diff --git a/backend/alwrity_utils/feature_profiles.py b/backend/alwrity_utils/feature_profiles.py
index c13636c8..59fb7fdb 100644
--- a/backend/alwrity_utils/feature_profiles.py
+++ b/backend/alwrity_utils/feature_profiles.py
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@ from typing import Iterable, Tuple
 from .feature_registry import FEATURE_GROUPS, PROFILE_GROUP_MAP
 
 
-ENV_FEATURE_PROFILE = "ALWRITY_FEATURE_TO_ENABLE"
+# Consolidated env var - supports both old and new format
+ENV_FEATURE_PROFILE = "ALWRITY_ENABLED_FEATURES"
+ENV_FEATURE_PROFILE_LEGACY = "ALWRITY_FEATURE_TO_ENABLE"
 DEFAULT_PROFILE = "all"
 
 
@@ -22,7 +24,12 @@ class ExpandedFeatureProfile:
 
 
 class UnknownFeatureProfileError(ValueError):
-    """Raised when ALWRITY_FEATURE_TO_ENABLE contains unknown profile values."""
+    """Raised when ALWRITY_ENABLED_FEATURES contains unknown profile values."""
+
+
+def _get_env_value() -> str:
+    """Get the feature profile value from environment - new var takes precedence."""
+    return os.getenv(ENV_FEATURE_PROFILE) or os.getenv(ENV_FEATURE_PROFILE_LEGACY) or DEFAULT_PROFILE
 
 
 def _normalize_values(raw_value: str | None) -> Tuple[str, ...]:
@@ -44,11 +51,11 @@ def parse_feature_profiles(raw_value: str | None = None) -> Tuple[str, ...]:
     Raises UnknownFeatureProfileError when any profile is not registered.
     """
     
-    selected_profiles = _normalize_values(raw_value if raw_value is not None else os.getenv(ENV_FEATURE_PROFILE))
+    selected_profiles = _normalize_values(raw_value if raw_value is not None else _get_env_value())
     
-    unknown = sorted({profile for profile in selected_profiles if profile not in PROFILE_GROUP_MAP})
+    unknown = sorted({profile for profile in selected_profiles if profile not in PROFILE_GROUP_MAP and profile not in FEATURE_GROUPS})
     if unknown:
-        supported = ", ".join(sorted(PROFILE_GROUP_MAP))
+        supported = ", ".join(sorted(set(PROFILE_GROUP_MAP.keys()) | set(FEATURE_GROUPS.keys())))
         unknown_display = ", ".join(unknown)
         raise UnknownFeatureProfileError(
             f"Unknown {ENV_FEATURE_PROFILE} value(s): {unknown_display}. Supported profiles: {supported}."
@@ -64,14 +71,18 @@ def _dedupe_stable(items: Iterable[str]) -> Tuple[str, ...]:
 def expand_profiles(profiles: Tuple[str, ...]) -> ExpandedFeatureProfile:
     """Expand profile names into a deduplicated group list."""
     
+    # Handle "all" specially - include all groups
+    if "all" in profiles:
+        return ExpandedFeatureProfile(profiles=("all",), groups=tuple(FEATURE_GROUPS.keys()))
+    
+    # Otherwise expand via PROFILE_GROUP_MAP
     groups = _dedupe_stable(
         group
         for profile in profiles
-        for group in PROFILE_GROUP_MAP[profile]
+        for group in PROFILE_GROUP_MAP.get(profile, (profile,))
     )
     
-    missing_groups = sorted({group for group in groups if group not in FEATURE_GROUPS})
-    if missing_groups:
-        raise RuntimeError(f"Profile mapping references unknown groups: {', '.join(missing_groups)}")
+    # Include FEATURE_GROUPS keys directly
+    all_groups = _dedupe_stable(list(groups) + [g for g in groups if g in FEATURE_GROUPS])
     
-    return ExpandedFeatureProfile(profiles=profiles, groups=groups)
+    return ExpandedFeatureProfile(profiles=profiles, groups=all_groups)
diff --git a/backend/alwrity_utils/router_manager.py b/backend/alwrity_utils/router_manager.py
index caabc4d9..eee799ce 100644
--- a/backend/alwrity_utils/router_manager.py
+++ b/backend/alwrity_utils/router_manager.py
@@ -13,57 +13,57 @@ from loguru import logger
 
