Kit

What is Kit?

Kit, formerly known as ConvertKit, is an email marketing platform built specifically for creators: writers, YouTubers, podcasters, course creators and anyone growing an audience around themselves rather than a company brand. Instead of general-purpose marketing features, Kit focuses on what creators actually need: growing a subscriber list, segmenting it by interest using tags, sending regular newsletters, and monetizing that audience directly through paid subscriptions and digital products.

Key features

• Tag-based automation. Instead of only moving subscribers between static lists, Kit tags them based on actions like clicking a link or buying a product, which drives more flexible automated sequences.
• Paid newsletters. Offer a free tier and a paid tier of your newsletter, with Kit handling the subscription and access.
• Digital product and course sales. Sell products directly to your list without a separate e-commerce platform for simple offers.
• Landing pages and forms. Templates designed around growing an audience, such as lead magnet opt-ins.
• Visual automation builder. Map out sequences and branches based on subscriber behavior and tags.
• Creator network. Recommend other creators’ newsletters to your subscribers, and get recommended in return, as a way to grow a list.

How to get started

1. Sign up for a free Kit account.
2. Create a landing page or form to start collecting subscribers, or import an existing list.
3. Send a welcome email and set up a basic automation for new subscribers.
4. Tag subscribers based on their interests or how they joined, to segment future emails.
5. If relevant, set up a paid newsletter tier or a digital product to start monetizing the list.

Who Kit is for

Individual creators and small teams building a personal brand: newsletter writers, YouTubers, podcasters and course creators who want their email list to double as a source of income, not just an announcement channel. It suits anyone planning to sell a paid newsletter, a digital product or a course directly to their audience. Businesses that need general marketing features like SMS campaigns, a built-in CRM or transactional email are better served by a broader platform.

It also fits creators who are switching from a general-purpose email tool once they start treating their list as the main asset of their business, rather than a secondary channel alongside social media.

Tips for growing a creator newsletter

• Keep subject lines short and specific. Check length with the free word counter so subject lines don’t get truncated on mobile.
• Tag subscribers as they act, not just as they join. A subscriber who clicks a specific link tells you more about their interest than the form they originally signed up through.
• Track where paid subscribers actually come from. Use the UTM builder on links you share on social media or in guest newsletters to see which channels convert into paying subscribers.
• Start monetization small. Test a single paid tier or one digital product before building a more complex offer ladder.

Kit vs alternatives

MailerLite is a more general-purpose, budget-friendly option for small businesses and creators who don’t need built-in monetization tools. Brevo adds SMS, WhatsApp and transactional email, aimed more at businesses than individual creators. beehiiv overlaps closely with Kit in targeting newsletter writers, but leans further into growth tools like a referral program and a built-in ad network rather than digital product sales. The choice between Kit and beehiiv often comes down to whether monetization plans center on paid subscriptions and products or on advertising and audience growth mechanics.

Is Kit worth it?

For a creator who is serious about growing an audience and eventually monetizing it, Kit’s tag-based automation and native paid newsletter and product features can replace several separate tools, such as a checkout page and a general email platform bought separately. The free plan is enough to test whether the tagging approach and automation style fit how you write and grow a list. Businesses that need broad marketing features beyond a creator’s newsletter and audience will likely find a general-purpose platform a better fit. Compare it with other email marketing tools in the deals catalog.