Verified Free / Software

Is Feedly actually free?

Free Forever
How free72/100
Value6/10
How these scores work
Free Score (0–100) follows a fixed rubric: cards up front, auto-billing, hard time cutoffs, withheld core features, and paying with your data or attention all deduct points. 90–100 truly free · 70–89 free forever · 45–69 squeezed · 15–44 trial mechanics · under 15 fake or gone. Value (0–10) is editorial: real-world worth of the free offering measured against its paid equivalent. Full rubric on the methodology page.

Yes — a real permanent free tier: 100 sources, 3 folders, solid apps. But search inside your own feeds is paywalled, which stings once your archive matters, and the upgrade prompts are constant.

What it’s worth

Pro is ~$72-96/year; casual readers genuinely don't need it.

What you get free

  • Follow up to 100 sources in 3 folders
  • Web and mobile apps that sync
  • The basic magazine-style reading experience

In practice: the mainstream RSS reader's real free tier — comfortable for casual following, deliberately cramped for power users.

Drawbacks

  • No search on free
  • 100-source cap
  • Sponsored cards and persistent upsells

Also paywalled

  • Search within your feeds
  • Notes, highlights, and AI filtering (Leo)
  • Integrations (Evernote, IFTTT, Zapier) and hiding sponsored cards

Free facts

VerdictFree Forever
Card requiredNo
Auto-billsOnly if you subscribe to Pro
AccountRequired
LimitsUp to 100 sources in 3 folders; search and AI features are paid
The real costNothing at the free tier. Pro starts around $6-8/month.

The catch

100 sources sounds like plenty until it isn't, and not being able to search your own feeds is the squeeze that converts people. Sponsored cards appear in the free reading flow.

The smart play

  • Prune dead feeds to stay under the 100-source cap
  • Pair the free tier with your browser's find-on-page instead of paying just for search

Common questions

Does Feedly require a credit card?
No — Feedly does not ask for a card to use the free version. Auto-billing: Only if you subscribe to Pro.
What are the limits of Feedly's free plan?
Up to 100 sources in 3 folders; search and AI features are paid. 100 sources sounds like plenty until it isn't, and not being able to search your own feeds is the squeeze that converts people. Sponsored cards appear in the free reading flow.
How do I use Feedly without paying?
Prune dead feeds to stay under the 100-source cap Pair the free tier with your browser's find-on-page instead of paying just for search
What does Feedly really cost?
Nothing at the free tier. Pro starts around $6-8/month.
Why is Feedly free?
Nothing at the free tier. Pro starts around $6-8/month. Pro is ~$72-96/year; casual readers genuinely don't need it.
Is Feedly still free?
As of our last check, yes. Yes — a real permanent free tier: 100 sources, 3 folders, solid apps. But search inside your own feeds is paywalled, which stings once your archive matters, and the upgrade prompts are constant. Free tiers change without notice, which is why every page here carries the date it was checked.

More info — tap to expand

Is RSS still worth using?
More than ever — it's the algorithm-free way to follow sources directly. Every reader listed here consumes the same open feeds, so you can switch readers without losing anything.

Last checked: August 2026site-wide date · Verdict: Free Forever — a real permanent free plan. signup and fair limits — but no clock and no card.

Ratings elsewhereGoogle Play 4.4/5317KLive scores from the sources named — not ours. Store counts rounded.
Visit Feedly →

Was this verdict right?

Free tiers change without notice. If you have just used it, you know something we don't.