TL;DR
ConvertKit (now "Kit") used to be the obvious choice for creators. After recent price increases, that's no longer true.
- Use it if: You're selling courses/products and need sophisticated automations
- Skip it if: You just want a newsletter (Beehiiv is better and cheaper)
- The pricing problem: Now starts at $33/month for 1,000 subscribers (was $15)
Our rating: 3.5/5 — Still good, but the value proposition has weakened significantly.
What Happened to ConvertKit?
ConvertKit was the darling of the creator economy for years. Simple interface, creator-focused features, reasonable pricing.
Then two things happened:
- They rebranded to "Kit" — A questionable branding decision that confused everyone
- They significantly raised prices — What used to start at $15/month now starts at $33/month
Meanwhile, competitors like Beehiiv launched with better free tiers and newsletter-specific features. The landscape has changed.
What ConvertKit Still Does Well
Automations for Product Creators
If you're selling courses, coaching, or digital products, ConvertKit's automation builder is genuinely excellent. Customer journeys, tagging logic, conditional sequences—it handles complex funnels well.
Creator-Focused Design
The interface is clean and intuitive. Landing pages look good out of the box. The commerce features for selling digital products work seamlessly.
Deliverability (Usually)
ConvertKit claims a 99.8% delivery rate. In practice, most users report good deliverability—though some have had issues with emails landing in spam. Proper SPF/DKIM configuration helps.
The Problems
The Pricing Is Hard to Justify Now
Let's be real about the numbers:
| Subscribers | ConvertKit | Beehiiv | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $33/mo | Free | Free |
| 2,500 | $50/mo | Free | $45/mo |
| 5,000 | $79/mo | $49/mo | $75/mo |
| 10,000 | $119/mo | $99/mo | $115/mo |
Beehiiv's free tier supports 2,500 subscribers. ConvertKit's free tier only supports 1,000. For newsletter creators, that's a meaningful difference.
It's Not Built for Pure Newsletters
ConvertKit was built for creators selling stuff. If you're just writing a newsletter without products to sell, many features feel irrelevant. Beehiiv, by contrast, was built newsletter-first with growth tools, recommendations, and monetization features.
ConvertKit vs The Competition
ConvertKit vs Beehiiv
Choose Beehiiv if:
- You're primarily a newsletter writer
- You want better growth tools and recommendations
- You're price-conscious (free up to 2,500 subscribers)
- Newsletter monetization is a priority
Choose ConvertKit if:
- You're selling courses, coaching, or digital products
- You need sophisticated automation sequences
- You want landing pages + email in one tool
ConvertKit vs Mailchimp
Mailchimp is more beginner-friendly and offers a wider feature range for general businesses. ConvertKit is more creator-focused with better automation for product sales. Mailchimp's free plan (1,000 subscribers) is comparable, but ConvertKit's paid features are more relevant for creators.
Who Should Use ConvertKit
Good Fit
- Course creators with complex funnels
- Coaches selling high-ticket offers
- Creators with multiple products
- Those who need sophisticated automations
Bad Fit
- Pure newsletter writers (use Beehiiv)
- Budget-conscious creators
- Those who don't need advanced automations
- Small lists under 2,500 (free options are better)
Pricing
- Free: Up to 1,000 subscribers, limited features
- Creator: From $33/month — Full automation, sequences
- Creator Pro: From $59/month — Advanced reporting, subscriber scoring
The Bottom Line
Our Verdict: 3.5/5
ConvertKit is still a solid email platform, especially for creators selling products. The automation features are genuinely good.
But the price increases have fundamentally changed the value proposition. For simple newsletters, Beehiiv now offers better features at a lower price point. For general email marketing, Mailchimp's free tier is competitive.
Recommendation: If you're selling courses or digital products, ConvertKit is still worth considering. If you're just writing a newsletter, start with Beehiiv instead.