Campaign Monitor vs Kit (ConvertKit)
Campaign Monitor and Kit (ConvertKit) are both popular choices in the email marketing platform space. Campaign Monitor has been around since 2004, giving it a 9-year head start over Kit (ConvertKit) (founded 2013). Campaign Monitor is the more affordable option at $12/mo, which is $27 less than Kit (ConvertKit)'s $39/mo entry point. Kit (ConvertKit) offers a free plan (10,000 subscribers), while Campaign Monitor does not. Campaign Monitor stands out with SMS marketing and a drag-and-drop editor, while Kit (ConvertKit) offers landing pages.
Quick Verdict
Campaign Monitor wins on price, integrations.
Kit (ConvertKit) wins on deliverability, rating, free tier.
Best for most users: Kit (ConvertKit) (bloggers).
Campaign Monitor
Beautifully crafted email marketing
Campaign Monitor is particularly well-suited for agencies and brands that need polished, branded email campaigns. Its client management features and beautiful template builder make it a popular choice for marketing agencies managing multiple client accounts.
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 | Campaign Monitor | Kit (ConvertKit) |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Starting Price | $12/mo | $39/mo |
| Free Plan | No free plan | 10,000 subscribers |
| Founded | 2004 | 2013 |
| Email Templates | 120 | 50 |
| Integrations | 250 | 90 |
| Deliverability Rate | 97.5% | 98.2% |
| Marketing Automation | Yes | Yes |
| A/B Testing | Yes | Yes |
| Landing Pages | No | Yes |
| Segmentation | Yes | Yes |
| Drag & Drop Editor | Yes | No |
| SMS Marketing | Yes | No |
| Ecommerce Features | Yes | Yes |
| API Access | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Language | Yes | No |
| Web Push Notifications | No | No |
| Live Chat | No | No |
| Advanced Analytics | Yes | Yes |
Campaign Monitor: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Excellent email template builder
- + Strong agency features and client management
- + Good deliverability
- + Time zone sending optimization
- + Link review feature prevents broken links
Cons
- − No free plan
- − Lite plan caps at 2,500 emails
- − Premier plan expensive ($159/mo)
- − No landing page builder
- − Limited automation on lower tiers
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 native SMS; texting needs the third-party SlickText app
- − 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 Campaign Monitor's 4.1/5. The gap comes mainly from deliverability (4.7 vs 4) and value for money (4.7 vs 4.1). On deliverability, Kit (ConvertKit) reports 98.2% compared to 97.5% for Campaign Monitor — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | Campaign Monitor | Kit (ConvertKit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $12/mo Winner | $39/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 97.5% | 98.2% Winner |
| Rating | 25% | 4.1/5 | 4.6/5 Winner |
| Integrations | 10% | 250 Winner | 90 |
| Free Tier | 10% | No | Yes Winner |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose Campaign Monitor if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($12/mo)
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You're a agencies
- + You're a brands
Choose Kit (ConvertKit) if…
- + You need a free plan to get started
- + You need built-in landing pages
- + You're a bloggers
- + You're a creators