 
 CORE_ROUTER_REGISTRY = [
-    {"name": "component_logic", "module": "api.component_logic", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "subscription", "module": "api.subscription", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default", "podcast"}},
-    {"name": "step3_research", "module": "api.onboarding_utils.step3_routes", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "step4_assets", "module": "api.onboarding_utils.step4_asset_routes", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "step4_persona", "module": "api.onboarding_utils.step4_persona_routes_optimized", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "gsc_auth", "module": "routers.gsc_auth", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "wordpress_oauth", "module": "routers.wordpress_oauth", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "bing_oauth", "module": "routers.bing_oauth", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "bing_analytics", "module": "routers.bing_analytics", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "bing_analytics_storage", "module": "routers.bing_analytics_storage", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "seo_tools", "module": "routers.seo_tools", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "facebook_writer", "module": "api.facebook_writer.routers", "attr": "facebook_router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "linkedin", "module": "routers.linkedin", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "linkedin_image", "module": "api.linkedin_image_generation", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "brainstorm", "module": "api.brainstorm", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "hallucination_detector", "module": "api.hallucination_detector", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "writing_assistant", "module": "api.writing_assistant", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "content_planning", "module": "api.content_planning.api.router", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "user_data", "module": "api.user_data", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "user_environment", "module": "api.user_environment", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "strategy_copilot", "module": "api.content_planning.strategy_copilot", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "error_logging", "module": "routers.error_logging", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "frontend_env_manager", "module": "routers.frontend_env_manager", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "platform_analytics", "module": "routers.platform_analytics", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "bing_insights", "module": "routers.bing_insights", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "background_jobs", "module": "routers.background_jobs", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
+    {"name": "component_logic", "module": "api.component_logic", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core"}},
+    {"name": "subscription", "module": "api.subscription", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core", "podcast", "blog-writer", "youtube"}},
+    {"name": "step3_research", "module": "api.onboarding_utils.step3_routes", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core"}},
+    {"name": "step4_assets", "module": "api.onboarding_utils.step4_asset_routes", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core"}},
+    {"name": "step4_persona", "module": "api.onboarding_utils.step4_persona_routes_optimized", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core"}},
+    {"name": "gsc_auth", "module": "routers.gsc_auth", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core", "seo"}},
+    {"name": "wordpress_oauth", "module": "routers.wordpress_oauth", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core"}},
+    {"name": "bing_oauth", "module": "routers.bing_oauth", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core"}},
+    {"name": "bing_analytics", "module": "routers.bing_analytics", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core"}},
+    {"name": "bing_analytics_storage", "module": "routers.bing_analytics_storage", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core"}},
+    {"name": "seo_tools", "module": "routers.seo_tools", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core", "seo"}},
+    {"name": "facebook_writer", "module": "api.facebook_writer.routers", "attr": "facebook_router", "features": {"all", "core", "facebook"}},
+    {"name": "linkedin", "module": "routers.linkedin", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core", "linkedin"}},
+    {"name": "linkedin_image", "module": "api.linkedin_image_generation", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core", "linkedin"}},
+    {"name": "brainstorm", "module": "api.brainstorm", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core"}},
+    {"name": "hallucination_detector", "module": "api.hallucination_detector", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core"}},
+    {"name": "writing_assistant", "module": "api.writing_assistant", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core"}},
+    {"name": "content_planning", "module": "api.content_planning.api.router", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core", "content-planning"}},
+    {"name": "user_data", "module": "api.user_data", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core"}},
+    {"name": "user_environment", "module": "api.user_environment", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core"}},
+    {"name": "strategy_copilot", "module": "api.content_planning.strategy_copilot", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core", "content-planning"}},
+    {"name": "error_logging", "module": "routers.error_logging", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core"}},
+    {"name": "frontend_env_manager", "module": "routers.frontend_env_manager", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core"}},
+    {"name": "platform_analytics", "module": "routers.platform_analytics", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core"}},
+    {"name": "bing_insights", "module": "routers.bing_insights", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core", "seo"}},
+    {"name": "background_jobs", "module": "routers.background_jobs", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core"}},
 ]
 
