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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →To let visitors receive email updates for only the WordPress categories they choose, enable a category-aware newsletter or subscription feature and configure its signup form. Jetpack Newsletter documents a visitor-facing category selector through its Subscribe block. Subscribe2 is another option, but its category controls differ for public email subscribers and registered users.
Choose the subscription setup that fits your readers
| Option | Category choice | Subscriber controls | Email delivery | Preference management |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jetpack Newsletter | The site owner enables newsletter categories and selects which are offered in the Subscribe block. | The documented block lets new subscribers select newsletter categories; confirm the available controls in the current setup. | Newsletter emails for posts in selected categories, subject to Jetpack’s category defaults. | Subscribers can manage preferences through the WordPress.com subscription management page. |
| Subscribe2 | Its FAQ describes category choice for registered subscribers; public subscribers submit an email address. | Registered users have greater control over categories and email format. Public subscribers receive a confirmation email. | Per-post notices or periodic digests. | The available control depends on whether the subscriber is public or registered; see the Subscribe2 FAQ. |
For a visitor-facing category selector at signup, Jetpack is the clearest documented route. Consider Subscribe2 if its distinction between public and registered subscribers, along with its notice or digest options, suits your site. Features documented for either option do not establish compatibility with every WordPress version, theme, or hosting setup. Check the current listing and test the plugin or service on your own site.
Set up category choices with Jetpack Newsletter
- In WordPress admin, open Jetpack → Newsletter → Settings.
- Enable Newsletter Categories, choose the categories to include or exclude, and save the settings.
- Add a Subscribe block to the page or post where you want people to sign up.
- In the block settings, select the newsletter categories to offer to new subscribers.
- Tell readers they can choose categories during signup and manage their preferences later through the WordPress.com subscription management page.
The category feature is not enabled by default. Jetpack also documents defaults that can affect an existing audience: posts in categories you have not explicitly excluded may still be emailed to all subscribers, and subscribers are automatically subscribed to newly created categories. Review those rules against your intended setup and make a test subscription before launch. See Jetpack’s Newsletter Categories guide and Subscribe Block documentation.
Set up Subscribe2
- In WordPress admin, go to Plugins → Add New.
- Search for Subscribe2, then install and activate it.
- Open the plugin’s settings and configure notifications, category exclusions, and delivery preferences for your site.
- Decide whether your audience will use public email subscriptions, registered accounts, or both, and explain the difference on the signup page.
- Test registration, confirmation, category behavior, and the selected delivery format before inviting readers to subscribe.
Subscribe2 describes public subscribers who submit an email address and registered blog users. Its FAQ assigns category and richer email-format controls to registered users, while public subscribers receive a confirmation email. Do not promise that every public subscriber will see the same category-selection interface as a registered user. Check the Subscribe2 WordPress.org listing, its English (UK) listing and installation details, and the plugin FAQ for current information.
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Test the subscriber experience before launch
- Sign up with an address that is not an administrator account and confirm the categories offered match your plan.
- Publish or preview a post in an included category and check that the resulting notification follows the expected settings.
- Check excluded categories and newly created categories, especially if the site already has subscribers.
- For Subscribe2, test both public and registered-user flows if you plan to offer both.
- Confirm that readers can find instructions for changing or managing preferences after signup.
WordPress.com also supports following blogs through email and the Reader; its guide is available at Subscribe to WordPress.com Blogs. That general follow feature should not be confused with configuring a category selector for your own site.
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