Substack vs ConvertKit
Substack and ConvertKit both target creators, but from different angles. Substack is a publishing home built around paid newsletters, while ConvertKit (now Kit) is email-marketing software with automations, forms and a commerce add-on. The right pick depends on whether you want effortless publishing or marketing control.
Quick answer
Substack is the simplest home for a paid newsletter and keeps 10% of subscription revenue, while ConvertKit is a creator email toolkit with automations, forms and a commerce add-on that charges a transaction fee. Pick Substack for effortless publishing, ConvertKit for marketing power. If you'd rather sell products, bookings and tickets from one link and keep 100% of sales, OneSol is a free all-in-one alternative that pays out to your own Stripe.
Substack vs ConvertKit at a glance
| Feature | Substack | ConvertKit |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free | Free tier |
| Paid subscriptions / selling | Built-in | Commerce add-on |
| Cut of sales | 10% on paid | Transaction fee |
| Own-account payouts | Own Stripe | Own Stripe |
| Forms / landing pages | Limited | Yes |
| Automation | Basic | Advanced |
| Ease of use | Very easy | Easy |
Competitor features and pricing can change — check their current plans before deciding.
1. Who Substack is best for
Substack is ideal for writers who want the simplest path to a paid newsletter, with subscriptions, a public archive and built-in discovery. You publish free and Substack takes 10% of paid subscription revenue plus Stripe fees. What you give up is fine-grained automation, tagging and multiple opt-in forms.
2. Who ConvertKit is best for
ConvertKit (Kit) suits creators who want automations, tagging, multiple opt-in forms and landing pages alongside email. It has a free tier for smaller lists and paid plans as you scale, plus a Commerce feature to sell digital products for a transaction fee. It's more of a marketing toolkit than a publishing home.
3. The cost that's easy to miss
Substack's 10% cut only bites once you charge readers, but it never goes away. ConvertKit's free tier is limited and its most useful automations and integrations sit on paid plans, plus a transaction fee on Commerce sales. Neither replaces a full store for products, tickets or bookings.
The verdict
Where Substack and ConvertKit each cover part of the job, OneSol handles the whole creator storefront — products, forms, bookings, tickets and email capture from one link. Money lands in your own Stripe account with no OneSol cut, so you keep 100% of sales, and it's free to start.
FAQ
What's the difference between Substack and ConvertKit?
Substack is a publishing platform built around paid newsletters; ConvertKit is email-marketing software with automations, forms and a commerce add-on. One is a home for readers, the other a toolkit for campaigns.
Which takes less of my money?
Substack keeps 10% of paid subscriptions; ConvertKit charges by subscriber count and adds a transaction fee on Commerce sales. Compare current pricing against how you plan to earn.
Can I move my subscribers between them?
Both let you export your email list, so you're not fully locked in — but paid-subscription billing has to be rebuilt if you switch. Always keep your own copy of your audience.
Is there a free all-in-one alternative?
Yes — OneSol is free and combines selling, forms, bookings and email capture in one link, with payouts to your own Stripe account so you keep 100% of sales (only Stripe's fee applies).