Flodesk vs Kit (ConvertKit) 2026: Which Email Marketing Platform Is Best for Creators?
Choosing between Flodesk and Kit (formerly Kit) for your email marketing? You’re in the right place. Both platforms are beloved by creators, but they serve very different needs—and picking the wrong one could cost you time, money, and growth opportunities.
In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll break down Flodesk and Kit across every feature that matters, so you can make the right choice for your creator business in 2026.
Note: Kit rebranded from “ConvertKit” to “Kit” in 2024. Throughout this article, we’ll refer to it as “Kit” but you may still see the old ConvertKit branding in some places online.
In This Guide
- Quick Verdict
- Why This Comparison Matters
- Side-by-Side Comparison
- Deep Dive: Key Differences
- Best Use Cases
- Real Creator Experiences
- Migration: Switching Platforms
- Pricing Breakdown
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The Bottom Line
- Ready to Build Your Email List?
Quick Verdict: Which Platform Should You Choose?
🎨 Choose Flodesk if: You’re a design-conscious creator who values beautiful emails, simple workflows, and predictable flat-rate pricing that won’t increase as your list grows.
⚙️ Choose Kit if: You need advanced automations, extensive integrations, powerful segmentation, and a platform you can scale with as your business grows—plus it’s free forever for up to 10,000 subscribers (with 1 automation and 1 sequence on the free plan).
Why This Comparison Matters for Creators in 2026
Email marketing isn’t optional anymore—it’s the only platform you truly own. While Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube can change their algorithms or shut down tomorrow, your email list is yours forever.
But here’s the thing: Flodesk and Kit approach email marketing from completely different angles. One prioritizes stunning design and simplicity, the other focuses on automation power and scalability. Understanding these differences will save you from making an expensive mistake.
Flodesk vs Kit: Side-by-Side Comparison
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
See how Flodesk and Kit compare across key email marketing features
| | | |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Subscribers | Unlimited (basic features) | 10,000 subs |
| Free Plan Automations | Basic workflows | 1 basic automation |
| Paid Plan Starting Price | $35/month (unlimited) | $33/month (1k subs) |
| Free Trial | 30 days free | Free forever <10k subs |
| Email Design Templates | Excellent (Industry-leading) | Good (Recently improved) |
| Drag & Drop Editor | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Advanced Automations | Basic workflows | Extensive + App Store |
| Visual Automation Builder | Limited | ✓ Yes |
| Tagging & Segmentation | Basic segments | Advanced |
| Landing Pages | Beautiful templates | Unlimited |
| Form Design | Highly customizable | Functional |
| Commerce/Sell Products | Yes ($59/mo plan) | Yes (3.5% + 30¢ fee) |
| Integrations | Limited integrations | 100+ via App Store |
| API Access | Limited API | Full API |
| Email Deliverability | Very Good | Excellent (Published stats) |
| Customer Support | Good | 24/7 email & chat |
| Learning Curve | Easy (Beginner-friendly) | Moderate |
| Platform Maturity | 2019 (5+ years) | 2013 (11+ years) |
| Scalability | Limited | Excellent |
🎨 Our Pick for Design-Focused Creators: Flodesk
Beautiful emails, flat-rate pricing, beginner-friendly interface
Try Flodesk Free (50% Off First Year) →Deep Dive: Key Differences Between Flodesk and Kit
1. Pricing: Flat Rate vs Subscriber-Based
Flodesk Pricing:
- Free Plan: $0/month - Basic features for growing your list
- Pro Plan: $35/month - Unlimited emails & subscribers (most popular)
- Everything Plan: $59/month - Includes e-commerce, payments, sales pages
- No subscriber limits on paid plans
- Free trial available
- Save 50% your first year with this link
Kit Pricing:
- Newsletter Plan: Free forever for up to 10,000 subscribers
- Limited to: 1 basic automation, 1 email sequence, 1 user
- Includes: Unlimited broadcasts, landing pages, forms, tagging
- Creator Plan: $33/month for 1,000 subscribers ($390/year)
- Unlimited automations & sequences, 2 users
- Creator Pro: $66/month for 1,000 subscribers ($790/year)
- Everything plus advanced features
- Scales up from there based on subscriber count
- 14-day free trial for paid plans
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Pricing Winner:
- Under 10,000 subscribers with basic needs? Kit is FREE (but limited to 1 automation & 1 sequence)
- Just starting out and need workflows? Flodesk Free plan has basic automation workflows
- Need unlimited automations? You’ll need Kit Creator ($33/mo) or Flodesk Pro ($35/mo)
- Over 15,000 subscribers? Flodesk wins dramatically. At 25,000+ subscribers, you’re paying $35/month with Flodesk vs $100+/month with Kit.