 OPTIONAL_ROUTER_REGISTRY = [
-    {"name": "blog_writer", "module": "api.blog_writer.router", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "story_writer", "module": "api.story_writer.router", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "wix", "module": "api.wix_routes", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "blog_seo_analysis", "module": "api.blog_writer.seo_analysis", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "persona", "module": "api.persona_routes", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "video_studio", "module": "api.video_studio.router", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "stability", "module": "routers.stability", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "stability_advanced", "module": "routers.stability_advanced", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "stability_admin", "module": "routers.stability_admin", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "images", "module": "api.images", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "image_studio", "module": "routers.image_studio", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "product_marketing", "module": "routers.product_marketing", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "campaign_creator", "module": "routers.campaign_creator", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "content_assets", "module": "api.content_assets.router", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "podcast", "module": "api.podcast.router", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default", "podcast"}},
-    {"name": "youtube", "module": "api.youtube.router", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}, "include_kwargs": {"prefix": "/api"}},
-    {"name": "research_config", "module": "api.research_config", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}, "include_kwargs": {"prefix": "/api/research", "tags": ["research"]}},
-    {"name": "research_engine", "module": "api.research.router", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}, "include_kwargs": {"tags": ["Research Engine"]}},
-    {"name": "scheduler_dashboard", "module": "api.scheduler_dashboard", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "oauth_token_monitoring", "module": "api.oauth_token_monitoring_routes", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "agents", "module": "api.agents_api", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
-    {"name": "today_workflow", "module": "api.today_workflow", "attr": "router", "profiles": {"all", "default"}},
+    {"name": "blog_writer", "module": "api.blog_writer.router", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "blog-writer"}},
+    {"name": "story_writer", "module": "api.story_writer.router", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "story-writer"}},
+    {"name": "wix", "module": "api.wix_routes", "attr": "router", "features": {"all"}},
+    {"name": "blog_seo_analysis", "module": "api.blog_writer.seo_analysis", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "blog-writer"}},
+    {"name": "persona", "module": "api.persona_routes", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "persona"}},
+    {"name": "video_studio", "module": "api.video_studio.router", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "video-studio"}},
+    {"name": "stability", "module": "routers.stability", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "image-studio"}},
+    {"name": "stability_advanced", "module": "routers.stability_advanced", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "image-studio"}},
+    {"name": "stability_admin", "module": "routers.stability_admin", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "image-studio"}},
+    {"name": "images", "module": "api.images", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "image-studio"}},
+    {"name": "image_studio", "module": "routers.image_studio", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "image-studio"}},
+    {"name": "product_marketing", "module": "routers.product_marketing", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "product-marketing"}},
+    {"name": "campaign_creator", "module": "routers.campaign_creator", "attr": "router", "features": {"all"}},
+    {"name": "content_assets", "module": "api.content_assets.router", "attr": "router", "features": {"all"}},
+    {"name": "podcast", "module": "api.podcast.router", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "podcast"}},
+    {"name": "youtube", "module": "api.youtube.router", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "youtube"}, "include_kwargs": {"prefix": "/api"}},
+    {"name": "research_config", "module": "api.research_config", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "research"}, "include_kwargs": {"prefix": "/api/research", "tags": ["research"]}},
+    {"name": "research_engine", "module": "api.research.router", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "research"}, "include_kwargs": {"tags": ["Research Engine"]}},
+    {"name": "scheduler_dashboard", "module": "api.scheduler_dashboard", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "scheduler"}},
+    {"name": "oauth_token_monitoring", "module": "api.oauth_token_monitoring_routes", "attr": "router", "features": {"all", "core"}},
+    {"name": "agents", "module": "api.agents_api", "attr": "router", "features": {"all"}},
+    {"name": "today_workflow", "module": "api.today_workflow", "attr": "router", "features": {"all"}},
 ]
 
 OPTIONAL_MODULE_MATRIX = {
@@ -81,15 +81,50 @@ class RouterManager:
         self.failed_routers = []
         self.skipped_routers = []
     
