Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our verdict. Details.
A ConvertKit alternative usually comes up for one of two reasons: the free plan has no automations, or the Creator plan’s price climbs with every thousand subscribers. ConvertKit is called Kit now, and the free plan is generous on subscribers (10,000) and stingy on features. If you want automations, a checkout, and funnels without the ramp, systeme.io does all three free to 2,000 contacts with unlimited sends. If you only send a newsletter, MailerLite is the cheaper simple tool.
Kit vs systeme.io: side-by-side comparison
| systeme.io | Kit | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 2,000 contacts, unlimited sends | 10,000 subscribers, no automations |
| First paid plan | $17/mo, 5,000 contacts | $33/mo at 1,000 subscribers |
| Automations on free | 1 rule, 1 workflow | None |
| Landing pages and forms | Yes | Unlimited |
| Selling digital products | 0% platform fee | 3.5% + 30c on free |
| Sales funnels with upsells | Yes | No |
| Courses and communities | Yes | No |
| Creator network and recommendations | No | Yes |
| Email editor | Plain | Plain, deliverability-focused |
Prices checked September 17, 2026.
Where Kit is still better
Deliverability reputation and the creator network. Kit’s recommendation system grows lists through other newsletters, and its editor is built for plain-text sends that land in the inbox. If your business is the newsletter itself, those matter more than a checkout.
The free-plan trap
Kit free lets you collect 10,000 subscribers and send broadcasts, but a welcome sequence needs the $33 plan. systeme.io free includes one automation rule and one workflow, which covers a welcome sequence and a tag on purchase, and the $17 plan lifts that to ten.
Other ConvertKit alternatives
| Tool | Free plan | Pick it if |
|---|---|---|
| MailerLite | 250 subscribers, 3 automations, 1 landing page | You want a pretty newsletter and nothing else |
| Flodesk | Free plan, paid tiers from about $25 | Design is the priority |
| Mailchimp | 250 contacts, 500 sends | You already use its integrations |
What the same setup costs on systeme.io
Free plan, no card. Affiliate link; we earn a commission on paid plans.
Frequently asked questions
Is ConvertKit the same as Kit?
Yes. ConvertKit renamed itself Kit in 2024. The plans and pricing on this page are Kit's.
Is there a free ConvertKit alternative with automations?
systeme.io includes one automation rule and one workflow free. MailerLite includes three automations on its free plan.
What is the cheapest ConvertKit alternative?
systeme.io at $0 for 2,000 contacts, then $17 for 5,000. MailerLite starts at $12 a month.
Does Kit charge fees on product sales?
On the free plan, 3.5% plus 30 cents per sale. systeme.io charges 0% on every plan.
Related: systeme.io pricing, systeme.io review.