Cost Analysis Example (Annual - Paid Plans with Full Features):
- 1,000 subscribers: Kit Creator = $396/year | Flodesk Pro = $420/year ($35/mo)
- 5,000 subscribers: Kit Creator = $708/year | Flodesk Pro = $420/year
- 10,000 subscribers: Kit Creator = $1,008/year | Flodesk Pro = $420/year
- 15,000 subscribers: Kit Creator = ~$1,200+/year | Flodesk Pro = $420/year
- 25,000 subscribers: Kit Creator = ~$1,800+/year | Flodesk Pro = $420/year
- 50,000 subscribers: Kit Creator = ~$3,000+/year | Flodesk Pro = $420/year
Note: Kit’s free plan (up to 10k subs) is great for basic email broadcasts, but you’re limited to 1 automation and 1 sequence. For multiple automations, you need the paid Creator plan.
2. Email Design and Templates
Flodesk’s Design:
- Industry-leading email templates (hands down the prettiest)
- Stunning pre-designed layouts that look magazine-quality
- Instagram-worthy aesthetic
- Highly customizable forms and landing pages
- Perfect for visual brands and design-conscious creators
- Mobile-optimized automatically
Kit’s Design:
- Templates have improved significantly in recent updates
- Clean, professional designs
- More “text-focused” traditional email style
- Functional and getting better
- Good enough for most creators, but not “wow”
- Focus is on functionality over visual design
Design Winner: Flodesk dominates here. If visual branding matters to your business, Flodesk is unmatched.
3. Automation and Workflows
Kit’s Automation:
- Visual automation builder with unlimited complexity
- Advanced tagging and segmentation
- Behavior-based triggers
- Multiple “if/then” conditions
- Link triggers (tag people based on what they click)
- Purchase triggers for product launches
- Can build intricate funnels
- New Kit App Store for extended functionality
- Perfect for complex customer journeys
Flodesk’s Automation:
- Simple email sequences and workflows
- Basic segmentation
- Time-based triggers
- Form submission triggers
- Limited “if/then” logic
- Can’t segment people OUT of sequences easily
- Perfect for straightforward welcome series and drip campaigns
Automation Winner: Kit crushes it here. If you run launches, have complex funnels, or need advanced segmentation, Kit is essential.
4. Features Comparison
Kit Includes:
- ✅ Visual automation builder
- ✅ Advanced tagging and segmentation
- ✅ Built-in commerce (sell products directly)
- ✅ Subscriber scoring
- ✅ Unlimited landing pages
- ✅ 100+ native integrations
- ✅ Full API access
- ✅ A/B testing
- ✅ Referral program tracking
- ✅ Transparent deliverability stats
Flodesk Includes:
- ✅ Beautiful drag-and-drop editor
- ✅ Unlimited emails
- ✅ Stunning form and landing page designs
- ✅ Basic workflows
- ✅ Simple segmentation
- ✅ Email scheduling
- ✅ Limited integrations (growing)
- ✅ eCommerce features (+$26/month)
- ✅ Mobile-optimized by default
- ✅ Sales page templates included
Features Winner: Kit for power users. Flodesk for creators who want simplicity.
5. Ease of Use and Learning Curve
- Extremely beginner-friendly
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface
- Similar to Squarespace/Canva
- Can create beautiful emails in minutes
- Minimal training required
- Perfect for non-technical creators
Kit:
- Moderate learning curve
- Takes time to understand automation builder
- More features = more complexity
- Requires watching tutorials to master
- Worth the investment if you need the power
- Great documentation and support
Ease of Use Winner: Flodesk. You can literally start sending beautiful emails on day one.
