ConvertKit vs Omnisend

Quick Overview

Creator-first broadcasting vs ecommerce lifecycle automation

The biggest difference between ConvertKit and Omnisend is what they’re optimized to make “automatic.” ConvertKit is built around creator-style email publishing and relationship-building, where tagging, segmentation, and visual automations support consistent audience nurturing without heavy operational complexity. Omnisend prioritizes ecommerce lifecycle marketing, where customer actions and purchase signals drive coordinated messaging across channels like email, SMS, and web push.

That tradeoff traces back to each platform’s core product bets: ConvertKit emphasizes a creator-aligned workflow (including tag-based subscriber management and straightforward sequences), which keeps setup focused on content-led funnels and monetization pathways. Omnisend started as an ecommerce-focused email tool (founded in 2014 as Soundest and rebranded in 2017) and evolved into omnichannel automation with deep integrations into ecommerce platforms, shaping a data model that leans on real-time store behavior and purchase history to orchestrate campaigns.

For buyers, this difference changes what “good” looks like in daily operations: whether your marketing engine is primarily a publishing cadence with segmentation and automations, or a lifecycle system that reacts to browsing, carts, and orders across multiple channels. The rest of this comparison will unpack how that affects automation depth, cross-channel reach, data dependencies, reporting expectations, and the operating overhead required to keep everything accurate and effective.

Quick Comparison

At a Glance

Category	ConvertKit	Omnisend
Best for	Content creators and bloggers	Ecommerce merchants and brands
Core strength	Email sequences and tagging	Omnichannel ecommerce messaging
Automation depth	Visual automations for workflows	Prebuilt ecommerce automation workflows
Pricing model	Subscriber-based tiers, unlimited emails	Contact-based tiers, send limits
Learning curve	Easy interface, setup time	Single-click Shopify installation

Vendor Snapshot

Company Snapshot

Background data gathered from our market research (founding year, HQ, team size, specialties, etc.).

ConvertKit

Visit website

C

12+ years operating Team 51-200

Founded: 2013
Team: 51-200
Industry: Marketing Services

Kit (formerly ConvertKit) positions itself as an email-first operating system for creators, helping them write emails, build automations, and manage their audience in a simple platform.

Specialties

Creator Economy Email Marketing

Omnisend

Visit website

O

11+ years operating Team 201-500

Founded: 2014
HQ: Vilnius, Lithuania
Team: 201-500
Industry: Technology, Information And Internet

Omnisend is a SaaS marketing automation platform for ecommerce that helps brands send personalized messages across channels such as email and SMS. The company’s mission is to make marketing relevant by reaching the right person at the right time using the right channel.

Why These Platforms Feel So Different

ConvertKit grew out of the creator newsletter world, where the first job was collecting subscribers and sending straightforward sequences. Omnisend began in 2014 as Soundest, an email platform built around ecommerce marketers and store-driven messaging. Those starting contexts imposed different constraints: audience relationships for ConvertKit versus transactional store events for Omnisend.

Because ConvertKit was built to support creators publishing regularly, it prioritizes a clean subscriber model built around tags and sequences. This leads to tradeoffs in how far it leans into heavily designed, catalog-style messaging. One concrete signal is its emphasis on simple, text-first emails and creator workflows over elaborate template variety.

Because Omnisend was built for ecommerce marketers from day one, it prioritizes tight coupling to store platforms and purchase behavior. This leads to tradeoffs in complexity, since commerce events and product catalogs add more moving parts. A concrete example is Omnisend’s evolution from email-only to omnichannel in 2017, then adding SMS in 2018, which reinforced a workflow built around event triggers and channel coordination.

These origin choices explain why each platform feels optimized for different kinds of messaging discipline and underlying data. The next sections surface how those early priorities show up as practical differences during setup and ongoing execution.

Feature Analysis

Feature Explanation: How These Capabilities Differ in Practice

You’ve seen the matrix—this section clarifies what those features look like when you’re actually building campaigns, automations, and reporting.

