Benchmark Email vs Kit (ConvertKit)
Benchmark Email and Kit (ConvertKit) are both popular choices in the email marketing platform space. Benchmark Email has been around since 2004, giving it a 9-year head start over Kit (ConvertKit) (founded 2013). Benchmark Email is the more affordable option at $27/mo — that's $6 less than Kit (ConvertKit)'s $33/mo entry point. Both offer free plans to get started. Benchmark Email stands out with a drag-and-drop editor, while Kit (ConvertKit) offers ecommerce integrations.
Quick Verdict
Benchmark Email wins on price, integrations.
Kit (ConvertKit) wins on deliverability, rating.
Best for most users: Kit (ConvertKit) (bloggers).
Benchmark Email
Straightforward email marketing with all features on every plan
Benchmark Email is a multilingual email marketing platform founded in 2004 that takes an all-features-included approach, giving every user access to automation, A/B testing, and analytics regardless of plan tier. Available in 9 languages with global support, it appeals to international teams and nonprofits, though its significantly below-average deliverability rate (47.1% in third-party testing) is a serious concern that undermines its otherwise user-friendly design.
Kit (ConvertKit)
Email marketing built for creators
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is purpose-built for online creators including bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers, and course creators. It emphasizes simplicity and deliverability over complex design features, making it ideal for text-based newsletters and automated sequences.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Benchmark Email | Kit (ConvertKit) |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Starting Price | $27/mo | $33/mo |
| Free Plan | 500 contacts, 2,500 emails/month, 1 user | 10,000 subscribers |
| Founded | 2004 | 2013 |
| Email Templates | 200 | 50 |
| Integrations | 1,500 | 90 |
| Deliverability Rate | 47.1% | 98.2% |
| Marketing Automation | ✓ | ✓ |
| A/B Testing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Landing Pages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segmentation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drag & Drop Editor | ✓ | ✕ |
| SMS Marketing | ✕ | ✕ |
| Ecommerce Features | ✕ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-Language | ✓ | ✕ |
| Web Push Notifications | ✕ | ✕ |
| Live Chat | ✓ | ✕ |
| Advanced Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
Benchmark Email: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +All features included on every plan including free -- no feature gating between tiers
- +Available in 9 languages with live customer support in each, making it ideal for international teams
- +Intuitive drag-and-drop editor with mobile-optimized templates and device previews
- +Generous free plan with 500 contacts and 2,500 emails per month including AI content generation
- +Simple contact-based pricing that scales predictably without hidden charges for features
Cons
- −Extremely poor deliverability rate of 47.1% in EmailToolTester's January 2024 independent test, consistently ranking near the bottom
- −Segmentation is limited to within individual lists only -- cannot create cross-list segments for flexible targeting
- −Fewer than 30 pre-designed email templates despite marketing claims of 200+, limiting design variety
- −Slow product development cycle with features lagging behind competitors in automation and ecommerce capabilities
- −No migration support for non-enterprise customers when switching from another email platform
Kit (ConvertKit): Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Excellent creator ecosystem with built-in monetization
- +Intuitive visual automation builder
- +Generous free plan up to 10,000 subscribers
- +Strong deliverability rates
- +Creator-focused features like tip jars and paid newsletters
Cons
- −Limited email template design options
- −Gets expensive at higher subscriber counts
- −No SMS marketing capabilities
- −Basic reporting compared to competitors
- −No drag-and-drop email editor
The Verdict
Kit (ConvertKit) edges ahead with a 4.6/5 rating compared to Benchmark Email's 4.3/5. The gap comes mainly from deliverability (4.7 vs 3.2) and value for money (4.7 vs 4.6). On deliverability, Kit (ConvertKit) reports 98.2% compared to 47.1% for Benchmark Email — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | Benchmark Email | Kit (ConvertKit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $27/mo | $33/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 47.1% | 98.2% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.3/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 1500 | 90 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | Yes |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose Benchmark Email if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($27/mo)
- + You're a beginners
- + You're a small businesses
Choose Kit (ConvertKit) if…
- + You need ecommerce integrations
- + You're a bloggers
- + You're a creators