How to Enable Category Subscriptions in WordPress: RSS Feeds, Email, and More

WordPress includes built-in taxonomies like categories and tags to help organize your content. While most users rely on these for sorting posts, fewer realize that every category, tag, and custom taxonomy automatically generates its own RSS feed. These feeds let visitors subscribe only to topics they care about. In this guide, we'll walk you through enabling category subscriptions in WordPress using RSS, popular readers, and email services.

Accessing Category RSS Feeds in WordPress

WordPress generates RSS feeds for categories, tags, and taxonomies by default. Modern browsers often auto-detect them. To find a category's RSS feed, simply append /feed/ to the category archive URL. For example:

https://www.wpbeginner.com/category/wp-tutorials/feed/

The simplest way to help users subscribe? Display the link prominently on category pages. You can also add options for services like Feedly or email subscriptions. We'll cover each method below.

Add an RSS Subscription Link to Category Pages

Start by navigating to your theme's folder and locating category.php. If it doesn't exist, check for archive.php. Note: If you're using a page builder or custom framework, this may not apply.

In category.php, add this code where you want the link to appear—ideally just before the main loop:

Subscribe to this category
';
}
?>

If you lack a category.php file but have archive.php, copy its contents into a new category.php file, then add the code above.

This adds a clean "Subscribe to this category" link on category archives, like this:

For a more visual touch, swap the text for an RSS icon:

It renders like this:

Add Subscription Options for Popular RSS Readers

Enhance usability with icons for web-based readers like Feedly (Bloglines is outdated, but the method works for others). Add this updated code to category.php:

term_id ) );
    $feedly_url = 'https://feedly.com/i/welcome/feed/' . urlencode( $feed_url );
    echo '
Subscribe via:  ';
    echo '
';
}
?>

The first links to your RSS feed; the second directs to Feedly's subscribe page. Here's how it looks:

Set Up Email Subscriptions for Categories

Many sites offer sidebar opt-ins mimicking category checkboxes for targeted emails:

Use services like Mailchimp or AWeber, which support RSS-to-email. Create list segments (groups) for each category, then set up RSS campaigns. Our guide on daily/weekly newsletters covers the setup—adapt it per category.

Embed the signup form on category pages using the same template method.

Explore more: Learn to customize WordPress RSS feeds in our advanced tutorial.

We hope this helps you boost engagement with category subscriptions. Questions? Drop a comment below.