+    @staticmethod
+    def get_enabled_features() -> set:
+        """Get enabled features from environment variable.
+        
+        ALWRITY_ENABLED_FEATURES can be:
+        - "all" - enable all features (default)
+        - comma-separated list: "podcast,blog-writer,youtube"
+        - single feature: "podcast"
+        """
+        env_value = os.getenv(
+            "ALWRITY_ENABLED_FEATURES",
+            os.getenv("ALWRITY_FEATURE_PROFILE", os.getenv("ALWRITY_ROUTER_PROFILE", "all"))
+        ).strip().lower()
+        
+        if not env_value or env_value == "all":
+            return {"all"}
+        
+        return {f.strip() for f in env_value.split(",") if f.strip()}
+    
     def _is_verbose(self) -> bool:
         return os.getenv("ALWRITY_VERBOSE", "false").lower() == "true"
     
     def _get_profile(self) -> str:
-        return os.getenv("ALWRITY_FEATURE_PROFILE", os.getenv("ALWRITY_ROUTER_PROFILE", os.getenv("ALWRITY_FEATURE_TO_ENABLE", "all"))).strip().lower() or "all"
+        """Legacy method - returns primary profile."""
+        enabled = self.get_enabled_features()
+        if "all" in enabled:
+            return "all"
+        # Return first feature as profile for backwards compatibility
+        return list(enabled)[0] if enabled else "all"
     
-    def _should_include_router(self, registry_entry: Dict[str, Any], profile: str) -> bool:
-        profiles = registry_entry.get("profiles", {"all", "default"})
-        return profile in profiles or profile in {"all", "default"}
+    def _should_include_router(self, registry_entry: Dict[str, Any], enabled_features: set) -> bool:
+        """Check if router should be included based on enabled features."""
+        required_features = registry_entry.get("features", set())
+        
+        # If "all" is enabled, include everything
+        if "all" in enabled_features:
+            return True
+        
+        # If no required features specified, include by default
+        if not required_features:
+            return True
+        
+        # Check if any required feature is enabled
+        return bool(required_features & enabled_features)
     
     def _load_router_from_registry(self, registry_entry: Dict[str, Any]):
         module = import_module(registry_entry["module"])
@@ -120,15 +155,15 @@ class RouterManager:
     
     def _include_registry_group(self, registry: List[Dict[str, Any]], group_name: str) -> bool:
         verbose = self._is_verbose()
-        profile = self._get_profile()
+        enabled_features = self.get_enabled_features()
         
         try:
             if verbose:
-                logger.info(f"Including {group_name} routers for profile '{profile}'...")
+                logger.info(f"Including {group_name} routers with features: {enabled_features}...")
             
             for entry in registry:
-                if not self._should_include_router(entry, profile):
-                    reason = f"profile '{profile}' not in {entry.get('profiles', set())}"
+                if not self._should_include_router(entry, enabled_features):
+                    reason = f"features {enabled_features} not matching {entry.get('features', set())}"
                     self.skipped_routers.append({"name": entry["name"], "reason": reason})
                     if verbose:
                         logger.info(f"⏭️  Skipping {entry['name']}: {reason}")
@@ -140,7 +175,7 @@ class RouterManager:
                 except Exception as e:
                     logger.warning(f"{entry['name']} router not mounted: {e}")
             
-            logger.info(f"✅ {group_name.capitalize()} routers processed for profile '{profile}'")
+            logger.info(f"✅ {group_name.capitalize()} routers processed for features: {enabled_features}")
             return True
             
         except Exception as e:
diff --git a/backend/app.py b/backend/app.py
index dbe9c3a3..f863996f 100644
--- a/backend/app.py
+++ b/backend/app.py
@@ -59,18 +59,47 @@ def _env_flag_enabled(*env_names: str) -> bool:
     return False
 
 
-PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE = _env_flag_enabled(
-    "ALWRITY_PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE",
-    "PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE",
-)
+def get_enabled_features() -> set:
+    """Get enabled features from environment variable.
+    
+    ALWRITY_ENABLED_FEATURES can be:
+    - "all" - enable all features (default)
+    - comma-separated list: "podcast,core"
+    - single feature: "podcast"
+    """
+    env_value = os.getenv(
+        "ALWRITY_ENABLED_FEATURES",
+        os.getenv("ALWRITY_FEATURE_PROFILE", os.getenv("ALWRITY_ROUTER_PROFILE", "all"))
+    ).strip().lower()
+    
+    if not env_value or env_value == "all":
+        return {"all"}
+    
+    return {f.strip() for f in env_value.split(",") if f.strip()}
 
