How Kit and Patreon compare
Kit, formerly ConvertKit, is email marketing made for creators. Forms and landing pages, tags and segments, visual automations, sequences, a Creator Network for recommendations, paid newsletters, and Kit Commerce for digital products give a creator everything the list needs, with a free plan to start. It is thoughtful and built by people who know creators.
Patreon turned fans into patrons. Membership tiers, members-only posts, community chats, a shop for one-off items, and native podcast and video delivery give creators steady income from the people who care most. It is the default word for creator memberships, and the tools have grown up with it.
Where they are different
Kit
- Kit's landing pages are lead capture.
- Kit sends from its infrastructure.
- Kit Commerce sells digital products.
Patreon
- Patreon lives at patreon.com/yourname and gates most content.
- Patreon takes a percentage of membership revenue.
- Patreon messages patrons in-app.
Choose Kit when the list is the business and you want the deepest creator-focused email tooling.
Choose Patreon when recurring fan support with tiers and members-only perks is the model.
Compare features
What's on Kit and Patreon
A check means that capability is available. Kit and Patreon are marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace siteKit: IncludedPatreon: Not included
- Custom domainKit: IncludedPatreon: Not included
Public content
- Shop pagesKit: Not includedPatreon: Included
Audience and email
- AudienceKit: IncludedPatreon: Included
- Marketing emailsKit: IncludedPatreon: Included
- Campaign workflowsKit: IncludedPatreon: Not included
Messaging
- Built-in chatKit: Not includedPatreon: Included
Commerce
- Shop paymentsKit: IncludedPatreon: Included
Team
- Admin usersKit: IncludedPatreon: Included
- AI AssistantKit: IncludedPatreon: Not included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Kit or Patreon, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Kit or Patreon may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Kit vs Patreon pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Kit
Current plans and prices
See what Kit charges on their pricing page.
Patreon
Current plans and prices
See what Patreon charges on their pricing page.
Cardel: An alternative to
Kit and Patreon
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 Kit or Patreon?
Cardel is a home for your craft: a site of your own with a blog, newsletter, shop, community, and one inbox. It can replace Kit or Patreon when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list on this page shows where Kit and Patreon are marked.
Can I use Cardel with Kit or Patreon?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep Kit or Patreon for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared with Kit and Patreon?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. Kit and Patreon set their own prices, so check their pricing pages on this page for current plans.
How do I switch from Kit or Patreon 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.