How Kartra and Substack compare
Kartra is the operator's all-in-one. Checkouts with one-time, recurring, or installment pricing, email and SMS campaigns that react to what a lead does, membership portals for courses, calendars with paid bookings, a helpdesk with tickets and a wiki, and split tests on up to four page versions. If you run offers, sequences, and a member area as one machine and want the analytics to match, Kartra was built for exactly that.
Substack made paid newsletters normal. You write, it sends, and readers can subscribe or pay in one click. The network effects are real: recommendations, Notes, the app, and discovery bring new readers you did not have to find. There is no monthly fee, and for a writer who wants to write rather than run software, that is a gift.
Where they are different
Kartra
- Kartra pages are campaign pages first.
- Kartra has blog page templates and a WordPress push, not a blog engine.
- Kartra's helpdesk takes tickets from a forwarded support address on Growth and up.
Substack
- Substack is a network you publish into.
- Substack takes a percentage of paid subscriptions.
- Substack chat and comments live in its app.
Choose Kartra when you sell through checkouts and sequences, deliver inside memberships, and want a helpdesk, affiliates, SMS, and split testing wired to the same lead record.
Choose Substack when you want to write, get paid, and be discovered with the least possible setup.
Compare features
What's on Kartra and Substack
A check means that capability is available. Kartra and Substack are marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace siteKartra: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Custom domainKartra: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Theme and fontsKartra: IncludedSubstack: Included
Public content
- BlogKartra: Not includedSubstack: Included
- Reader engagementKartra: Not includedSubstack: Included
- Showcase pagesKartra: IncludedSubstack: Not included
- Shop pagesKartra: IncludedSubstack: Not included
Reach and quality
- SEOKartra: IncludedSubstack: Included
Audience and email
- AudienceKartra: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Marketing emailsKartra: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Campaign workflowsKartra: IncludedSubstack: Not included
Messaging
- Built-in chatKartra: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Messaging CenterKartra: IncludedSubstack: Not included
Commerce
- Shop paymentsKartra: IncludedSubstack: Not included
- Orders and fulfillmentKartra: IncludedSubstack: Not included
- Scheduling and bookingsLink to external scheduling available on Starter.Kartra: IncludedSubstack: Not included
Team
- Admin usersKartra: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Per-admin permissionsKartra: IncludedSubstack: Included
- AI AssistantKartra: IncludedSubstack: Not included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Kartra or Substack, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Kartra or Substack may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Kartra vs Substack pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Kartra
Current plans and prices
See what Kartra charges on their pricing page.
Substack
Current plans and prices
See what Substack charges on their pricing page.
Cardel: An alternative to
Kartra and Substack
You don't pay until you publish.
Cardel provides a home for your craft. Share and sell your work, grow your audience, and bring your community together on a site of your own.
Common questions
Is Cardel an alternative to Kartra or Substack?
Cardel is a home for your craft: a site of your own with a blog, newsletter, shop, community, and one inbox. It can replace Kartra or Substack when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list on this page shows where Kartra and Substack are marked.
Can I use Cardel with Kartra or Substack?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep Kartra or Substack for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared with Kartra and Substack?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. Kartra and Substack set their own prices, so check their pricing pages on this page for current plans.
How do I switch from Kartra or Substack to Cardel?
Start with Build Your Site, set up your home, and bring your work over at your own pace. You do not have to move everything on day one.