FastSpring
FastSpring is a comprehensive merchant of record platform that handles global payments, sales tax compliance, and subscription management for software companies to accelerate international growth and reduce operational risk.
Kit
Kit is an email marketing platform designed for creators to help you grow your audience, automate your marketing workflows, and sell digital products through a simple, intuitive interface.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | FastSpring | Kit |
|---|---|---|
| Website | fastspring.com | kit.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 14 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2005 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Santa Barbara, USA | Boise, USA |
Overview
FastSpring
FastSpring acts as your merchant of record, taking over the complex burdens of global commerce so you can focus on building great software. Instead of managing multiple payment gateways and tax jurisdictions yourself, you get a single solution that handles everything from localized checkouts to VAT collection and remittance worldwide.
You can scale your software or SaaS business globally without worrying about compliance or financial liability in different countries. The platform manages your entire customer lifecycle, including trial conversions, recurring billing, and proactive churn prevention. It simplifies your back-office operations by consolidating global payments into a single, manageable system that grows with your revenue.
Kit
Kit, formerly known as ConvertKit, is an email marketing platform built specifically for professional creators like authors, podcasters, and coaches. You can build your audience from scratch using customizable landing pages and opt-in forms that integrate directly with your website. The platform focuses on simplicity, allowing you to manage your subscribers through a single list with tags and segments rather than messy multiple lists.
You can automate your entire marketing funnel using a visual automation builder that triggers emails based on subscriber actions. Whether you are sending a weekly newsletter or launching a complex product sequence, the interface stays out of your way so you can focus on writing. You can also sell digital products and subscriptions directly through the platform, making it a complete toolkit for turning your creative work into a full-time business.
Overview
FastSpring Features
- Merchant of Record Offload your global tax collection, remittance, and compliance liabilities to a partner that assumes all financial responsibility.
- Global Payment Methods Accept dozens of local currencies and popular payment methods like Pix, Alipay, and cards to increase your international conversion rates.
- Subscription Management Set up flexible billing models including monthly subscriptions, tiered pricing, and usage-based billing to match your product strategy.
- Localized Checkout Provide your customers with a checkout experience in their native language and currency based on their specific geographic location.
- Dunning Management Recover lost revenue automatically with smart payment retries and customizable email reminders for failed or expired credit cards.
- Interactive Quotes Empower your sales team to create and send digital quotes that allow B2B customers to complete purchases instantly.
- Fraud Protection Reduce your risk with built-in fraud detection that screens every transaction to prevent chargebacks before they happen.
- Developer APIs Connect your existing tech stack and automate data flow using robust APIs and webhooks designed for software developers.
Kit Features
- Visual Automations. Build powerful, automated marketing funnels by connecting events, conditions, and actions in a simple visual map.
- Creator Network. Grow your audience faster by partnering with other creators to recommend each other's newsletters automatically.
- Landing Page Builder. Create professional landing pages in minutes using beautiful templates to capture emails even without a website.
- Email Designer. Write clean, personal-looking emails that land in inboxes and feel like a 1-to-1 conversation with your fans.
- Subscriber Tagging. Organize your audience with tags and segments based on their interests so you always send relevant content.
- Commerce Tools. Sell digital downloads, newsletters, and coaching sessions directly to your subscribers with built-in payment processing.
Pricing Comparison
FastSpring Pricing
Kit Pricing
- Up to 1,000 subscribers
- Unlimited landing pages
- Unlimited forms
- Unlimited broadcasts
- Audience tagging and segmentation
- Sell digital products & subscriptions
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Visual automation builders
- Automated email sequences
- Third-party integrations
- One additional team member
- Live chat and email support
Pros & Cons
FastSpring
Pros
- Handles all global VAT and sales tax compliance automatically
- Reduces the need for a large internal accounting team
- Fast and helpful customer support for technical setup
- Easy to implement localized checkouts for international buyers
- Reliable payment processing with high authorization rates
Cons
- Transaction fees can be higher than standard gateways
- Dashboard interface feels dated compared to newer competitors
- Payout schedules can be restrictive for very small businesses
Kit
Pros
- Extremely intuitive visual automation builder
- High deliverability rates for text-based emails
- Tag-based system is more flexible than lists
- Creator Network provides excellent organic growth
- Clean interface focuses on writing and content
Cons
- Limited visual customization for email templates
- Higher price point than some basic competitors
- Reporting features can feel basic for enterprises