How Kit and Substack 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.
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
Kit
- Kit's landing pages are lead capture.
- Kit sends from its infrastructure.
- Kit Commerce sells digital products.
Substack
- Substack is a network you publish into.
- Substack takes a percentage of paid subscriptions.
- Substack chat and comments live in its app.
Choose Kit when the list is the business and you want the deepest creator-focused email tooling.
Choose Substack when you want to write, get paid, and be discovered with the least possible setup.
Compare features
What's on Kit and Substack
A check means that capability is available. Kit and Substack are marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace siteKit: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Custom domainKit: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Theme and fontsKit: IncludedSubstack: Included
Public content
- BlogKit: Not includedSubstack: Included
- Reader engagementKit: Not includedSubstack: Included
Reach and quality
- SEOKit: IncludedSubstack: Included
Audience and email
- AudienceKit: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Marketing emailsKit: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Campaign workflowsKit: IncludedSubstack: Not included
Messaging
- Built-in chatKit: Not includedSubstack: Included
Commerce
- Shop paymentsKit: IncludedSubstack: Not included
Team
- Admin usersKit: IncludedSubstack: Included
- AI AssistantKit: IncludedSubstack: Not included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Kit or Substack, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Kit or Substack may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Kit vs Substack pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Kit
Current plans and prices
See what Kit charges on their pricing page.
Substack
Current plans and prices
See what Substack charges on their pricing page.
Cardel: An alternative to
Kit 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 Kit 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 Kit or Substack when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list on this page shows where Kit and Substack are marked.
Can I use Cardel with Kit or Substack?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep Kit or Substack for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared with Kit and Substack?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. Kit and Substack set their own prices, so check their pricing pages on this page for current plans.
How do I switch from Kit 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.