Kit (ConvertKit)
Substack
| Feature | Kit (ConvertKit) | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $25/mo | Free / from $0/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Best For | creators, bloggers, podcasters, authors, course-creators | independent-writers, journalists, newsletter-creators, thought-leaders |
| Founded | 2013 | 2017 |
| Email Sequences | ✓ | ✗ |
| Visual Automations | ✓ | ✗ |
| Landing Pages | ✓ | ✗ |
| Commerce | ✓ | ✗ |
| Subscriber Tags | ✓ | ✗ |
| Broadcasts | ✓ | ✗ |
| Creator Network | ✓ | ✗ |
| Newsletter | ✗ | ✓ |
| Paid Subscriptions | ✗ | ✓ |
| Podcast Hosting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Community Chat | ✗ | ✓ |
| Recommendations | ✗ | ✓ |
| Notes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Analytics | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Kit (ConvertKit) Pros
- Designed for creators and writers
- Visual automation builder
- Free tier for up to 10,000 subscribers
- Commerce features for selling digital products
✗ Kit (ConvertKit) Cons
- Email templates less flexible than Mailchimp
- Limited design customization
- Reporting could be more detailed
✓ Substack Pros
- Completely free to start — no monthly fees
- Built-in paid subscription infrastructure
- Network effects from Substack recommendations
- Simple writing interface without distractions
✗ Substack Cons
- 10% cut of paid subscriber revenue
- Limited design and branding customization
- No automation or complex email sequences
The Verdict
Kit (ConvertKit) is built for creators and bloggers, with a focus on email-sequences and visual-automations. Substack targets independent writers and journalists and leads with newsletter and paid-subscriptions.
On pricing, Substack is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $0/mo compared to $25/mo for Kit (ConvertKit). That $25/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.