 
 def is_podcast_only_demo_mode() -> bool:
-    return PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE
+    """Check if podcast-only mode is enabled via new or legacy flags."""
+    # First check the new consolidated flag
+    enabled = get_enabled_features()
+    if "podcast" in enabled and "all" not in enabled:
+        return True
+    
+    # Fall back to legacy flags for backwards compatibility
+    return _env_flag_enabled(
+        "ALWRITY_PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE",
+        "PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE"
+    )
 
 
 def should_include_non_podcast_features() -> bool:
-    return not is_podcast_only_demo_mode()
+    """Check if non-podcast features should be included."""
+    enabled = get_enabled_features()
+    return "all" in enabled or "core" in enabled or "blog-writer" in enabled
+
+
+# Legacy constant for backwards compatibility - prefer using get_enabled_features()
+PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE = is_podcast_only_demo_mode()
 
 
 # Set up clean logging for end users
diff --git a/backend/start_alwrity_backend.py b/backend/start_alwrity_backend.py
index d4aaed82..254c4b41 100644
--- a/backend/start_alwrity_backend.py
+++ b/backend/start_alwrity_backend.py
@@ -26,42 +26,63 @@ class BootstrapResult:
 LINGUISTIC_REQUIRED_FEATURES = {"content_planning", "strategy_copilot", "facebook", "linkedin", "blog_writer", "persona"}
 
 
+def get_enabled_features() -> set:
+    """Get enabled features from environment variable.
+    
+    ALWRITY_ENABLED_FEATURES can be:
+    - "all" - enable all features (default)
+    - comma-separated list: "podcast,blog-writer,youtube"
+    - single feature: "podcast"
+    """
+    env_value = os.getenv(
+        "ALWRITY_ENABLED_FEATURES",
+        os.getenv("ALWRITY_FEATURE_PROFILE", os.getenv("ALWRITY_ROUTER_PROFILE", "all"))
+    ).strip().lower()
+    
+    if not env_value or env_value == "all":
+        return {"all"}
+    
+    return {f.strip() for f in env_value.split(",") if f.strip()}
+
+
 def get_active_profile() -> str:
-    """Get active profile from environment variables."""
-    return os.getenv("ALWRITY_ACTIVE_PROFILE", os.getenv("ALWRITY_PROFILE", os.getenv("ALWRITY_FEATURE_PROFILE", os.getenv("ALWRITY_ROUTER_PROFILE", os.getenv("ALWRITY_FEATURE_TO_ENABLE", "all"))))).strip().lower() or "all"
-
-
-def get_loaded_features() -> set:
-    """Get loaded features from environment variables."""
-    features_str = os.getenv("ALWRITY_LOADED_FEATURES", os.getenv("ALWRITY_ENABLED_FEATURES", os.getenv("ALWRITY_FEATURES", "")))
-    if not features_str:
-        return set()
-    return {f.strip().lower() for f in features_str.split(",") if f.strip()}
+    """Legacy function - returns primary profile for backwards compatibility."""
+    enabled = get_enabled_features()
+    if "all" in enabled:
+        return "all"
+    return list(enabled)[0] if enabled else "all"
 
 
 def should_bootstrap_linguistic_models() -> bool:
-    """Decide whether to bootstrap linguistic models based on profile."""
-    profile = get_active_profile()
+    """Decide whether to bootstrap linguistic models based on enabled features."""
+    enabled_features = get_enabled_features()
     verbose = os.getenv("ALWRITY_VERBOSE", "false").lower() == "true"
     
-    if profile in {"all", "default"}:
+    if "all" in enabled_features:
         return True
     
-    loaded_features = get_loaded_features()
-    if not loaded_features:
-        return False
+    # Map old profile names to features for backwards compatibility
+    feature_mapping = {
+        "podcast": "podcast",
+        "youtube": "youtube",
+        "planning": "content-planning",
+        "default": "all"
+    }
     
-    return bool(loaded_features & LINGUISTIC_REQUIRED_FEATURES)
+    # Check if any linguistic-required feature is enabled
+    linguistic_features = {"content_planning", "facebook", "linkedin", "blog-writer", "persona"}
+    return bool(enabled_features & linguistic_features)
 
 
 def should_bootstrap_local_llm_models() -> bool:
-    """Decide whether to bootstrap local LLM models based on profile."""
-    profile = get_active_profile()
+    """Decide whether to bootstrap local LLM models based on enabled features."""
+    enabled_features = get_enabled_features()
     
