Software · head to head
Arc Publishing vs ConvertKit
Arc Publishing
Software
The enterprise publishing platform for news organizations
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
ConvertKit
Software
The creator platform for digital professionals
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Arc Publishing now sold as Arc XP, and arcpublishing.com redirects there; ConvertKit the free Newsletter plan allows only one basic visual automation, so sequences beyond a single flow require paying
- They diverge on capability: Arc Publishing covers Modular CMS, ConvertKit covers Email marketing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Arc Publishing and ConvertKit actually diverge.
| Attribute | Arc Publishing | ConvertKit |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | quote | subscription |
| Platforms | Web, Mobile | Web |
| Founded | 2016 | 2013 |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Arc Publishing
- Modular CMS
- Content creation
- Publishing workflow
- Paywall management
- Subscription billing
- Analytics dashboard
- API framework
- Commerce integration
Only in ConvertKit
- Email marketing
- Landing pages
- Subscriber tagging
- Automation workflows
- Digital product sales
- Broadcast emails
- Subscriber segments
- Email templates
Both cover
- Stripe
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Arc Publishing
- Content management for news and digital publishersnot ConvertKit
- Subscription and paywall managementnot ConvertKit
- Video publishing alongside articlesnot ConvertKit
- Multi-site delivery for broadcast and B2B publishersnot ConvertKit
ConvertKit
- Sending newsletters and email sequences to an audiencenot Arc Publishing
- Selling paid subscriptions and digital products to a mailing listnot Arc Publishing
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Arc Publishing
- Now sold as Arc XP, and arcpublishing.com redirects there
- Pricing is not published
- Built for media companies, so the editorial workflow assumptions do not suit a general business site
ConvertKit
- The free Newsletter plan allows only one basic visual automation, so sequences beyond a single flow require paying
- The free plan is a single user, and the Creator plan at $33 a month allows two
- Subscriber signals, engagement analytics and paid recommendations are Pro only, at $66 a month
- A/B testing is capped at 2 subject lines below Pro, which allows 5
- Paid pricing is banded by subscriber count, so the published figures apply only at the smallest band
Pricing, plan by plan
Arc Publishing
On request- Enterprise$undefined/custom
- Custom CMS
- Paywall integration
- Advanced analytics
ConvertKit
On request- Creator$29/month
- Up to 10K subscribers
- Email campaigns
- Landing pages
- Creator Pro$79/month
- Unlimited subscribers
- Advanced automation
- Digital products
Which should you pick?
Choose Arc Publishing if
- You need modular cms.
- You work on Web, Mobile.
- You also want content creation.
Questions people ask
- Is Arc Publishing or ConvertKit better?
- Neither clearly leads. Arc Publishing starts at On request and ConvertKit at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Arc Publishing or ConvertKit?
- Arc Publishing starts at On request and ConvertKit at On request.
- Does Arc Publishing or ConvertKit run on more platforms?
- Arc Publishing runs on Web, Mobile. ConvertKit runs on Web.
- What is Arc Publishing best used for?
- Arc Publishing is most often used for content management for news and digital publishers, subscription and paywall management, video publishing alongside articles, multi-site delivery for broadcast and b2b publishers. Of those, content management for news and digital publishers and subscription and paywall management are not what ConvertKit is typically brought in for.
- What can Arc Publishing do that ConvertKit cannot?
- Arc Publishing covers Modular CMS, Content creation, Publishing workflow, Paywall management. ConvertKit covers Email marketing, Landing pages, Subscriber tagging, Automation workflows. Both handle Stripe, Web support.