Substack vs Kit
A revenue-cut publishing platform vs a much bigger free plan built for selling — the real difference.
Substack and Kit (formerly ConvertKit) both serve independent creators, but for different goals: Substack is built around publishing a newsletter people read, while Kit leans toward creators who sell courses or digital products through email.
| Substack | Kit | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free at any list size | Up to 10,000 subscribers (no automations) |
| Cost model | 10%, plus Stripe processing fees | Creator plan from $33/month (annual, 1,000 subscribers) |
| Best suited for | Starting free and relying on built-in reader discovery | Creators selling courses, coaching or digital products |
| Built-in audience network | Large built-in recommendation network between publications | No — growth relies on your own funnels and referrals |
Kit's free plan is far bigger by subscriber count and is genuinely built for creators who sell something through email sequences. If your newsletter itself is the product and you value being discovered by other readers, Substack's built-in network and free-at-any-size model fit better.
Frequently asked questions
Does Kit support paid newsletters too?
Yes, but its strength and automation tools are built more around selling products and courses than around the newsletter itself being the paid product.
Which is easier to start with for a complete beginner?
Both are approachable — Kit's larger free tier gives more room before paying anything, while Substack charges nothing upfront but takes a cut once you start charging readers.