Feedly Pro: Is It Worth Paying for in 2026? (From the $99 Lifetime Deal)

Is Feedly Pro worth paying for? In 2013 Feedly offered a limited-time Pro lifetime subscription for $99, soon after Google Reader shut down. This article looks back at that offer and explains how to decide between Feedly’s free and paid plans today.

Quick answer: The $99 Feedly Pro lifetime deal was a limited 2013 launch offer. Feedly now sells monthly or yearly subscriptions, with Free, Pro, Pro+ and business plans. The free plan is enough for many readers who follow a modest number of sites; pay for Pro when you need features such as search, more sources or integrations, or try another RSS reader if you prefer a different price or style.

The Feedly Pro lifetime offer in 2013

Feedly gained millions of users when Google Reader shut down in 2013, and it was my favourite RSS reader too. In August 2013 it launched Feedly Pro with an early lifetime subscription for $99, and said monthly ($5) and yearly ($45) options would follow. The Feedly team had worked hard to build an excellent reader, and it was clear that paid RSS tools were here to stay.

If, like me, you had moved from Google Reader to Feedly in a minute, did you really need Pro? Here is what it offered then, and how I judged it:

1. Article search: handy for finding a post you want to link to later. I simply clicked “Save for Later” under a post and found it again from the sidebar. Not a full substitute for search, but it worked for me.
2. HTTPS secure browsing: more security is always better, and logins were already secure.
3. Evernote integration: one-click saves to Evernote notebooks.
4. Premium support: I never needed Feedly support. The product just worked.

So I stayed on free Feedly, while readers who loved these features could take the lifetime deal and keep getting future updates.

Is Feedly Pro worth it in 2026?

Feedly has grown well beyond a simple reader. Its paid tiers now add features aimed at heavy readers, researchers and teams, including AI tools on the higher plans. Prices and limits change, so check the current details on Feedly (external site) before you buy. Ask yourself:

• How many sites do you follow? The free plan has a cap on sources and folders. If you follow a few dozen blogs, free is usually fine.
• Do you need search? If you often hunt for older articles, search alone can justify Pro.
• Do you save articles elsewhere? Paid plans add integrations with note and read-later apps.
• Do you track topics, not just sites? Pro+ and business plans focus on AI filtering and research features.

Feedly alternatives

If Feedly Pro doesn’t fit, these RSS readers are worth a look:

• Inoreader (external site): a feature-rich reader with a free plan and paid tiers.
• Feedbin (external site): a clean, paid reader that also handles email newsletters.
• NewsBlur (external site): a long-running reader with a free tier and training filters.
• The Old Reader (external site): a simple reader in the spirit of Google Reader.

For a wider comparison, see our guide to the best RSS readers.

FAQ

Can I still buy Feedly Pro lifetime?

The $99 lifetime offer was a limited 2013 deal. Feedly’s current plans are subscriptions, so check its website for what is available now.

Is Feedly free?

Yes. Feedly has a free plan with limits on the number of sources and folders. Paid plans remove limits and add features.

What is the difference between Feedly Pro and Pro+?

Pro adds features such as search and integrations for individual readers. Pro+ adds more advanced, AI-based tools for filtering and research.

What happened to Google Reader?

Google shut down Google Reader in July 2013, and many users moved to Feedly and other RSS readers.