Benchmark Email vs Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
Benchmark Email and Kit are both email marketing platforms, but they serve different masters. Benchmark Email focuses on speed and simplicity for general businesses. Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is built specifically for creators who want to grow and own their audience.
Best for: Small businesses and non-profits starting with email marketing, Users who value having 24/7 phone support for technical help
Best for: Authors, podcasters, and YouTubers building a direct audience, Newsletter creators looking to monetize with ads and sponsorships
Simple interface, solid support, mixed reliability.
We recognize Benchmark Email for its highly intuitive user interface and excellent technical support staff, noting they make complex setup tasks manageable. Overall, while the usability is strong across all plans, the documented issues surrounding email reliability for large sends and inconsistent feedback resolution slightly reduce our final rating.
Pros
- Intuitive, user-friendly web interface and email builder.
- Responsive and high-quality technical support, including assistance with API.
- Flexible editor supporting both drag-and-drop and direct HTML code.
- Permanent $0 Free plan is available for users with small contact lists.
Cons
- Reported issues with email deliverability, especially on large mailing lists.
- Customer support inconsistently responds to delivery failure complaints.
- Concerns regarding strict policy enforcement leading to sudden account termination.
Pros
Cons
AboutBenchmark Email
Benchmark is an email marketing platform designed for speed and usability across various industries. Whether you are a solo entrepreneur or run a non-profit, the platform helps you connect with subscribers and drive sales.
It provides core tools like the Email Builder, Landing Pages, and a Marketing CRM. This system allows you to attract more leads, manage customer relationships, and launch campaigns that are ready to delight subscribers in the inbox. 💡
AboutKit (formerly ConvertKit)
Highlights
Feature Comparison
Features Overview
We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.
Ease of Use
Both platforms have intuitive, clean interfaces designed for non-technical users.
Benchmark Email is praised for its super-intuitive web interface and flexible email builder. You can switch between drag-and-drop and HTML code editing easily. Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is also consistently described as intuitive and accessible. Its workflow is streamlined for creators, managing subscribers and automations without a steep learning curve. The key difference is in the design philosophy. Benchmark Email feels like a general-purpose tool, while Kit is laser-focused on the creator's journey.
Automation
Kit offers more powerful, visual automations for nurturing complex sequences.
Benchmark Email offers simplified email automation with smart 'if/then' sequences on paid plans. It's designed to be easy for users who aren't automation experts. Kit (formerly ConvertKit) shines here with unlimited visual automations on paid plans. Creators use these to build 24/7 welcome series and sales funnels. One creator saw 30% sales growth from a targeted automation. Kit's visual builder is more advanced for complex workflows. Benchmark Email's strength is making basic automation accessible without overwhelm.
Pricing Model
Benchmark scales by contacts; Kit scales by subscribers but has a more generous free tier.
Benchmark Email's pricing is per contact list size. The Pro plan starts at $13/month annually for 500 contacts. You get 7,500 emails/mo at that tier. Kit (formerly ConvertKit) pricing is based on active subscribers. Its free Newsletter plan supports up to 10,000 subscribers but has only 1 basic automation. Paid plans start at $39/month annually for 1,000 subscribers. The major trade-off is the free tier: Kit's is far more generous for list size. However, Kit's paid plans can get expensive as your list grows significantly.
Creator-Specific Features
Kit is built from the ground up for creators selling products and growing communities.
Benchmark Email provides core marketing tools like forms, pop-ups, and landing pages. It's a solid foundation for general campaigns. Kit (formerly ConvertKit) includes dedicated tools like direct digital product sales, a newsletter referral system, and creator Recommendations. These features help you monetize and cross-promote. If your business model involves selling courses, ebooks, or running a newsletter, Kit has the specialized tools. Benchmark Email is better for general promotional announcements.
Customer Support
Benchmark offers 24/7 phone support; Kit's support receives more mixed reviews.
Benchmark Email provides 24/7 technical assistance via Live Chat and Phone. Users report excellent, step-by-step help, even for API issues. Kit (formerly ConvertKit) offers 24/7 email and chat support. However, user reviews frequently cite slow response times and unhelpful agents. Priority support is only on the Pro plan. Benchmark Email's support is a clear strength. Kit's support quality appears inconsistent based on user feedback.
Email Deliverability
Kit advertises a leading 99.8% deliverability rate; Benchmark has reported issues.