6. Integrations and API
Kit Integrations:
- 100+ native integrations including:
- WordPress, Shopify, WooCommerce
- Teachable, Kajabi, Thinkific
- Zapier (connects to 3,000+ apps)
- Circle.so, Mighty Networks
- Squarespace Commerce API
- Calendly, Acuity Scheduling
- Full API access for custom integrations
- Developer-friendly
Flodesk Integrations:
- Limited native integrations including:
- Zapier (connects to 3,000+ apps via zaps)
- Basic API access
- Growing integration library
- Works with most tools via Zapier
- Not as seamless as Kit
- May require workarounds
Integrations Winner: Kit by a landslide. Essential if you have a tech stack.
7. Commerce and Selling Features
Kit Commerce:
- Built-in digital product sales
- Create unlimited products
- Sell courses, ebooks, memberships
- 3.5% + 30¢ transaction fee (competitive)
- Weekly payouts via Stripe
- Unlimited sales pages
- Tip jars for creator support
- Paid newsletter subscriptions
Flodesk Commerce:
- Everything Plan at $59/month includes full e-commerce
- Unlimited sales pages & payment processing
- Beautiful sales page templates
- Stripe integration
- Sell products & subscriptions
- Buy Now, Pay Later options
- Integrated abandoned cart
- Advanced sales analytics
- Clean, branded checkout experience
Commerce Winner: Tie. Kit includes commerce in all paid plans (3.5% + 30¢), while Flodesk requires the $59/month Everything plan but includes more e-commerce features like Buy Now Pay Later and abandoned cart.
8. Deliverability and Email Performance
Kit Deliverability:
- Publicly shares deliverability stats (transparency win)
- Consistently high inbox placement rates
- Dedicated IP addresses for high-volume senders
- Strong sender reputation
- 11+ years of deliverability optimization
- Industry-leading open rates
Flodesk Deliverability:
- Very good deliverability rates
- Newer platform (less track record)
- Doesn’t publish public stats
- Generally reliable
- Mobile-optimized emails = better engagement
Deliverability Winner: Kit (proven track record + transparency).
9. Support and Resources
Kit Support:
- Fast email and chat support
- Extensive help documentation
- Kit Creator Academy (free courses)
- Active Facebook community
- Weekly webinars and training
- Will help with CSS customizations
- Responsive and helpful team
Flodesk Support:
- Good email support
- Growing help center
- Video tutorials
- Social media support
- Smaller team = sometimes slower responses
- Community support in Facebook group
Support Winner: Kit (more established, faster responses).
10. Platform Maturity and Stability
Kit:
- Founded 2013 (11+ years)
- Publicly transparent about revenue and growth
- Stable, mature platform
- Regular feature updates
- Won’t disappear overnight
- Nathan Barry (CEO) is public-facing and trusted
- Launched 2019 (5+ years)
- Rapidly growing startup
- Still adding features regularly
- Venture-backed
- Less proven long-term
- Platform stability is good
Maturity Winner: Kit (more established, proven longevity).
Best Use Cases for Each Platform
Choose Flodesk If You:
- Are a photographer, designer, or visual creator
- Value beautiful email design above all else
- Want simple, beginner-friendly tools
- Have (or plan to have) 3,000+ subscribers
- Don’t need complex automations
- Want predictable flat-rate pricing
- Hate seeing your email bill increase
- Prefer simplicity over extensive features
- Run a lifestyle, fashion, or aesthetic-focused brand
- Want to impress subscribers with gorgeous emails
Choose Kit If You:
- Need advanced automations and funnels
- Run product launches or course sales
- Have complex customer journeys
- Want extensive integrations with your tech stack
- Need to sell products directly via email
- Plan to scale to 10,000+ subscribers eventually
- Want transparent deliverability stats
- Need advanced tagging and segmentation
- Run a coaching, education, or SaaS business
- Have under 10,000 subscribers with simple email needs (free plan)
- Need multiple complex automations (paid Creator plan)
Real Creator Experiences
Kit Success Stories
“Kit’s automations saved me 20+ hours per month. I set up my launch sequence once, and it runs perfectly every time.” — Sarah, Business Coach
“The Squarespace Commerce integration is seamless. When someone buys, they’re automatically tagged and added to the right sequence.” — Mark, Course Creator
Flodesk Success Stories
“My email open rates increased 40% after switching to Flodesk. The designs are just so beautiful that people actually want to open them.” — Jessica, Wedding Photographer
“I love not worrying about my bill increasing. $38/month whether I have 1,000 or 10,000 subscribers.” — Alex, Lifestyle Blogger
Migration: Switching Between Platforms
Switching TO Flodesk
Pros:
- Easy import process via CSV
- Gorgeous templates waiting for you
- Immediate cost savings (if you have 3k+ subs)
- Simpler platform to manage
Cons:
- Will lose complex automations
- Limited integration workarounds needed
- Less advanced segmentation
- May outgrow it as you scale
Switching TO Kit
Pros:
- Free migration service for lists over 5,000
- Gain access to powerful automations
- More integrations available
- Better long-term scalability
Cons:
- Higher costs as list grows
- Steeper learning curve
- More time to set up initially
- Email designs not as stunning
Pro Tip: Don’t switch platforms just because you’re bored (shiny object syndrome!). Only switch when your actual business needs have outgrown your current tool.
