Kit (Formerly ConvertKit) Review: Is It Still the Best Email Tool for Creators?
The Verdict
Buy. If you are a content creator, blogger, or coach looking to monetize an audience, Kit is the industry standard for a reason; its "Creator Network" alone is worth the price of admission for the organic growth it generates. However, if you are a brick-and-mortar business or need image-heavy, magazine-style layouts, you should Pass.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The Creator Network: An internal recommendation engine that helps you grow your list by cross-promoting with other creators (a massive growth hack).
- Visual Automations: The most intuitive logic-branch builder in the industry; makes setting up evergreen sales funnels incredibly easy.
- High Deliverability: The platform prioritizes "plain text" feel emails, which land in the Primary Inbox rather than the Promotions tab.
- Generous Free Tier: You can manage up to 10,000 subscribers on the free plan (though automation features are limited).
- Built-in Commerce: Native ability to sell digital products, memberships, and paid newsletters without needing a separate Shopify or WooCommerce integration.
Cons
- Limited Design Options: The email editor is rigid by design. You cannot easily create complex, multi-column, image-heavy layouts like you can in Mailchimp.
- Price Scaling: While the entry point is low, the monthly cost jumps significantly as your list grows compared to budget alternatives.
- Reporting: Analytics are sufficient for most, but lack the granular heat-mapping and deep data dives found in enterprise CRM tools.
Deep Dive: Features, Value, and Usability
Features & The "Kit" Rebrand Recently rebranding from ConvertKit to simply "Kit," the platform has doubled down on being a "Creator Operating System" rather than just an email tool. The standout feature remains the Visual Automation Builder. Unlike competitors where workflows feel like coding, Kit uses a flowchart interface that makes tagging subscribers and triggering sequences effortless. However, the real game-changer is the Creator Network. This feature allows you to recommend other newsletters and be recommended in return. For many users, this single feature drives 30-50% of their monthly subscriber growth on autopilot, solving the hardest part of email marketing: getting people to sign up.
Ease of Use & Editor Kit has always championed the "friend-to-friend" email aesthetic. You won't find a drag-and-drop builder with flashy widgets here. Instead, the writing interface is clean, distraction-free, and focuses on text. This is intentional—text-based emails historically convert higher and avoid spam filters. For a Senior Editor, this focus is refreshing; it forces you to focus on copy rather than layout. Setting up landing pages is equally fast, with decent templates available, though customization is somewhat limited if you don't know CSS.
Pricing & Value Kit operates on a "freemium" model that is surprisingly generous, allowing up to 10,000 subscribers on the free plan. However, to access the Automations (the logic funnels), you must upgrade to the "Creator" plan, starting at $29/month. While it is not the cheapest option on the market (MailerLite is cheaper), the ROI is arguably higher. Because Kit combines email marketing, landing pages, and digital product sales, it often replaces three separate subscriptions. If you are actively selling products or services, the cost is easily justifiable; if you are just a hobbyist sending a monthly update, it may feel overpriced.
The Competition
Kit vs. Mailchimp Mailchimp is the legacy giant, ideal for small businesses (like a local bakery) that need visual-heavy newsletters. However, Mailchimp’s automation builder is clunky and their pricing structure has become notoriously complex and expensive. Winner: Kit for digital creators; Mailchimp for physical businesses.
Kit vs. Beehiiv Beehiiv is the rising star, built specifically for newsletter writers who want to monetize via ads and subscriptions. Beehiiv’s writing interface is slightly more modern, and their ad network is superior. However, Kit wins on segmentation and complex automation sequences. Winner: Beehiiv for pure writers/journalists; Kit for marketers and course sellers.
Conclusion: Who is this EXACTLY for?
Kit is the ultimate tool for professional creators—specifically authors, YouTubers, podcasters, and coaches who view their email list as a revenue engine, not just a broadcast channel.
If you want to set up a sales funnel once and let it run forever, while utilizing a network to help you grow for free, Kit is the best investment you can make this year.