For years, Kleo was the free Chrome extension LinkedIn creators installed first: search any creator's top posts, study the hooks, write your own. Early in 2026 the free extension went away and Kleo became Kleo 2.0, a paid web app. If you're one of the many former users looking for what to do next, here is an honest overview.
What Happened to the Kleo Extension?
Kleo 1.0 claimed around 70,000 users. Third-party reports say it was shut down after LinkedIn objected to how it collected post data; we could not confirm that from a primary source, so treat it as reported, not proven. What is certain: the free extension is no longer available, and the new product is a paid web app.
What Kleo 2.0 Offers
- Conversational AI writing in your voice, with a knowledge base
- A swipe file of 170+ posts, 200+ hooks and 160+ templates
- 20 visuals a month and LinkedIn scheduling
- Weekly live coaching and a creator community
It costs $99 a month or $999 a year, with no free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee on the annual plan (kleo.so pricing, October 9, 2026). Early reviews are mixed: 3.0/5 on Trustpilot on only three reviews, citing instability and slow support.
The Problem Kleo Never Solved
Studying top creators' posts is a great way to learn. But those creators already have the audience you don't have yet. A post that gets 2,000 reactions on a 200,000-follower account might get 15 on yours. The difference isn't the hook; it's how many relevant people see the post in its first hour.
Where Podawaa Fits
Podawaa is not a Kleo clone. It doesn't have a swipe file. It fixes the other half of the problem: distribution.
- Boost a post and real LinkedIn members who match your language and industry react and comment in the hours after you publish.
- Targeting by language (English, French, Spanish) and, from Scale, by industry.
- AI comments written for each post, in the post's language, from Scale.
- Growth Autopilot boosts your new posts as soon as they go live, so the first hour is never wasted.
- Paid plans are Private: your account never engages for others and no browser extension is needed. The free plan uses the Chrome extension.
- Fair usage: if a boost falls short after 72 hours of retries, it isn't counted in your plan's usage.
Podawaa also has Studio for AI writing (30 AI posts a month on Accelerate, unlimited on Dominate), scheduling and drafts. It is useful, but it is not why people pay for Podawaa: they pay for the reach.
Pricing: free plan with 5 boosts a month, no card. Paid plans are Scale €59, Accelerate €89 and Dominate €159 a month (excl. VAT), or −17% billed yearly. Weekly plans start at 80% off the first week. Refund within 30 days of payment. Prices checked on October 9, 2026.
Kleo Alternatives by Need
| If you want… | Look at |
|---|---|
| A free tool to study top posts | LinkedIn's own search and saved posts; several free extensions exist but come and go |
| AI writing with templates | Kleo 2.0, Taplio, Supergrow, MagicPost |
| Formatting and analytics | AuthoredUp |
| More of the right people seeing your posts | Podawaa |
Which One Should You Choose?
If coaching and a community are worth $99 a month to you, Kleo 2.0 is a coherent product. If what you miss is simply your posts getting seen, start with Podawaa's free plan and see the difference on your next five posts.
No tool can make boosted activity invisible to LinkedIn, and LinkedIn can restrict any account it considers abusive. Podawaa spreads reactions over hours, uses real profiles from the same language and market, and on paid plans your own account never engages for anyone else. That lowers the risk; it does not remove it, and we would rather say so than promise zero risk.
💡 Learned the hooks? Now get the reach. 5 free boosts a month, no card.
Start free, no card →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kleo still free?
No. The free Kleo extension is no longer available. Kleo 2.0 is a web app at $99 a month or $999 a year.
Why was the Kleo extension removed?
Third-party sources report that LinkedIn objected to how the extension collected post data. We could not verify this with Kleo or LinkedIn directly.
What is the best free Kleo alternative?
There is no exact free replacement for Kleo's post search. If your goal is reach rather than inspiration, Podawaa has a free plan with 5 boosts a month.
