Kit vs Substack
Two free starting points for writers, the creator toolkit against the publishing network.
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Kit (ConvertKit)
Built for creators, free up to 10,000 subscribers.
Substack
Start publishing in five minutes. Pay 10% if you charge.
Prices last checked on
| Feature | Kit (ConvertKit) | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.5 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Price | From $33/mo | Free |
| Free plan | ||
| Best for | Writers and creators | Paid newsletters, zero setup |
| Category | For creators | For creators |
| Provider | Kit Inc. | Substack Inc. |
| Visit Kit (ConvertKit) | Visit Substack |
Our verdict
Substack is simpler. You write and publish, with a discovery network as a bonus. Kit is more capable. Free up to ten thousand subscribers, paid newsletters without a 10% platform cut, landing pages, and automation when you upgrade. Writers who want zero learning curve start at Substack.
Writers who want to own their audience and their economics pick Kit, and that ownership is why Kit wins this duel.
“Built around the creator. The writing experience is wonderfully clean, the free plan runs up to 10,000 subscribers, and paid newsletters give you direct monetization. The standard for creators.”Editorial team, on Kit (ConvertKit)
“The fastest way from zero to a paid newsletter, with a real discovery network behind it. But the 10% cut of paid revenue stings once you grow, and the platform owns the relationship with your readers.”Editorial team, on Substack
Frequently asked questions
Kit or Substack for a new newsletter?
Kit, if you want to own your audience and your economics. It is free up to 10,000 subscribers, offers paid newsletters without a 10% platform cut, plus landing pages and automation when you upgrade. Substack is the pick when you want zero learning curve. Write, publish, done, with a discovery network on top. Ownership is why Kit wins this one.
Is Kit really free, and what does Substack cost?
Kit's Newsletter plan is free up to 10,000 subscribers, and you only move to Creator at $33 a month, $396 a year billed annually, when you need automation and sequences. Substack charges nothing up front and instead takes 10% of your paid subscription revenue, plus payment fees (US dollars, checked August 2026).
Does either platform cap how many subscribers I can have?
Substack does not. You get unlimited subscribers and unlimited posts on its free plan. Kit's free tier stops at 10,000 subscribers, after which you are on a paid plan. That sounds like a point for Substack, but the cap only bites at a size where Kit's paid plan is cheap next to 10% of a real subscription business.
When is Substack's 10% still worth paying?
While the network is doing your marketing. If recommendations from other publications are bringing you readers you could not reach alone, that 10% is effectively an acquisition cost and a fair one. It stops being worth it once growth comes from your own work, because the cut keeps scaling with revenue while your marketing no longer depends on the platform.