Pricing Breakdown: 3-Year Cost Comparison
Starting with 2,000 Subscribers (Growing to 15,000)
Kit (Creator Plan):
- Year 1 (2k subs): ~$396/year
- Year 2 (8k subs): Still FREE (under 10k)
- Year 3 (15k subs): ~$900/year
- 3-Year Total: ~$1,296
Flodesk (Pro Plan):
- Year 1: $420 (or $210 with 50% discount)
- Year 2: $420
- Year 3: $420
- 3-Year Total: $1,260 (or $1,050 with first-year discount)
Starting with 25,000 Subscribers
Kit (Creator Plan):
- 3-Year Total: ~$3,600+
Flodesk (Pro Plan):
- 3-Year Total: $1,260 (or $1,050 with discount)
Savings with Flodesk at 25k+ subs: $2,000+ over 3 years
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I try both platforms for free?
Yes! Flodesk has a Free plan plus a trial for paid plans. Kit is free forever for up to 10,000 subscribers (but limited to 1 automation and 1 email sequence on the free plan).
Which platform has better email deliverability?
Both have good deliverability. Kit publishes their stats publicly (transparency win) and has a longer track record. Flodesk’s beautiful emails may lead to higher open rates due to better engagement.
Can I use my own domain for landing pages?
Yes, both platforms allow custom domains for landing pages and forms.
Which platform is better for product launches?
Kit is far superior for launches. The advanced automations, tagging, and segmentation are essential for complex launch sequences.
Does Flodesk have automations?
Yes! The Pro plan ($35/mo) includes automated workflows. They’re simpler than Kit’s visual automation builder, perfect for welcome sequences and drip campaigns, but not for complex multi-branch funnels.
Can I segment my list with both platforms?
Yes. Kit offers advanced segmentation with unlimited tags and conditions. Flodesk offers basic segments that work well for most creators.
Which platform is better for beginners?
Flodesk is more beginner-friendly with its intuitive interface. You can create beautiful emails immediately without training.
Will Flodesk’s pricing always stay flat?
Flodesk now has tiered pricing (Free, Pro $35, Everything $59), but each tier has unlimited subscribers—meaning your bill never increases as your list grows. This no-subscriber-limit model is still their core promise.
Can I run affiliate programs with these platforms?
Kit has built-in referral tracking. Flodesk doesn’t have this feature natively—you’d need to use a third-party tool.
Which platform has better templates?
Flodesk templates are industry-leading—absolutely gorgeous. Kit’s templates are good and have improved recently, but not at Flodesk’s level.
The Bottom Line: Which Email Platform Wins in 2026?
There’s no universal winner—it depends on your specific needs:
Flodesk Wins For:
✅ Visual creators (photographers, designers, artists)
✅ Beginners who want simplicity
✅ Lists over 3,000 subscribers (cost savings)
✅ Predictable budgeting (flat rate forever)
✅ Email design quality (best in class)
✅ Quick setup (launch in a day)
Kit Wins For:
✅ Course creators and coaches
✅ Product launchers needing complex automations
✅ Tech-savvy creators who want power
✅ Growing businesses planning for scale
✅ Lists under 3,000 subscribers (lower cost)
✅ Integration needs (connects to everything)
Ready to Build Your Email List?
Your email list is your #1 business asset. Whether you choose Flodesk or Kit, the most important thing is to start building it today.
🎨 Start with Flodesk
Beautiful emails, flat-rate pricing, 30-day free trial
Try Flodesk Free (50% Off) →
⚙️ Start with Kit
Advanced automations, powerful features, free forever under 10k subscribers
Start Free with Kit →
Last Updated: December 2026
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