Kartra vs ConvertKit – A Comprehensive Comparison 

Ever wondered whether Kartra or ConvertKit is the right tool for your business?

Both platforms cater to online entrepreneurs, offering marketing automation and email marketing solutions. However, they serve different types of users—one being an all-in-one business platform, while the other specializes in email marketing for content creators.

Having explored both platforms extensively, I can break down their differences to help you determine which aligns with your goals.

Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information. Please verify pricing and features on the official websites, as updates may occur.

Kartra vs ConvertKit: Quick & Simple Comparison

Feature	Kartra	ConvertKit
Ease of Use	Beginner-friendly ✅	Simple for email marketing but lacks advanced business tools ❌
Onboarding	Tutorials, step-by-step guides ✅	Straightforward but limited walkthroughs ❌
Sales Funnels	Advanced funnel-building tools ✅	Basic automation for emails only ❌
Marketing Automation	Multi-channel automation (email, SMS, memberships) ✅	Email-focused automation only ❌
CRM & Lead Management	Contact management & segmentation ✅	Simple tagging but lacks full CRM features ❌
Membership & Courses	Fully integrated with sales funnels ✅	Requires third-party tools ❌
Webinars	Built-in webinar hosting ✅	No webinar support ❌
Landing Pages	Drag-and-drop page builder ✅	Basic opt-in pages only ❌
Integrations	Moderate third-party integrations ❌	Extensive third-party integrations ✅
Customer Support	24/7 chat & email support ✅	Email support & community forum ❌
Pricing	Starts at $119/month	Starts at $25/month
Free Trial	30 days ✅	Free plan available ✅
Best For	Entrepreneurs, course creators, businesses with sales funnels	Bloggers, content creators, and email marketers

What is Kartra? 

Kartra is a robust marketing platform that provides an all-in-one solution for running an online business. Whether you need sales funnels, email automation, course hosting, or lead management, Kartra handles everything in a single system.

It was created by the team behind WebinarJam and officially launched in 2018. Since then, it has become a preferred choice for digital entrepreneurs who want a seamless business management system.

Who Should Use Kartra?

Kartra is designed for: ✅ Entrepreneurs managing online sales and marketing  ✅ Course creators and coaches selling memberships  ✅ Small businesses looking for a complete marketing solution  ✅ Agencies managing multiple clients (with higher-tier plans)

If you want a centralized platform to manage marketing, sales, and automation, Kartra is a solid option.

What is ConvertKit? 

ConvertKit is an email marketing tool primarily designed for content creators, including bloggers, authors, and podcasters. It allows users to build email lists, create automation sequences, and monetize their audience through email-driven funnels.

While it excels in email marketing, ConvertKit does not offer advanced CRM, funnel-building, or business management features like Kartra.

Who Should Use ConvertKit?

ConvertKit is perfect for:  ✅ Bloggers and content creators who rely on email marketing ✅ Freelancers and small businesses focused on audience engagement  ✅ Digital marketers who prefer simple automation over complex funnels  ✅ Podcasters and authors looking to grow their email lists

If your primary focus is email marketing rather than full-fledged business automation, ConvertKit is a great option.

Kartra vs ConvertKit – Key Similarities and Differences

While Kartra and ConvertKit both offer marketing automation, they differ in their approach. Let’s examine their similarities and differences.

Similarities

✅ Both offer automation features to nurture leads and build relationships. 

✅ Each provides email marketing tools, including segmentation and autoresponders. 

✅ Both integrate with third-party tools to expand functionality. 

✅ Each platform has a free trial or plan to test its features before committing.

Differences

Feature	Kartra	ConvertKit
Ideal For	Businesses needing full marketing automation	Content creators focused on email marketing
Sales Funnels	Advanced funnel mapping tools	Basic sequences for email automation only
CRM & Lead Management	Full contact tracking and sales automation	Simple tagging and list segmentation
Membership & Courses	Built-in course hosting & member areas	Requires third-party tools
Webinar & Video Hosting	Includes built-in webinars and video hosting	No native webinar features
Landing Pages	Fully customizable templates	Basic landing pages with limited customization
Customer Support	Live chat, email, and ticket support	Email-only support

Kartra vs. ConvertKit – Which One is Right for You?

If you’re looking for a marketing platform to grow your business, you’ve probably come across Kartra and ConvertKit. Both tools offer robust features, but they serve different types of users.

• Kartra is an all-in-one marketing platform designed for entrepreneurs, course creators, and businesses that need everything from email marketing to sales funnels, membership sites, and automation.
• ConvertKit is primarily an email marketing tool built for bloggers, content creators, and small businesses who want to focus on growing their audience and selling digital products.

