My Email Marketing Services Series continues with a comparison between the veteran AWeber (founded 1998) and a new (founded 2013) but quite popular company: ConvertKit.
Before starting to gather the information for this email marketing review, my plan was to write a long, comprehensive article that shows all pros and cons, and helps the readers decide what service is the most appropriate for their requirements and budget.
At the end of the day, several pieces of information I wasn’t previously aware of forced me to change the plan. Keep reading and soon you’ll understand the issue.
1. Free Trial
2. Pricing
2.1. Monthly Recurring Prices
2.2. Discounts for Registered Non-Profit Organizations & Students
3. Inappropriate Use of the Services
In order to get an account with any of the companies, you have to agree with their terms:
- “Service Agreement” and “Data Processing Terms” for AWeber
- “Terms of Service Agreement” and “Privacy Policy” for ConvertKit
3.1. AWeber’s Terms
AWeber’s terms are quite permissive. Prohibited content/actions: spam, the import or in any way use of purchased leads, pornography and sex-related merchandising.
3.2. ConvertKit’s Terms
ConvertKit’s terms are even more permissive. No important restrictions included in the terms. But…
Surprise! These terms you agreed with are significantly modified by a certain help article (I wonder what FTC or a jury would say about such an approach!) titled The Approval Process and Inappropriate Use:
We reserve the right to close your account at any time for any reason, including but not limited to Inappropriate Use.
The following is considered “inappropriate use” of a ConvertKit account:
- […]
- industries, niches, content or actions that we perceive to negatively impact our deliverability
- poor performance due to your list collection methods or low quality content
Important: If you are found in violation of the above terms, we will immediately close your account and we will not issue a refund.
4. The Sudden Death of This Email Marketing Comparison
Each one of these half-hidden ConvertKit terms from 3.2 above are deal breakers.
That’s why I decided not to publish the rest of the comparison.
If you can have your account closed at any time for any reason, without even getting a refund for the money you paid for a service that isn’t provided, does it matter how great a service is?
From the very beginning I was curious to find out why ConvertKit prices are higher in comparison with the prices of other well-established competitors. I didn’t find out! So please don’t misunderstand the previous paragraph. It doesn’t suggest that the service is awesome and if you’re courageous enough it may be worth risking and joining it.
To Your Email Marketing Success!
Adrian Jock
P.S. Message addressed to ConvertKit management:
- Punishing someone for breaking undisclosed rules (‘industries, niches, content or actions that we perceive‘, closing accounts at any time for any reason) is a practice that belongs to the past and is very far from the values of the modern world. Think about this!
- Disclosure: This article reveals my opinions and isn’t a revenge for having my CK account closed. I’ve never been a ConvertKit user.