ConvertKit Review 2024: Better than Mailchimp?

Are you considering ConvertKit for your email marketing needs in 2024? This detailed review provides an updated and unbiased look at what ConvertKit offers. Known for its user-friendly interface and robust automation features, ConvertKit aims to streamline your email campaigns and enhance subscriber engagement efficiently. Whether you’re a blogger, a small business owner, or part of a larger marketing team, understanding how ConvertKit stacks up against other email marketing tools could be crucial for your strategy. This review will cover its features, pricing, ease of use, and customer support quality. Additionally, you’ll learn about its integration capabilities with other platforms, which could help you decide if ConvertKit fits your digital marketing toolkit this year.

What is ConvertKit?

ConvertKit is an email marketing platform designed specifically with creators in mind. It helps you to grow your audience and manage email campaigns effectively. As a user, you can easily create and customize emails using a drag-and-drop editor, making it simple to design appealing messages without needing technical expertise. ConvertKit allows you to automate your email workflows, which means you can set up sequences that send emails based on specific actions your subscribers take, such as signing up for a list or purchasing a product.

ConvertKit Features and Functionalities Explained

By utilizing these features effectively, you can optimize your email marketing efforts, ensuring better engagement, higher conversion rates, and ultimately, more significant growth in your subscriber base. Each tool within ConvertKit is designed to be intuitive and powerful, supporting you in building meaningful connections with your audience.

Email Automation

ConvertKit’s email automation system lets you set up email sequences that automatically respond to subscriber actions. You can create triggers based on sign-up, purchase, or engagement that prompt a sequence of targeted emails. This automation ensures that you maintain consistent communication with your subscribers without manual intervention every time. For example, a welcome email can automatically go out when someone joins your mailing list, followed by tailored emails based on the links they click within your messages.

Subscriber Segmentation

Segmentation involves categorizing your subscribers based on their behavior, preferences, or demographics through geo-targeting. With ConvertKit, you can tag subscribers and create segments to send highly personalized emails. This targeting improves engagement rates as emails are more relevant to the recipient’s interests and needs. You might segment users by purchase history, email engagement, or even content preferences to tailor your outreach.

Visual Automation Editor

The Visual Automation Editor is a user-friendly tool within ConvertKit that allows you to visually map out and design email workflows. This feature makes it easy to see how different sequences interact and overlap, helping you to craft sophisticated marketing strategies. You can set up complex funnels that guide your subscribers through various stages of engagement, from initial contact to final purchase, all represented visually.

Integration Capabilities

ConvertKit integrates seamlessly with numerous other platforms, including eCommerce systems like Shopify, membership sites like Teachable, and landing page builders like Leadpages. These integrations enable you to synchronize your email marketing with other aspects of your digital presence, creating a cohesive user experience. For instance, you can automatically tag subscribers who purchase a product, allowing for follow-up emails specific to their purchase.

Email Deliverability

High deliverability is crucial for effective email marketing. ConvertKit focuses on ensuring your emails reach subscribers’ inboxes, avoiding spam filters. The platform manages this through ongoing optimization of sending practices and compliance with email regulations, which helps maintain your sender reputation and ensures your messages are received.

Suggested Reading: Best Email Marketing tools to Use in 2024

ConvertKit Pricing Plans for 2024

ConvertKit offers a range of pricing plans tailored to different needs, each structured to accommodate the growing demands of email marketers and content creators. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each plan to help you decide which might be best for you:

• Free Plan

Ideal for beginners, the Free Plan supports up to 1,000 subscribers and includes basic email sending capabilities, along with the ability to create landing pages and forms. It’s a good start if you’re new to email marketing or have a small list. However, it includes ConvertKit branding on your emails and does not offer automation features.

• Creator Plan

Starting at $9 per month when billed annually, or $15 monthly for up to 300 subscribers, the Creator Plan introduces more advanced features such as automated email sequences and integrations with other platforms. The pricing increases with the number of subscribers; for instance, for up to 1,000 subscribers, it’s $25 per month when billed annually or $29 monthly. This plan is well-suited for growing businesses looking to expand their audience.

