Kit (ConvertKit) vs Listmonk
Kit (ConvertKit) is a email marketing platform while Listmonk is a newsletter platform. Kit (ConvertKit) has been around since 2013, giving it a 5-year head start over Listmonk (founded 2018). Kit (ConvertKit) starts at $39/mo, while Listmonk is free. Their pricing is not measured the same way, so we don't rank them on price. Both offer free plans to get started. Kit (ConvertKit) stands out with marketing automation and A/B testing, while Listmonk offers a drag-and-drop editor.
Quick Verdict
Kit (ConvertKit) wins on deliverability, rating, integrations.
Best for most users: Kit (ConvertKit) (bloggers).
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.
Listmonk
Self-hosted newsletter and mailing list manager
Listmonk is a free, open-source, self-hosted newsletter and mailing list manager written in Go. It handles millions of emails with minimal resources and is best for developers and technical users who want full control over their email infrastructure.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Kit (ConvertKit) | Listmonk |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Starting Price | $39/mo | Free |
| Free Plan | 10,000 subscribers | Unlimited (self-hosted, open source) |
| Founded | 2013 | 2018 |
| Email Templates | 50 | 5 |
| Integrations | 90 | 10 |
| Deliverability Rate | 98.2% | 97% |
| Marketing Automation | Yes | No |
| A/B Testing | Yes | No |
| Landing Pages | Yes | No |
| Segmentation | Yes | Yes |
| Drag & Drop Editor | No | Yes |
| SMS Marketing | No | No |
| Ecommerce Features | Yes | No |
| API Access | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Language | No | Yes |
| Web Push Notifications | No | No |
| Live Chat | No | No |
| Advanced Analytics | Yes | Yes |
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
Listmonk: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Completely free and open source with no usage limits
- + Handles 7+ million emails with minimal CPU and 57 MB RAM
- + Single binary deployment with Docker support
- + SQL-based subscriber segmentation for advanced querying
- + Zero recurring costs — self-hosted with no per-subscriber fees
Cons
- − Requires technical knowledge to set up and maintain
- − No built-in SMTP, must configure an external provider like Amazon SES
- − Lacks automation workflows, A/B testing, and landing pages
- − Community support only via GitHub
- − No managed hosting option — you handle server maintenance yourself
The Verdict
Kit (ConvertKit) edges ahead with a 4.6/5 rating compared to Listmonk's 4.1/5. The gap comes mainly from ease of use (4.5 vs 3.5) and deliverability (4.7 vs 4). On deliverability, Kit (ConvertKit) reports 98.2% compared to 97% for Listmonk — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | Kit (ConvertKit) | Listmonk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $39/mo | Free |
| Deliverability | 25% | 98.2% Winner | 97% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.6/5 Winner | 4.1/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 90 Winner | 10 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | Yes |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose Kit (ConvertKit) if…
- + You need marketing automation
- + You need ecommerce integrations
- + You need built-in landing pages
- + You need A/B testing
Choose Listmonk if…
- + You're a developers
- + You're a self hosters
- + Completely free and open source with no usage limits