#1 Automation & Flows

ConvertKit centers automation around sequences and visual automations, where tags and subscriber actions drive routing. Users often manage logic by tagging people and moving them through sequences.

Omnisend uses a visual automation editor with pre-built ecommerce workflows like cart abandonment and post-purchase. Workflows support custom events, splits, exit conditions, and channel branching.

#2 Customer Segmentation

ConvertKit segmentation commonly relies on tags and basic segmentation for targeted sends. Tagging is often used to organize subscribers and drive campaigns.

Omnisend builds dynamic segments that update in real time using rules like orders, email/SMS activity, tags, and custom properties. Segments can also trigger automations or define split paths inside workflows.

#3 Multichannel Messaging

ConvertKit focuses on email and does not offer SMS messaging. Its core delivery and automation are built around email sequences and broadcasts.

Omnisend supports email, SMS, and web push, and lets you place those messages inside the same automation. You can also report performance by channel within one platform.

#4 Ecommerce Integrations & Store Data

ConvertKit connects with ecommerce tools like Shopify and WooCommerce via integrations. These integrations are commonly used to sync subscribers and support tagging-based targeting.

Omnisend is designed for ecommerce with deep native integrations like Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Wix. It emphasizes real-time sync of customer, order, and product data for targeting and automation triggers.

#5 Reporting & Revenue Attribution

ConvertKit offers reporting, and Capterra lists “ROI Tracking” as a supported feature area. It also has an “Advanced Reporting” capability referenced in plan feature summaries.

Omnisend provides sales reports that attribute revenue to email, SMS, and push, plus campaign and automation reports for opens, clicks, and sales. It also supports flexible attribution windows and workflow step-level metrics.

Pricing

Pricing & Plans

Compare tiers, caps, and upgrade paths at a glance.

ConvertKit

Per contact Volume pricing

Public monthly pricing scales by contact count with custom pricing at higher volumes.

Omnisend

Per contact Volume pricing

Public monthly pricing scales by contact count with set email send allowances and custom pricing at higher volumes.

Contact tier

ConvertKit

Omnisend

1,000 contacts

PLAN

$39

per month

What's included

✓ Includes Unlimited emails
✓ Email marketing with unlimited sends
✓ Creator-focused list building and forms
✓ Automation workflows

Limitations

• SMS is not available on this plan.
• Pricing is contact-based, so cost increases as your subscriber list grows.

PLAN

$20

per month

What's included

✓ Includes 12,000 emails
✓ Email marketing with included send allowance
✓ SMS channel available
✓ Web push available (platform feature set)

Limitations

• Email sends are limited to 12,000 per month at this tier.
• SMS is available but typically requires separate SMS credits/purchase depending on usage.

10,000 contacts

PLAN

$139

per month

What's included

✓ Includes Unlimited emails
✓ Email marketing with unlimited sends
✓ Automation workflows at higher list sizes
✓ List growth tools (forms/landing pages)

Limitations

• SMS is not available on this plan.
• Billing is tied to subscriber count, so adding contacts can move you into a higher-priced tier.

PLAN

$132

per month

What's included

✓ Includes 120,000 emails
✓ Higher-volume email sending allowance
✓ SMS channel available
✓ Reporting and automation capabilities

Limitations

• Email sends are limited to 120,000 per month at this tier.
• SMS usage depends on credits and approvals/terms in supported regions.

50,000 contacts

PLAN

$379

per month

What's included

✓ Includes Unlimited emails
✓ Unlimited email sending
✓ Automation at larger volumes
✓ Scales pricing by contacts

Limitations

• SMS is not available on this plan.
• At larger volumes, list hygiene and deliverability management become operational requirements (not included as a priced add-on).

