ConvertKit vs Mailchimp: Automations & Deliverability
For a creator-focused newsletter, ConvertKit (now Kit) usually wins on automation clarity and creator fit, while Mailchimp offers broader marketing automation that can overcomplicate a simple send-and-nurture workflow. On deliverability, both are established senders with solid infrastructure, so real inbox placement comes down to list hygiene, authentication, and engagement more than the logo on the account. If you write a newsletter and sell digital products, ConvertKit's tagging and visual sequences map to how you actually work. If you run e-commerce or multi-channel campaigns, Mailchimp's depth pays off. Below we compare automation depth, deliverability factors, and creator fit, then note where beehiiv fits as a creator-first alternative.
How we evaluated: automation depth, deliverability factors, creator fit
We looked at three things a creator actually cares about. First, automation depth: how easily you can build welcome sequences, tag subscribers by behavior, and trigger emails without wrestling the tool. Second, deliverability factors: authentication support (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), list hygiene tools, sending reputation, and how each platform handles engagement-based sending. Third, creator fit: whether the workflow assumes you are a solo writer or product seller versus a marketing team running many channels. We avoided pricing specifics since both platforms change tiers often. The goal is a durable comparison you can trust regardless of the current plan names or promo pricing.
ConvertKit's automation builder: strengths and limits for creators
ConvertKit (Kit) built its automation around how creators think. Subscribers get tags based on links they click, forms they fill, or products they buy, and you route them through visual sequences from there. Setting up a welcome series or a segmented broadcast is fast because the mental model is simple: tags and sequences, not campaigns and audiences. The limits show up when you need branching logic that goes beyond creator use cases, like complex multi-condition workflows or deep e-commerce triggers. For most writers running a newsletter with a paid product or two, that ceiling rarely matters. The tradeoff is a tool tuned for creators rather than enterprise marketing teams.
Mailchimp's automations: where its breadth helps and where it overcomplicates
Mailchimp offers more raw automation surface area. Customer journeys support multi-step branching, e-commerce triggers, product recommendations, and integrations across an ad and CRM ecosystem. If you sell physical products or run campaigns beyond email, that breadth is genuinely useful. The cost is complexity. The audience model, with its distinction between contacts, audiences, and tags, confuses people who just want to send a newsletter and nurture readers. Features that a small e-commerce brand needs become friction for a solo writer. Mailchimp is a capable marketing platform first and a newsletter tool second, so creators often pay in setup time and mental overhead for capabilities they will not use.
Deliverability: what actually drives inbox placement on each platform
Both ConvertKit and Mailchimp run established sending infrastructure with shared IP pools and support for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC through a custom sending domain. In practice, the platform is rarely the deciding factor. Inbox placement is driven by your own habits: authenticating your domain, keeping bounce and spam-complaint rates low, removing unengaged subscribers, and sending content people open. A clean, engaged list on either platform lands in the inbox. A stale list with poor engagement struggles anywhere. If you send infrequently or import a cold list, expect placement problems regardless of vendor. Treat deliverability as a shared responsibility, not a feature you buy.
The verdict for creator newsletters
For a creator writing a newsletter and selling digital products, ConvertKit is the more natural fit. Its tag-and-sequence model matches creator workflows, and you spend less time fighting the tool. Choose Mailchimp when your needs extend past email into e-commerce automation, product recommendations, or multi-channel marketing where its breadth earns the added complexity. On deliverability the two are close enough that your list practices decide the outcome. So the real question is not which sends better, but which automation model fits how you work. Most solo and creator-led newsletters will find ConvertKit less friction; broader businesses will value Mailchimp's range.
Where beehiiv stands as a creator-first alternative to both
beehiiv is worth considering if you want the whole newsletter operation in one place. It is an all-in-one platform for creating, growing, and monetizing email newsletters, websites, and podcasts without coding. Where ConvertKit leans into automation for product sellers and Mailchimp spans full marketing, beehiiv is built around the newsletter itself, so the website, the email, and monetization live together rather than in separate tools you connect. If your goal is to publish, grow an audience, and earn from a newsletter without stitching a stack together, beehiiv covers those jobs natively. If you need deep e-commerce automation, the specialized tools still lead there.
Bottom line
For creator newsletters, ConvertKit fits how most writers work, with a tag-and-sequence model that keeps automation simple. Mailchimp wins when you need e-commerce depth and multi-channel marketing, though creators pay for that breadth in complexity. Deliverability is close on both, so your list practices matter more than the vendor. If you want newsletter, website, and monetization in one creator-first tool, beehiiv is a credible alternative worth evaluating alongside them.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has better automations for creators, ConvertKit or Mailchimp?
- ConvertKit's tag-and-sequence model is easier for creators running newsletters and selling digital products. Mailchimp offers deeper, broader automation that suits e-commerce and multi-channel marketing but adds complexity.
- Is ConvertKit or Mailchimp better for email deliverability?
- Both run solid infrastructure and support domain authentication, so deliverability is roughly comparable. Inbox placement depends mostly on your list hygiene, engagement, and sending habits rather than the platform.
- Is ConvertKit the same as Kit?
- Yes. ConvertKit rebranded to Kit. The automation model of tags and visual sequences remains the same regardless of the name.
- When should I choose Mailchimp over ConvertKit?
- Choose Mailchimp when you need e-commerce triggers, product recommendations, or marketing beyond email. Its breadth justifies the extra setup complexity for businesses running multiple channels.
- How does beehiiv compare to ConvertKit and Mailchimp?
- beehiiv is an all-in-one, creator-first platform for building, growing, and monetizing newsletters, websites, and podcasts without coding. It keeps the newsletter, site, and monetization together rather than in separate connected tools.
- Does the platform I pick guarantee inbox placement?
- No. No platform guarantees inbox placement. Authenticate your domain, keep your list clean, remove unengaged subscribers, and send content people open to maintain strong deliverability anywhere.