJsonLd, JsonLd } from "@/components/seo/json-ld";
 import { Badge } from "@/components/ui/badge";
@@ -160,7 +159,6 @@ export default async function FreeHubPage() {
 
 	return (
 		<div className="min-h-screen pt-20">
-			<AdSenseScript />
 			<JsonLd
 				data={{
 					"@context": "https://schema.org",