Pricing checked on official pages on October 18, 2026. Plans and fees change often; confirm on each provider's page before deciding. No affiliate links. This site uses AWeber for its own email list.
Pricing at a glance
- Substack: free to use; if you turn on paid subscriptions, Substack keeps 10% of paid revenue, plus card processing fees.
- Kit: Free plan up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited broadcasts, forms, tagging and digital products; Creator from $33/month billed yearly (at 1,000 subscribers) adds unlimited automations and sequences.
Publishing vs marketing
Substack is built around posts: you write, it publishes on the web and emails subscribers, and readers can discover you through Substack. Kit is built around subscribers: you capture them with forms and landing pages, tag them by interest, and send broadcasts and automated sequences. The question is what your email is for.
When Kit fits better
- You sell a course, coaching or a service and want a welcome sequence that leads to an offer.
- You offer several free resources and want to tag subscribers by which one they chose.
- You want automations triggered by actions, such as clicking a link.
Kit's Creator plan adds unlimited automations and sequences; see email nurture sequence for what those do.
When Substack fits better
- Your email is mainly a weekly publication.
- You might charge for premium posts and prefer paying only when you earn.
- You'd value readers finding you inside Substack's network.
For a YouTube channel
Most business owners on YouTube are using email to turn viewers into customers. That usually means a free resource, tags and a sequence, which favors an email marketing tool like Kit or the one this site uses. A creator whose product is the writing itself may prefer Substack. See email marketing vs newsletter.
Quick chooser
| Need | Substack | Kit |
|---|---|---|
| Simple publishing, maybe paid posts | ✓ | |
| Free plan for a larger list | ✓ (to 10,000 on Free) | |
| Sequences and automations | ✓ (Kit Creator or another email service) | |
| Built-in reader discovery | ✓ | |
| Best for | Simple publishing, maybe paid posts, with built-in reader discovery | A free plan for a larger list, plus sequences and automations |
Example
A worked example
A business coach started on a publishing platform but wanted new subscribers to receive five welcome emails leading to a discovery call. He moved to an email marketing tool with sequences, imported his list, and kept the same weekly email. The change was about automation, not writing.
Moving later
Both let you export subscribers, so starting with one doesn't trap you. Plan migrations carefully and follow each platform's import rules.
Can you use both?
Some creators do: a Substack publication for essays and a Kit list for selling courses or services. It means two lists to manage, so most small businesses are better off picking one main home for subscribers and linking to it from every video.
Watch out
Common mistakes
- Choosing a publishing tool when you need sequences.
- Paying for automation you won't set up.
- Forgetting to tag subscribers by lead magnet.
- Switching platforms repeatedly instead of sending emails.
Dave’s take
A principle I keep coming back to
"Create great content and also think about how you can add them to your list." (Dave)
AI shortcut
How can AI speed this up?
AI tools and plans checked October 18, 2026. They change often, so confirm on each tool's own page. No affiliate links.
- Requirements list. Ask ChatGPT to turn your goals into a checklist for comparing platforms.
- Issue drafts. Claude turns a video into a newsletter draft.
- Confirm. Check Substack's and Kit's official pages before choosing.
Tools mentioned:
- Substack: free to publish; keeps 10% of paid subscription revenue, plus Stripe fees.
- ChatGPT: free plan, Go ($8 a month in the US) and Plus ($20 a month).
- Claude: free plan, Pro at $20 a month.
AI is great for first drafts. Always edit the result so it sounds like you and is accurate for your business.
Key takeaways
- Substack is a publishing platform; Kit is email marketing built for creators.
- Substack is free and keeps 10% of paid subscription revenue.
- Kit's free plan covers up to 10,000 subscribers; automations need a paid plan.
- Choose Kit if you sell products or services with sequences; Substack if you mainly publish.
Frequently asked questions
Can Kit run a paid newsletter?
Yes. Kit's pricing page lists paid newsletters and digital products among its features. Check its page for current transaction fees and plan details.