• Creator Pro Plan

For more established businesses or those needing more sophisticated tools, the Creator Pro Plan starts at $25 per month annually or $29 monthly for up to 1,000 subscribers. It includes additional features like subscriber engagement scoring, advanced reporting, and priority customer support. The cost increases as your subscriber list grows, with detailed pricing depending on the number of subscribers.

Both paid plans scale with the number of subscribers, and significant discounts are available for annual billing. ConvertKit also imposes a transaction fee of 3.5% + $0.30 on any sales made through the platform, which is competitive compared to other services.

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Your ConvertKit Account

To start using ConvertKit for your email marketing needs, follow these detailed steps to set up your account effectively:

• Sign Up

Visit the ConvertKit website and click the “TRY IT FOR FREE” button. During sign-up, you’ll choose whether you’re transitioning from another email marketing tool or starting fresh. If you’re new to email marketing, indicate that you’re just starting out.

• Account Setup

Once your account is created, you’ll need to provide basic information like your company name, a professional email address from your domain (not a free email service), and other essential details. This step is crucial for compliance with international spam laws.

• Create a Form

Forms are essential for capturing subscriber information. In ConvertKit, click on ‘+ Create Form’ and choose between a landing page or a form. Customize your form’s style, text, colors, and more to match your brand.

• Set Up an Incentive Email

This is a double-opt-in email that helps verify new subscribers. Customize the incentive email with a clear call to action and inform subscribers what they are agreeing to by clicking the download link. If offering a freebie, upload it directly in ConvertKit so that downloading the freebie confirms the subscriber’s email.

• Embed the Form on Your Website

Once your form is ready, you can embed it into your website. ConvertKit provides several embedding options, such as JavaScript, HTML, or a direct link. Choose the appropriate code and insert it into your site where you want the form to appear.

• Import Existing Contacts (if applicable)

If you have an existing subscriber list, you can import it into ConvertKit. Prepare your subscriber list as a CSV file, and use ConvertKit’s import feature to add these contacts under a specific tag or directly into a form.

• Send Your First Email

Create and send your first broadcast (single email) or set up an email sequence (a series of automated emails). Use ConvertKit’s email editor to add content, links, and images, and customize your message to engage your subscribers effectively.

ConvertKit Vs Mailchimp Comparison 2024

Whether ConvertKit is better than Mailchimp depends on your specific needs and goals in email marketing. ConvertKit excels for content creators, such as bloggers, podcasters, and small businesses, who seek a simple, user-friendly interface with robust automation features. It offers a clean and straightforward design, making it easy to create and manage email sequences and sales funnels. The platform’s tagging system simplifies subscriber segmentation, enabling targeted and personalized email campaigns. ConvertKit also integrates well with popular tools like WordPress and Shopify, enhancing its utility for creators.

ConverKit vs Mailchimp Comparison

Feature/Aspect	ConvertKit	Mailchimp
Company Overview	Founded by Nathan Barry in 2013.	Founded by Ben Chestnut and Dan Kurzius in 2001.
Primary Focus	Email marketing for creators (bloggers, podcasters, etc.).	Comprehensive marketing platform for businesses of all sizes.
Ease of Use	Simple, clean interface; designed for creators.	Intuitive interface with drag-and-drop features.
Customer Base	Over 30,000 creators and small businesses.	Over 13 million users globally.
Email Templates	Basic, text-focused templates.	Wide variety of customizable templates.
Automation	Robust automation for email sequences and funnels.	Advanced automation with detailed triggers and workflows.
Segmentation	Easy-to-use tagging system for subscriber management.	Advanced segmentation with numerous criteria options.
Integrations	Integrates with popular tools like Shopify, WordPress, etc.	Extensive integrations including e-commerce and social media.
Reporting and Analytics	Basic analytics focused on email performance.	Comprehensive analytics including social media and website data.
Support	Email and live chat support.	24/7 email and live chat support; phone support for premium users.
Free Plan	Free for up to 300 subscribers.	Free for up to 500 subscribers.
Paid Plans	Based on subscriber count, starting at $9/month.	Tiered plans starting at $10/month.
Customer Reviews	Highly rated for ease of use and automation.	Mixed reviews; praised for features but criticized for pricing.
Pros	– User-friendly for creators<br>- Strong automation<br>- Simple tagging system	– Wide range of features<br>- Advanced segmentation<br>- Rich templates
Cons	– Limited email templates<br>- Basic analytics	– Can be expensive<br>- Overwhelming for small users
Ideal For	Content creators, bloggers, small businesses.	Businesses of all sizes needing comprehensive marketing tools.
Pricing	Free Plan: Up to 300 subscribers Creator: Starts at $9/month Creator Pro: Starts at $25/month	Free Plan: Up to 500 subscribers Essentials: Starts at $13/month Standard: Starts at $20/month Premium: Starts at $350/month

