ConvertKit

TL;DR: ConvertKit (now branded as Kit) is the right default for anyone whose list is the business — writers, newsletter operators, creators, course sellers. The generous free tier plus creator-aware features (subscriber tagging, sequences, landing pages) make it a better long-term home than Mailchimp for most of the verticals we cover.

Who it’s for

Best fit:

• Freelance writers building an email list alongside client work.
• Newsletter operators (paid or free) — the creator tier handles Substack-like workflows without the platform lock-in.
• Course sellers and AI coaches running launch sequences.
• Any creator who thinks in “subscribers,” not “contacts.”

Not a fit:

• E-commerce with heavy Shopify / WooCommerce tag-based segmentation — Klaviyo is stronger.
• Teams that need granular roles and audit logs — ConvertKit’s team features are minimal.

Real pricing

• Free: up to 10,000 subscribers, unlimited sends, landing pages — but no automation.
• Creator: $25/mo at 1,000 subs → $50 at 3k → $100 at 5k → $290 at 25k.
• Creator Pro: $50/mo at 1,000 subs — adds Deliverability Score, advanced reporting, subscriber scoring.

The free tier is genuinely free and genuinely useful. Most creators start there and convert around the 1,000-subscriber mark when they need automation.

What works

• Creator-native primitives: tags, sequences, broadcasts, forms, landing pages all treat you like a creator, not a marketing department.
• Deliverability is consistently good — more engaged senders on the platform raises everyone’s sending reputation.
• Migration tooling is first-class (they import from Mailchimp, Substack, Beehiiv).

What doesn’t

• Visual email builder is serviceable, not polished — ConvertKit leans into plaintext-style emails, which is great for writers, weaker for product launches.
• Ecommerce integrations lag behind Mailchimp.
• Reporting is adequate but not deep.

Alternatives worth considering

• Beehiiv — newer, newsletter-native, better analytics, built-in paid subscriptions.
• Mailchimp — if integrations beat creator features for your vertical.

Verdict

Recommended for every creator-shaped vertical. This is the pick for freelance writers, AI coaches, fitness coaches, and anyone whose email list is their primary asset.