So, which one should you choose? Let’s break down the key features to help you decide!

1. User Experience and Ease of Use

Your marketing platform should be easy to navigate, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced marketer.

Kartra

Kartra offers an intuitive dashboard with a drag-and-drop builder for landing pages, emails, and sales funnels. It’s beginner-friendly and includes step-by-step tutorials to help new users get started.

However, because Kartra is an all-in-one platform, there is a learning curve. While the interface is visually appealing, mastering all the features takes time.

ConvertKit

ConvertKit has a minimalist and clean interface, making it easy to set up email campaigns, automations, and landing pages.

Unlike Kartra, ConvertKit is laser-focused on email marketing, so users don’t have to deal with complex tools. The learning curve is much lower, and it’s one of the easiest email marketing platforms to use.

Comparison Table: User Experience

Feature	Kartra	ConvertKit
Ease of Use	More complex due to multiple features	Simple and beginner-friendly
Dashboard Design	Modern, drag-and-drop builder	Minimalist and clean UI
Learning Curve	Takes time to master	Very easy to learn
Onboarding Support	Step-by-step guides and tutorials	Quick setup with help docs

🏆 Winner: ConvertKit – If you want an easy-to-use tool for email marketing, ConvertKit is the better choice. However, if you need an all-in-one marketing system, Kartra is worth learning.

2. Pricing Comparison

Both platforms offer multiple pricing plans, but their pricing structures cater to different users.

Kartra

Kartra’s pricing is based on the number of leads you manage and the features you need.

• Starter – $119/month: Ideal for solopreneurs and small businesses.
• Growth – $229/month: Adds advanced automation, affiliate marketing, and more contacts.
• Professional – $549/month: Designed for agencies and large businesses.

Kartra offers up to 22% off if you choose annual billing.

ConvertKit

ConvertKit’s pricing is based on the number of email subscribers.

• Free Plan – $0/month: Limited features, up to 1,000 subscribers.
• Creator Plan – Starts at $25/month: Advanced automation and integrations.
• Creator Pro – Starts at $50/month: Includes subscriber scoring, priority support, and more.

ConvertKit also provides discounted annual plans but doesn’t charge extra for increased usage of automation or landing pages.

Comparison Table: Pricing

Plan	Kartra Pricing	ConvertKit Pricing
Starter Plan	$119/month	Free (up to 1,000 subscribers)
Mid-Tier Plan	$229/month	$25/month (for Creator Plan)
Top-Tier Plan	$549/month	$50/month (for Creator Pro)
Annual Discount	Up to 22% off	Discount available

🏆 Winner: ConvertKit – ConvertKit is much more affordable, especially for creators focused on email marketing. Kartra is more expensive but offers a full suite of marketing tools.

3. Email Marketing and Automation

Since ConvertKit is built for email marketing, you might assume it has an edge here. But Kartra also offers powerful automation features.

Kartra

Kartra includes a visual automation builder that lets you create sequences based on subscriber actions.

• Advanced segmentation and tagging.
• Automated sequences based on behavior triggers.
• A/B testing for subject lines and content.

ConvertKit

ConvertKit excels at simple and intuitive email automation.

• Easy-to-set-up automation rules.
• Drag-and-drop sequence builder.
• Tag-based system to manage subscribers dynamically.

Comparison Table: Email Marketing & Automation

Feature	Kartra	ConvertKit
Email Automation	Advanced workflows	Simple but effective
Segmentation & Tagging	Yes, detailed	Yes, tag-based
A/B Testing	Yes, for subject lines and content	No A/B testing

🏆 Winner: Kartra – Kartra wins for businesses that need powerful automation, while ConvertKit is ideal for those who prefer simple automation without complexity.

4. Landing Pages and Sales Funnels

Both platforms allow you to create landing pages, but Kartra provides a full sales funnel builder, while ConvertKit focuses on simple opt-in pages.

Kartra

• Drag-and-drop funnel builder.
• Pre-designed templates for pages, thank-you pages, and sales pages.
• A/B testing for landing pages.

ConvertKit

• Simple opt-in page builder (no full funnel builder).
• Basic customization options.
• No built-in A/B testing.

Comparison Table: Landing Pages & Funnels

Feature	Kartra	ConvertKit
Sales Funnel Builder	Yes, full-featured	No, only landing pages
Landing Page Templates	Many advanced templates	Basic opt-in templates
A/B Testing	Yes	No

🏆 Winner: Kartra – If you need complete funnel-building tools, Kartra is the clear winner. ConvertKit is great for simple email sign-up pages but lacks advanced sales funnel features.

5. Customer Support and Training

Having great customer support can make a big difference, especially when dealing with technical issues.