On the other hand, Mailchimp is a comprehensive marketing platform suitable for businesses of all sizes. It provides a wide range of features, including advanced segmentation, detailed reporting, and a vast selection of customizable templates. Mailchimp’s automation capabilities are more sophisticated, allowing for complex workflows and detailed triggers. It also supports extensive integrations with e-commerce platforms, social media, and other marketing tools, making it versatile for diverse marketing strategies.

However, Mailchimp can be overwhelming for beginners and may be more expensive, particularly for larger subscriber lists. ConvertKit, while simpler, offers essential features at a more affordable price, particularly for those with smaller lists and a focus on content creation.

Ultimately, if you’re a content creator looking for simplicity and powerful automation, ConvertKit might be the better choice. If you need a comprehensive marketing solution with advanced features and integrations, Mailchimp is likely the better fit.

Read our 2024 Mailchimp review to better understand which platform suits your specific requirements here: All That You Need to Know About Mailchimp Email Marketing in 2024.

ConvertKit Email Marketing Benefits for Creators

Each of these advantages makes ConvertKit a compelling choice for content creators, marketers, and business owners who need a reliable, effective tool for engaging their audience and scaling their email marketing efforts.

User-Friendly Interface

ConvertKit offers a straightforward and intuitive user interface that simplifies the process of creating and managing your email campaigns. This ease of use is ideal if you prefer focusing more on content than on technical details. You can quickly set up campaigns, automate responses, and manage subscribers without needing extensive technical knowledge, which saves time and reduces the learning curve.

High Deliverability Rates

Ensuring your emails actually reach your subscribers’ inboxes is crucial, and ConvertKit excels in this area. The platform is known for its high deliverability rates, which means your communications are less likely to end up in spam folders. This increases the effectiveness of your marketing efforts, helping to ensure that your messages are seen and acted upon.

Effective Segmentation and Personalization

ConvertKit allows you to segment your email list based on various criteria, including subscriber behavior and demographics. This capability enables you to tailor your emails more precisely to different parts of your audience, enhancing engagement and conversion rates. Personalization can significantly increase the relevance of your messages, leading to better open and click-through rates.

Robust Automation Features

Automation is a key feature of ConvertKit, letting you send emails triggered by specific actions such as sign-ups, purchases, or other subscriber activities. These automated email sequences save you time by nurturing your leads without manual intervention and help maintain consistent communication with your audience.

Direct Integration with E-commerce

ConvertKit supports direct sales through its platform, which is particularly beneficial if you sell digital products or services. You can integrate sales pages, handle transactions, and manage customer follow-ups within the same tool. This integration simplifies the process of converting subscribers into customers by keeping all your tools in one place.

Scalability

As your business grows, ConvertKit scales with you. The platform supports everything from small lists to large-scale operations without sacrificing performance or user experience. This scalability ensures that ConvertKit can continue to meet your needs as your marketing strategies evolve and your subscriber base expands.

Limitations and Disadvantages of ConvertKit for Email Marketing

As your email list grows, so does your monthly bill. ConvertKit can become quite expensive, especially for large subscriber lists. Each tier jump, as your list expands, increases your expenses significantly. This pricing model, although common in the industry, can be prohibitive for startups and small businesses with tight budgets. The initial free plan supports only up to 1,000 subscribers, and once surpassed, you must choose a paid plan that increases with your list’s size.