PLAN

$413

per month

What's included

✓ Includes 600,000 emails
✓ Scaled email sending allowance
✓ SMS channel available
✓ Designed for higher list volumes

Limitations

• Email sends are limited to 600,000 per month at this tier.
• Higher-volume programs may require tighter deliverability practices and sender authentication management.

100,000 contacts

PLAN

$679

per month

What's included

✓ Includes Unlimited emails
✓ Unlimited email sending
✓ High-volume list support within public tiers
✓ Automation workflows

Limitations

• SMS is not available on this plan.
• High-volume sending may require additional deliverability/process controls beyond basic setup.

PLAN

$900

per month

What's included

✓ Includes 1,200,000 emails
✓ High-volume email allowance
✓ SMS channel available
✓ Supports larger-scale automation and reporting

Limitations

• Email sends are limited to 1,200,000 per month at this tier.
• Operational scaling (deliverability monitoring, compliance workflows) remains your responsibility.

500,000 contacts

PLAN

Contact sales

—

What's included

✓ Includes Unlimited emails
✓ Unlimited email sending
✓ Enterprise-scale contact volume
✓ Custom plan engagement

Limitations

• Requires contacting sales for custom pricing.
• Likely involves custom contract terms and onboarding requirements at this scale.

PLAN

Contact sales

—

What's included

✓ Includes custom emails
✓ Custom email sending terms
✓ SMS channel available
✓ Enterprise-scale account setup

Limitations

• Requires contacting sales for custom pricing.
• Custom contract terms and onboarding/approval processes may apply at this scale.

1,000,000 contacts

PLAN

Contact sales

—

What's included

✓ Includes Unlimited emails
✓ Unlimited email sending
✓ Very large list support
✓ Custom plan engagement

Limitations

• Requires contacting sales for custom pricing.
• May require throughput/compliance review and negotiated terms for sending at this scale.

PLAN

Contact sales

—

What's included

✓ Includes custom emails
✓ Custom email sending terms
✓ SMS channel available
✓ Enterprise-scale account setup

Limitations

• Requires contacting sales for custom pricing.
• May require compliance and throughput review before large-scale sending is enabled.

Customer Voices

Reviews & Ratings

See how ConvertKit vs Omnisend compare based on verified customer reviews (pros, cons, sentiment).

ConvertKit

4.6 / 5.0

Based on 237 reviews

Positive sentiment

Top Pros

• Super easy to use and get started
• Automations and sequences feel intuitive
• Tagging and segmentation are really powerful
• Free plan offers a lot for creators

Top Cons

• Email design and layouts feel limited
• Price feels high for smaller lists
• Harder to set up advanced workflows
• Contact imports can be frustrating

Omnisend

4.7 / 5.0

Based on 834 reviews

Positive sentiment

Top Pros

• Easy to build emails and automations
• Strong Shopify integration for ecommerce
• Analytics and reporting are clear
• Support is fast and helpful

Top Cons

• Editor feels restrictive for design control
• UI can feel cluttered or hard to navigate
• Some templates missing or not great
• Pricing climbs as contacts and SMS grow

Real-World Scenarios

How ConvertKit and Omnisend differ in day-to-day workflows

Seeing features in a table is useful, but daily work depends on how each platform behaves under real deadlines and handoffs. These scenarios translate capabilities into what teams actually do week to week.

#1 Welcome and onboarding cadence

ConvertKit: Teams set a recurring onboarding rhythm tied to subscriber actions, then make quick weekly tweaks without disrupting ongoing sends.

Omnisend: Teams run onboarding as part of a broader store lifecycle, adjusting timing around promotions and inventory changes in ongoing cycles.

#2 Segmentation and targeting adjustments

ConvertKit: Targeting evolves through ongoing list hygiene and tagging habits, with creators making frequent small adjustments as content and offers change.

Omnisend: Targeting is managed around shopping signals and campaign bursts, with marketers revisiting segments before major sends and seasonal pushes.

#3 Promotional campaign coordination

ConvertKit: Teams coordinate launches in planned bursts, relying on simple handoffs between content creation and sending, then iterating based on early engagement.