Benchmark Email has received reports of deliverability failures, especially on large mailing lists. Support responsiveness to these issues is also noted as inconsistent. Kit (formerly ConvertKit) highlights an industry-leading 99.8% delivery rate and average open rates above 40%. This is a key selling point for creators who rely on their inbox. For sending critical announcements or product launches, Kit's stated reliability gives it an edge. Benchmark's reported issues are a concern for large sends.
Benchmark Email costs between $0 and a custom quote per month with three main plans: Free at $0/mo, Pro starting at $13/mo (annually), and Enterprise (custom quote).
It's important to remember that prices for paid plans scale up as your contact list grows, so the initial shown prices are for the minimum contact tier.
Free
Price: $0/mo Best For: Exploring core email tools and small lists Other Features:
- The easiest-ever email builder
- Supports up to 500 contacts
- Send up to 3,500 emails per month
- Access to signup Forms and Reports
- 500 contacts
- 3,500 emails/mo
- Easiest-ever email builder
- Forms
- Reports
- 7,500 emails/mo (at 500 contacts)
- Email automation
- Landing pages
- A/B testing
- Full features from Free plan
- Managed account set-up
- Deliverability tools
- Volume discounts
- Send-based pricing
- Custom quote
Pricing Notes
- Benchmark Email's free plan is limited to 500 contacts and 3,500 emails per month.
- Kit's free Newsletter plan is very generous, supporting up to 10,000 subscribers but only 1 basic automation.
- Benchmark Email pricing scales based on your contact list size for paid plans.
- Kit (formerly ConvertKit) pricing scales based on your active subscriber count for paid plans.
- Kit's paid plans (Creator and Pro) can become expensive as subscriber counts increase significantly.
- Benchmark Email offers a 25% discount for non-profit organizations.
- Kit includes a 14-day free trial on paid plans without requiring a credit card.
Pricing Head-to-Head
User Reviews
Benchmark Email receives mixed feedback regarding its core functionality and service delivery. Users frequently praise the platform’s ease of use, noting that the web interface is super-intuitive.
They appreciate the flexibility of the drag-and-drop editor and the option for advanced HTML code editing. Technical support often gets high marks; several users report that the team provided excellent, step-by-step assistance, even helping troubleshoot complex API and endpoint integration issues.
We had immense trouble starting with the API, but the web interface is super-intuitive. Support helped us map endpoints and even showed us how to create emails this way. Now our application works exactly as we envisioned.
Our Verdict
For most creators, Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is the stronger choice. It's built specifically for growing an audience you own and sell to directly. Benchmark Email's superpower is its simplicity and speed. Its Smart Design AI and intuitive builder let you launch a professional campaign in minutes. The 24/7 phone support is a huge plus if you get stuck. Kit (formerly ConvertKit)'s superpower is its creator-focused engine. The visual automations and direct product sales turn your email list into a revenue-generating machine. That 99.8% deliverability rate is peace of mind. The deciding factor is your business model. Choose Benchmark Email if you're a small business or non-profit needing a reliable, easy tool for announcements. Choose Kit if you're a creator whose income depends on direct audience relationships and automated sales. In 2026, the recommendation is clear. For solopreneurs, authors, and newsletter creators, Kit (formerly ConvertKit) provides the specialized tools for growth. For straightforward business communication, Benchmark Email delivers powerfully simple results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for small teams: Benchmark Email or Kit (formerly ConvertKit)?
Benchmark Email offers subaccounts for agencies managing multiple clients or departments. Kit's Pro plan allows unlimited users. For basic team collaboration, Benchmark Email's structure might be simpler.
Does Benchmark Email have visual automations like Kit (formerly ConvertKit)?
Benchmark Email has simplified 'if/then' automation sequences. Kit (formerly ConvertKit) offers unlimited visual automations on paid plans, which are more advanced for building complex nurture funnels.
Is Kit (formerly ConvertKit) worth the extra cost over Benchmark Email?
It depends on your needs. Kit is worth it if you sell digital products or need advanced creator automations. Benchmark Email can be cheaper for basic email marketing with smaller lists.
Can I migrate from Benchmark Email to Kit (formerly ConvertKit) easily?
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) offers free migrations. Their team can help rebuild your forms, templates, and automations when you switch, making the process smoother.
Which platform has a better free plan for growing a list?
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) has a far more generous free plan, supporting up to 10,000 subscribers. Benchmark Email's free plan is limited to 500 contacts and 3,500 monthly emails.
Do both tools offer A/B testing for my campaigns?
Yes, both offer A/B testing on paid plans. Benchmark Email includes it in the Pro plan. Kit (formerly ConvertKit) allows A/B testing of subject lines on paid plans.
Ready to Choose?
Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.