• Limited Design Flexibility

ConvertKit focuses on simplicity and functionality, which means it lacks extensive customization options found in other email marketing platforms. If your marketing strategy heavily relies on visually appealing emails with advanced design elements, ConvertKit might fall short. Its template editor is straightforward and might not satisfy those looking to create more complex, graphic-rich emails.

• Basic Automation Features

While ConvertKit offers essential automation capabilities, it might not be sufficient for marketers seeking intricate automated workflows. Compared to more comprehensive systems like ActiveCampaign or HubSpot, ConvertKit’s automation features are relatively basic, focusing mainly on simple trigger-based emails rather than complex, multi-layered automation strategies.

• Analytics and Reporting

ConvertKit provides fundamental analytics that cover basic metrics such as open rates, click rates, and subscriber growth. However, for deeper insights and more detailed reporting features that some marketers depend on to optimize campaigns extensively, ConvertKit might not meet all analytical needs. This can be a limitation for businesses that thrive on detailed data analytics to drive decisions.

• Form and Landing Page Builder Limitations

ConvertKit includes a form and landing page builder, but these tools are not as robust as those offered by dedicated landing page platforms. The customization options are limited, which can hinder creating highly tailored landing pages that match your brand’s unique style and needs. This might necessitate the use of additional tools to achieve the desired functionality and aesthetics, complicating your tech stack.

Ideal ConvertKit Users: Is It the Right Tool for You?

If you are wondering whether ConvertKit is the right choice for your email marketing needs, here are the types of users who typically benefit the most from its features:

• Bloggers and Content Creators

ConvertKit is especially well-suited for bloggers, writers, and other content creators. The platform’s ease of use lets you focus on creating and sharing content rather than dealing with complex email systems. Its tools support regular content distribution, such as newsletters and automated content delivery.

• Online Course Creators

If you create and sell online courses, ConvertKit can help you effectively manage and communicate with your students. Its automation tools make it easy to send course materials, follow up with students, and segment your list based on engagement or course progress.

• Podcasters and YouTubers

For those who produce regular video or audio content, ConvertKit offers functionalities to promote new episodes and engage with your audience. You can easily integrate sign-up forms into your website or social media pages to capture subscriber information and send updates or exclusive content.

• Small Business Owners

Small business owners looking to grow their customer base and engage more personally with their audience can leverage ConvertKit’s powerful segmentation and automation features. These tools allow you to send targeted promotions and updates to different segments of your audience, increasing relevance and response rates.

• Freelancers and Consultants

ConvertKit helps freelancers and consultants maintain communication with their clients and prospects. You can use the platform to share updates, insights, and promotional offers that are relevant to your services, helping to establish and maintain professional relationships.

• E-commerce Brands

ConvertKit supports direct sales functionalities, making it a good fit for e-commerce brands that sell digital products. You can use ConvertKit to handle transactions directly through emails, manage customer follow-ups, and segment users based on their purchase behavior.

ConvertKit is designed to be versatile yet straightforward, making it ideal if you value a balance of functionality and user-friendliness in your email marketing tool. Its focus on ease of use, combined with powerful automation and personalization features, makes it a strong candidate for anyone looking to enhance their digital marketing efforts without getting bogged down by overly complex software.

Maximizing Efficiency with ConvertKit: Five Essential Tips

Following these tips, you can use ConvertKit more effectively to grow your audience, enhance subscriber engagement, and ultimately, drive better marketing results.

• Segment Your Subscribers

Begin by effectively segmenting your subscriber list. ConvertKit allows detailed tagging and segmentation based on subscriber actions, interests, and engagement levels. Use these features to send targeted content that resonates with different groups within your audience. For instance, you can create segments for those who frequently open your emails versus those who seldom engage. This approach ensures that you deliver personalized and relevant content, improving open rates and interactions.