Omnisend: Teams coordinate promotions across store moments, aligning recurring sends with sale calendars and making fast adjustments when performance shifts mid-campaign.

#4 Multichannel follow-up workflow

ConvertKit: Follow-ups stay primarily in one workflow, with teams maintaining a steady weekly cadence and focusing on consistent message sequencing.

Omnisend: Follow-ups are coordinated across channels in recurring cycles, with teams balancing reminders and updates to match shopper timing and responsiveness.

#5 Revenue and performance visibility

ConvertKit: Performance checks tend to be weekly, using engagement signals to guide content and cadence tweaks rather than constant campaign-by-campaign optimization.

Omnisend: Performance is reviewed more frequently during bursts, with visibility tied to sales outcomes and quick adjustments to keep campaigns on track.

#6 Template and content production flow

ConvertKit: Content production centers on repeatable creator workflows, where teams update formats gradually and keep a consistent sending cadence.

Omnisend: Content production supports recurring merchandising needs, with teams refreshing assets often to match weekly promos and shifting product focus.

Need-to-know

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about comparing these platforms.

How much work is it to migrate from ConvertKit to Omnisend (or the other way around) without breaking automations?

Expect migration to be a rebuild, not a “clone,” because ConvertKit and Omnisend structure automations, forms, and events differently. You can typically import subscribers and tags/segments via CSV, but automations, templates, and tracking events usually need to be recreated and re-tested in the destination platform.

Plan for a parallel-run period where both platforms send to a small test segment, and reserve time to map fields (custom properties, consent flags, and engagement data) so segmentation behaves the same after the move.

What happens if we choose one platform and then need to switch back—can we reverse the decision cleanly?

You can switch away from ConvertKit or Omnisend, but you should assume some lock-in around workflow logic, templates, and historical engagement. Subscriber lists and basic profile fields can be exported and re-imported, while platform-specific automation setups typically won’t transfer back without rebuilding.

To make reversal easier, keep a field map, maintain consistent naming for tags/segments, and document key automations and trigger conditions before you turn anything off.

Do we still “own” our list, and can we export everything we need if we leave?

Both ConvertKit and Omnisend are designed around you controlling your audience data, but what you can export is not always identical to what you see in the UI. You can typically export subscribers and core fields (email, status, tags/segments, and selected custom properties), but some elements like certain engagement timelines, deliverability metrics, or automation history may not be available in a single export.

If you need proof of consent or specific metadata long-term, confirm those fields are stored as exportable properties and run a test export before committing.

How do ConvertKit and Omnisend handle GDPR and consent requirements when importing contacts or collecting leads?

For GDPR and related regional rules, the practical risk is mismatched consent records during imports and form capture. ConvertKit and Omnisend can store consent-related fields, but you’re responsible for ensuring imported contacts have a lawful basis and that consent timestamps/source are captured in fields you can audit.

If you operate in multiple regions, align your signup forms, double opt-in behavior (where required), and suppression rules with your legal requirements, then verify those settings before running campaigns.

Can we run multiple stores or brands in one account without mixing audiences and reporting?

Multi-brand setups can get messy when lists, sending domains, and attribution need separation. ConvertKit and Omnisend can support segmentation and multiple audiences to varying degrees, but you should validate whether you can isolate sender identities, forms, and automations per brand without cross-contaminating segments.

If you need strict separation (different teams, different domains, different compliance rules), confirm whether you’ll use one account with multiple audiences/brands or separate accounts, and how that impacts imports and reporting exports.

Are there API limits or integration constraints that could block our custom workflow or data sync?

Both ConvertKit and Omnisend offer APIs and prebuilt integrations, but edge cases show up when you rely on near-real-time syncing, high-volume events, or custom objects not represented in native fields. API rate limits, webhook availability, and which endpoints support create vs. update operations can determine whether your integration stays reliable.

