Flatlay image of cannabis email marketing designs for Klaviyo, Flodesk, ConvertKit and more.

What are the Best Email Marketing Platforms for Cannabis Brands? (Klaviyo vs FloDesk vs ConvertKit)

Written on March 24, 2025. Posted in Marketing, Tech.

If you’ve been in business for a minute, you already know there’s no shortage of tools promising higher open rates, better automation and seamless integration.

Maybe you’ve tested a few and hit a couple of limitations, or you’re just getting started and can’t decide which platform is best for your biz.

The truth is that the best email marketing platform depends on your business model, goals and how much you actually like using the tool.

We’ve narrowed it down to three of the top contenders: Klaviyo, Flodesk and ConvertKit (now rebranded as Kit). Each platform has their own pros, cons and sweet spots — especially if you’re working in the cannabis, CBD or hemp space, where marketing restrictions are a little more…let’s just say annoying.

Whether you’re scaling an ecommerce brand, building a community or creating intricate automations, this breakdown will help you choose the best email platform for your unique needs.

Quick Takeaway:

Klaviyo could be the best email marketing platform for ecommerce and cannabis brands, but it comes with a higher price tag.
Flodesk offers gorgeous email design templates and flat-rate pricing — great for creatives, but may be limited for data-heavy brands and ecommerce.
ConvertKit (Kit) is built for content creators and offers solid tools for audience building, but with limitations around visuals and cannabis content.

P.S. This article contains affiliate links, meaning we may make a small commission if you sign up using our links. Don’t trip, though. We use these email platforms for our biz and would never recommend something we don’t love and trust.

Klaviyo

First up, Klaviyo. Klaviyo positions itself as “The only CRM built for B2C”, and honestly — it delivers. It’s the go-to for scaling businesses that want deep customer insights, dialed-in automation and serious customizability. It’s powerful, data-driven and built to play nice with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce.

Klaviyo Pros:

Advanced Segmentation & ROI Based Reporting: Klaviyo has a wealth of customization options, helping businesses base their email campaigns on specific audiences. This includes thorough list segmentation, unlimited A/B testing and detailed revenue analytics.
Ecommerce Integration & Automation: Klaviyo was designed for ecommerce, so it easily integrates with platforms like Shopify, Woocommerce and many others, enabling features like automated abandoned cart reminders, product recommendations, and flows triggered by purchase history or engagement.

Build Custom Templates: Klaviyo has tons of pre-built templates and also allows you to create your own custom templates, making it easy to create branded email campaigns.

Cannabis Friendliness: Klaviyo is by far the most welcoming to CBD and cannabis content so long as you are operating legally. There are even case studies on CBD brands readily available on their site.

Klaviyo Cons:

Pricey as You Scale: While Klaviyo provides a free plan for up to 250 subscribers and 500 monthly email sends, costs can increase as your list grows. For example, managing 5,000 contacts can cost around $110 per month. And that’s not including SMS or MMS credits.
Learning Curve: It’s not unmanageable, but the platform’s extensive features come with a bit of a learning curve. If you want to start using Klaviyo but you’re hesitant, they do offer onboarding calls and free training.

Flodesk

Next up, we have Flodesk. Flodesk is perfect for brands who are big on visuals or looking for an affordable option to scale their email marketing efforts without worrying about tiered pricing. It’s sleek, easy to use and there’s only one flat fee. It might not have all the bells and whistles as some of the other email marketing platforms, but it’s a favorite among many brands — especially if you’re just starting out.

Flodesk Pros:

Aesthetically Pleasing Templates: Flodesk stands out with its visually appealing templates, making it easy to create stunning emails without necessarily having design skills.
Flat-Rate Pricing: At $38 per month for unlimited subscribers and emails, Flodesk’s pricing is straightforward and can be highly cost-effective for growing businesses.
Intuitive Interface: Flodesk is super intuitive, clean and easy to navigate. Unlike some of the more complex email platforms, FloDesk is designed for people who don’t want to spend hours figuring out how to send an email that looks good.

Cannabis Friendly: FloDesk is generally cannabis friendly, but with limitations. As long as you’re following local laws and not using their native checkout feature, you’re in the clear. It’s best for brands focused on education, lifestyle and visual content — less ideal if you’re focused on ecommerce.

Flodesk Cons:

Limited Ecommerce Features: Flodesk does offer Zapier integration with ecommerce platforms like Shopify and Woocommerce, but it is limited to their own checkout system.
Limited Analytics: Flodesk lacks some advanced features like A/B testing, click maps and engagement metrics, which might not be ideal for large scale Direct to Consumer (DTC) brands.
Basic Automation: The platform’s automation capabilities are pretty simple, which could be a drawback for evolved businesses that have a more modern, complex workflow.

Kit (Previously ConverKit)

Last, but certainly not least, Kit — previously known as ConvertKit. This platform is all about creatives and creators — building deep connections as part of the customer journey.

Kit Pros:

Creator-Focused Features: Right off the bat, it’s obvious that Kit caters to creators. They provide tools like landing pages, customizable forms, and a Creator Network for collaboration.
Flexible Pricing: With a free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers and tiered pricing after, Kit is scalable as your audience grows.

Kit Cons:

Design Limitations: Compared to Flodesk and Klaviyo, Kit’s email designer options are more utilitarian, which might not appeal to design-oriented businesses. Rather than drag and drop design, Kit uses an email editor that is more similar to a plain text editor.
Limited Analytics: Kit does offer essential metrics like open and click rates, but their analytics lack depth, limiting insights for data-driven decision making. There are also limitations to which features you can use A/B testing. Pro users do get slightly more analytics, but they are still lacking compared to Klaviyo.
Not 100% Cannabis Friendly: Kit allows educational content around CBD and cannabis, but no product claims or direct sales. Whether or not you’re approved is evaluated on an account-by-account basis, which can be a bit risky for cannabis or hemp brands looking for consistency.

What to Consider When Choosing an Email Marketing Platform

At the end of the day, the best email platform depends only on your business model. If you’re a creator selling digital products, courses and newsletters, Kit might be best for you. But if you’re running a big time ecommerce brand or a cannabis brand, you might want something more robust like Klaviyo. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing the right email platform for your biz:

Budget: Evaluate the platform’s pricing structure in relation to your subscriber count and expected growth.
Features: Think about the features your business needs, like automation, segmentation, design flexibility and ecommerce integrations.
Ease of Use: Take a look at the platform’s user interface and the learning curve required to use its features.
Scalability: Make sure the platform can accommodate your business’s growth without leading to extra costs (or even potentially limiting you).
Cannabis Friendliness: For those of you in the plant medicine space, checking a platform’s rules and prohibited topics could save you from losing your email list in the long run.

There’s an Email Marketing Platform for Every Business

Choosing the best email marketing platform for your small business is crucial for growing your list, nurturing your community and driving revenue — especially if you’re in a niche or regulated industry like cannabis. The key is to balance your business model, goals, budget and industry limitations to find the platform that supports your vision, not stifles it.

Are you ready to grow and nurture your cannabis business email list? Learn more about our cannabis email marketing service and hit us up with your questions! Let’s be buds.

Note: Pricing and features change. Please refer to the respective platforms’ official websites for the most current information!