Kit (ConvertKit) vs Salesforce Marketing Cloud
Kit (ConvertKit) is a email marketing platform while Salesforce Marketing Cloud is a all-in-one marketing platform. Salesforce Marketing Cloud has been around since 1999, giving it a 14-year head start over Kit (ConvertKit) (founded 2013). Kit (ConvertKit) starts at $39/mo, while Salesforce Marketing Cloud starts at $1,500/mo billed annually. Their pricing is not measured the same way, so we don't rank them on price. Kit (ConvertKit) offers a free plan (10,000 subscribers), while Salesforce Marketing Cloud does not. Salesforce Marketing Cloud has the edge with SMS marketing, a drag-and-drop editor.
Quick Verdict
Kit (ConvertKit) wins on deliverability, rating, free tier.
Salesforce Marketing Cloud wins on 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.
Salesforce Marketing Cloud
Personalize every moment with the #1 AI CRM for marketing
Salesforce Marketing Cloud is the enterprise marketing automation suite within the Salesforce ecosystem, offering email, SMS, social, advertising, and journey orchestration at massive scale. Powered by Einstein AI, it is the platform of choice for large organizations already invested in Salesforce.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Kit (ConvertKit) | Salesforce Marketing Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 3.8/5 |
| Starting Price | $39/mo | $1,500/mo billed annually |
| Free Plan | 10,000 subscribers | No free plan |
| Founded | 2013 | 1999 |
| Email Templates | 50 | 200 |
| Integrations | 90 | 300 |
| Deliverability Rate | 98.2% | 97% |
| Marketing Automation | Yes | Yes |
| A/B Testing | Yes | Yes |
| Landing Pages | Yes | Yes |
| Segmentation | Yes | Yes |
| Drag & Drop Editor | No | Yes |
| SMS Marketing | No | Yes |
| Ecommerce Features | Yes | Yes |
| API Access | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Language | No | Yes |
| Web Push Notifications | No | Yes |
| Live Chat | No | Yes |
| 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
Salesforce Marketing Cloud: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Deepest integration with Salesforce CRM and the entire Salesforce ecosystem
- + Enterprise-grade cross-channel capabilities across email, SMS, push, social, and ads
- + Einstein AI provides predictive scoring and send time optimization
- + 300+ integrations through AppExchange
- + Native Salesforce CRM integration eliminates data sync issues
Cons
- − Starts at $1,500/month billed annually, with advanced features requiring the higher edition
- − Steep learning curve requiring certified specialists
- − No free plan or self-serve trial
- − Impractical for SMBs; value is mainly realized by large Salesforce organizations
- − Admin overhead is high — often requires a dedicated specialist
The Verdict
Kit (ConvertKit) edges ahead with a 4.6/5 rating compared to Salesforce Marketing Cloud's 3.8/5. The gap comes mainly from value for money (4.7 vs 2.8) and ease of use (4.5 vs 3.2). On deliverability, Kit (ConvertKit) reports 98.2% compared to 97% for Salesforce Marketing Cloud — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | Kit (ConvertKit) | Salesforce Marketing Cloud |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $39/mo | $1,500/mo billed annually |
| Deliverability | 25% | 98.2% Winner | 97% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.6/5 Winner | 3.8/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 90 | 300 Winner |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes Winner | No |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose Kit (ConvertKit) if…
- + You need a free plan to get started
- + You're a bloggers
- + You're a creators
Choose Salesforce Marketing Cloud if…
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You're a large enterprises
- + You're a Salesforce CRM users