• Utilize Automation Smartly

Leverage ConvertKit’s powerful automation tools to save time and enhance your marketing strategy. Set up email sequences that automatically respond to specific actions, like welcoming new subscribers or following up after a purchase. Automations ensure consistent communication with your subscribers without needing your constant attention. Plan these sequences thoughtfully to nurture leads and convert them over time, adjusting based on performance data.

• Optimize Email Content

Focus on creating high-quality, engaging content. ConvertKit’s simple design interface encourages content-focused emails rather than heavily designed messages. Use this to your advantage by crafting compelling copy and incorporating relevant calls to action. Test different formats and styles to see what yields the best response rates, and use A/B testing for subject lines and content to refine your strategy.

• Regularly Clean Your List

Maintain a healthy email list by periodically cleaning out inactive subscribers. ConvertKit can help identify subscribers who haven’t engaged with your emails over a set period. Removing these subscribers can improve your overall engagement rates and deliverability. Regular list maintenance ensures you focus your efforts on subscribers who are interested in your content.

• Integrate with Other Tools

Make the most out of ConvertKit by integrating it with other tools you use. ConvertKit offers integrations with platforms like WordPress, Shopify, and social media tools, enabling you to streamline workflows and centralize your marketing efforts. For example, integrate ConvertKit with your e-commerce platform to automate post-purchase follow-up emails or to gather customer feedback through surveys.

Latest Upgrades and Improvements with ConvertKit

Here’s the latest on ConvertKit updates and improvements until June 2024. These changes could impact your email marketing and content creation strategies, so stay informed. The timeline below details the updates chronologically. Understanding these updates can help optimize your use of ConvertKit tools.

Timeline of ConvertKit Updates

04/23/2024

• Custom Pages for Creator Profiles: Users can now create additional custom pages on their Creator Profiles. This includes “About,” “Work with Me,” and “Sponsor Me” pages​ (ConvertKit Changelog)​.

04/25/2024

• Insights Dashboards: New advanced analytics dashboards (Acquisition, Engagement, Sales, Velocity) for better marketing and sales performance tracking​ (ConvertKit Changelog)​.

05/14/2024

• Advanced Tracking: Pass subscriber email with email hashing, allowing secure tracking and integration with advertising platforms like Raptive​ (ConvertKit Changelog)​.

05/28/2024

• Recommendations Feature Updates: Added a block function, new interface, and sponsored tags for improved transparency and control over recommendations​ (ConvertKit Changelog)​.

05/30/2024

• New Creator Profile Templates: Three new templates—Orville, Autumn, and Flow—were introduced to simplify profile creation​ (ConvertKit Changelog)​.

Customizations for Creator Profiles: Added more color and font options, SEO settings, and social share image updates for better branding and visibility​ (ConvertKit Changelog)​.

This timeline should help you stay updated on ConvertKit’s recent changes. Use this information to enhance your email marketing and content creation strategies effectively.

FAQs

1. What is ConvertKit?

ConvertKit is an email marketing platform designed primarily for bloggers, creators, and small businesses. It enables users to create email campaigns, automate responses, segment audiences, and sell products directly through email integrations.

2. How does ConvertKit improve email deliverability?

ConvertKit focuses on maintaining high deliverability rates through consistent compliance with email regulations and best practices. This includes proper list management, regular list cleaning, and the use of authentication protocols to ensure emails reach subscribers’ inboxes effectively.

3. Can I integrate ConvertKit with other platforms?

Yes, ConvertKit offers integrations with numerous platforms, including WordPress, Shopify, and WooCommerce. These integrations allow for streamlined workflows, such as automatically adding new ecommerce customers to specific email sequences.

4. What makes ConvertKit different from other email marketing tools?

ConvertKit stands out for its user-friendly design, powerful segmentation tools, and strong focus on creators. Unlike some platforms that cater to larger businesses, ConvertKit provides features particularly beneficial for individuals and small teams looking to engage directly with their audiences.

5. Is ConvertKit suitable for large businesses?

While ConvertKit is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses and content creators, it may lack some of the complex automation and in-depth reporting features that larger businesses might require. Larger businesses might consider other tools if they need more detailed analytics or advanced marketing automation capabilities.