-    if profile in {"all", "default"}:
+    if "all" in enabled_features:
         return True
     
-    return profile not in {"podcast", "youtube", "planning"}
+    # Skip LLM bootstrap for lean deployments
+    return "core" in enabled_features or "podcast" in enabled_features
 
 
 def bootstrap_linguistic_models() -> BootstrapResult:
diff --git a/frontend/src/utils/demoMode.ts b/frontend/src/utils/demoMode.ts
index 3cb6a0c9..730096ac 100644
--- a/frontend/src/utils/demoMode.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/utils/demoMode.ts
@@ -1,47 +1,79 @@
 /**
- * Demo mode detection utilities for podcast-only demo mode.
+ * Consolidated feature mode detection utilities.
+ * 
+ * Uses ALWRITY_ENABLED_FEATURES (backend) / REACT_APP_ENABLED_FEATURES (frontend)
+ * Format: "all" or comma-separated features: "podcast,core"
  */
 
-const DEMO_MODE_STORAGE_KEYS = [
+const ENABLED_FEATURES_STORAGE_KEYS = [
   'app_mode',
+  'enabled_features',
   'demo_mode',
   'podcast_only_demo_mode',
 ];
 
-const DEMO_MODE_ENV_KEYS = [
+const ENABLED_FEATURES_ENV_KEYS = [
+  'REACT_APP_ENABLED_FEATURES',
   'REACT_APP_APP_MODE',
   'REACT_APP_DEMO_MODE',
   'REACT_APP_PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE',
 ];
 
 /**
- * Check if podcast-only demo mode is enabled.
- * Checks localStorage first, then environment variables.
+ * Get enabled features from localStorage or environment.
+ * Returns a set of enabled feature names.
  */
-export function isPodcastOnlyDemoMode(): boolean {
-  // Check localStorage
-  for (const key of DEMO_MODE_STORAGE_KEYS) {
-    const value = (localStorage.getItem(key) || '').toLowerCase();
-    if (value === 'true' || value === 'podcast-only' || value === 'podcast_only') {
-      return true;
+export function getEnabledFeatures(): Set<string> {
+  // Check localStorage first
+  for (const key of ENABLED_FEATURES_STORAGE_KEYS) {
+    const value = localStorage.getItem(key);
+    if (value) {
+      const features = value.toLowerCase().split(',').map(f => f.trim());
+      if (features.includes('all')) {
+        return new Set(['all']);
+      }
+      return new Set(features.filter(f => f));
     }
   }
 
   // Check environment variables
-  for (const key of DEMO_MODE_ENV_KEYS) {
-    const value = (process.env[key] || '').toLowerCase();
-    if (value === 'true' || value === 'podcast-only' || value === 'podcast_only') {
-      return true;
+  for (const key of ENABLED_FEATURES_ENV_KEYS) {
+    const value = process.env[key];
+    if (value) {
+      const features = value.toLowerCase().split(',').map(f => f.trim());
+      if (features.includes('all')) {
+        return new Set(['all']);
+      }
+      return new Set(features.filter(f => f));
     }
   }
 
-  return false;
+  // Default: all features enabled
+  return new Set(['all']);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Check if a specific feature is enabled.
+ */
+export function isFeatureEnabled(feature: string): boolean {
+  const enabled = getEnabledFeatures();
+  return enabled.has('all') || enabled.has(feature);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Check if podcast-only mode is enabled.
+ * Returns true when podcast is enabled but not "all".
+ */
+export function isPodcastOnlyDemoMode(): boolean {
+  const enabled = getEnabledFeatures();
+  return enabled.has('podcast') && !enabled.has('all');
 }
 
 /**
  * Check if the app should skip onboarding entirely.
- * Returns true in podcast-only demo mode.
+ * Returns true in podcast-only demo mode or when not using all features.
  */
 export function shouldSkipOnboarding(): boolean {
-  return isPodcastOnlyDemoMode();
+  const enabled = getEnabledFeatures();
+  return enabled.has('podcast') || !enabled.has('all');
 }