Before committing, test your highest-frequency calls and confirm how each platform handles retries, duplicates, and idempotency so failed syncs don’t create bad data.

If we use SMS, what regional regulations or carrier rules could prevent messages from sending?

SMS availability and compliance depend on country, sender type, and carrier requirements, not just the platform. Omnisend and ConvertKit can support SMS workflows where available, but you still need compliant opt-in language, required disclosures, and correct sender registration where applicable.

Expect restrictions like prohibited regions, quiet hours, message content filtering, and carrier approval steps; confirm supported countries and any registration requirements before building SMS-first campaigns.

How do we protect deliverability if a segment goes bad or an automation starts spamming accidentally?

Deliverability risk usually comes from list quality, sudden volume spikes, and automation misfires. ConvertKit and Omnisend provide controls like suppression/exclusions, unsubscribe handling, and audience segmentation, but you should still implement internal safeguards (approval steps, send limits, and monitoring) to catch runaway sends.

Operationally, keep a suppression segment for risky addresses, watch complaint/unsubscribe rates after major changes, and pause automations immediately if you see abnormal spikes.

What should we expect from support when something breaks during a launch—can we get timely help?

Support responsiveness depends on your plan level, the channel you use (chat/email), and whether the issue is reproducible with clear steps. With ConvertKit or Omnisend, you’ll get faster outcomes by providing example contact IDs, campaign/automation names, timestamps, and screenshots so support can trace logs.

For launch-critical periods, plan for a self-serve rollback (pause automations, disable forms, revert templates) because even good support may not be instantaneous during peak times.

Will we hit scaling limits—like contact volume, event throughput, or automation complexity—as we grow?

Scaling constraints often appear as data volume (contacts and events), automation sprawl, and reporting performance rather than a single hard ceiling. ConvertKit and Omnisend can support growth, but you should expect the need for governance: standardized naming, pruning inactive segments, and periodic automation audits to keep operations manageable.

If you ingest large amounts of behavioral data, validate how each platform handles event retention, high-frequency triggers, and whether automation evaluation stays timely as your dataset grows.

Final Thoughts

Our Recommendation

This choice is about your operating model: how you plan, execute, and coordinate lifecycle messaging week to week.

Choose ConvertKit when your team runs an ongoing publishing cadence and needs a flexible rhythm for segmentation, experiments, and cross-channel coordination. It fits organizations that accept some process overhead to keep work moving across changing priorities.

Choose Omnisend when you need a tighter, repeatable workflow with clear handoffs and fewer moving parts. It suits lean teams that prioritize predictable execution, quick launches, and controlled coordination load.

Map the platform to how your team actually works, and the decision becomes straightforward. Pick ConvertKit for a dynamic, creator-led operating rhythm; pick Omnisend for streamlined, operations-first execution.

ConvertKit vs Omnisend

Creator-first broadcasting vs ecommerce lifecycle automation

At a Glance

Company Snapshot

ConvertKit

Omnisend

Why These Platforms Feel So Different

Key Differences

Creator vs ecommerce focus

Email-first vs multichannel-first

Subscriber tags vs customer events

Audience journeys vs commerce flows

General apps vs ecommerce stack

Engagement metrics vs revenue attribution

Feature-by-feature comparison

Feature Explanation: How These Capabilities Differ in Practice

#1 Automation & Flows

#2 Customer Segmentation

#3 Multichannel Messaging

#4 Ecommerce Integrations & Store Data

#5 Reporting & Revenue Attribution

Pricing & Plans

ConvertKit

Omnisend

Reviews & Ratings

How ConvertKit and Omnisend differ in day-to-day workflows

#1 Welcome and onboarding cadence

#2 Segmentation and targeting adjustments

#3 Promotional campaign coordination

#4 Multichannel follow-up workflow

#5 Revenue and performance visibility

#6 Template and content production flow

Which Platform Should You Choose?

ConvertKit

Omnisend

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Recommendation