Kartra

• Live chat support for Growth & Professional plans.
• Email and ticket-based support.
• Kartra Academy with in-depth tutorials.

ConvertKit

• Email support for all users.
• Live chat support for paid plans.
• Extensive knowledge base and video tutorials.

Comparison Table: Customer Support

Feature	Kartra	ConvertKit
Live Chat Support	Yes (higher plans)	Yes (paid plans)
Email Support	Yes	Yes
Knowledge Base & Tutorials	Kartra Academy with step-by-step courses	Video tutorials and help docs

🏆 Winner: Tie – Both platforms offer strong support, but Kartra provides more structured training, while ConvertKit offers faster email support.

Pros and Cons of Kartra

Pros

✅ Beginner-Friendly Onboarding
Kartra makes it easy to get started with an interactive setup guide, step-by-step video tutorials, and a structured dashboard that walks you through the essential features.

✅ Comprehensive All-in-One Solution
With built-in tools for email marketing, funnel building, membership sites, checkout pages, and more, Kartra eliminates the need for multiple third-party software subscriptions.

✅ Robust Sales Funnel Automation
Kartra offers a drag-and-drop funnel builder, pre-designed campaign templates, and automation tools that make lead nurturing seamless and effective.

✅ Integrated Help Desk & Customer Support Features
Unlike many competitors, Kartra includes a built-in help desk with ticketing, live chat, and knowledge base functionality, making it easy to provide customer support.

✅ Advanced Membership Site Capabilities
If you create online courses or memberships, Kartra allows you to set up structured learning paths, track progress, and even drip-feed content.

Cons

❌ Higher Price Tag
Kartra’s pricing is on the premium side, making it less accessible for small businesses or solopreneurs just starting out.

❌ Steep Learning Curve
Because Kartra includes so many features, new users might take some time to fully grasp how to use all the tools effectively.

❌ Limited External Integrations
While Kartra offers native integrations with some tools, it doesn’t support as many third-party applications as other platforms like ConvertKit or Zapier.

❌ Email Deliverability Could Be Better
Some users report that Kartra’s built-in email marketing tool has lower deliverability rates compared to dedicated email platforms like ConvertKit.

Pros and Cons of ConvertKit

Pros

✅ Easy-to-Use Interface
ConvertKit has a clean, minimalist design that makes email marketing and automation incredibly simple, even for complete beginners.

✅ Flexible & Powerful Automation
The platform allows you to build automation workflows easily using a visual editor, helping you segment subscribers and send targeted emails based on their behavior.

✅ Great for Content Creators
With built-in landing pages, lead capture forms, and the ability to sell digital products, ConvertKit is an excellent tool for bloggers, podcasters, and online creators.

✅ Tag-Based Subscriber Management
Unlike traditional email lists, ConvertKit uses a tagging system to help you organize and segment your audience in a more flexible and personalized way.

✅ Free Plan for Beginners
ConvertKit offers a completely free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers, making it a fantastic option for those who are just starting to grow their email list.

Cons

❌ Limited Sales Funnel Capabilities
ConvertKit is primarily an email marketing tool, so it lacks advanced sales funnel features like Kartra’s built-in checkout pages and campaign automation.

❌ No Built-In A/B Testing for Emails
Unlike some competitors, ConvertKit does not offer A/B testing for email content, making it harder to optimize email campaigns based on performance.

❌ Fewer Landing Page Design Options
While ConvertKit offers pre-built landing page templates, they are fairly basic and not as customizable as Kartra’s funnel builder.

❌ Lacks Advanced CRM Features
If you need a full CRM with pipeline management and customer tracking, ConvertKit might not be the best fit, as it focuses mainly on email automation.

Final Verdict – Which One Should You Choose?

• Choose Kartra if you need a full marketing suite with sales funnels, automation, and CRM tools. It’s best for businesses looking for an all-in-one platform.
• Choose ConvertKit if you want a simple email marketing tool with affordable pricing. It’s perfect for bloggers, creators, and small businesses focused on growing an email list.

💡 Final Recommendation: Kartra for all-in-one marketing, ConvertKit for email-focused strategies.

FAQs 

1. Can I switch between Kartra and ConvertKit? 

Yes, both platforms support data import and export, though manual adjustments may be needed. 

2. Which is better for email marketing? 

ConvertKit is better for simplicity and affordability, while Kartra offers advanced automation. 

3. Does ConvertKit support sales funnels? 

It provides basic landing pages but lacks dedicated funnel-building tools. 

4. Which is more affordable? 

ConvertKit is more affordable, especially for smaller subscriber lists. 

5. Does Kartra have a free plan? 

No, Kartra does not offer a free plan but provides a 14-day trial for $1.