Help your emails look their best with the right type of email template!
Email templates in ConvertKit come in three flavors: starting point, classic, and HTML.
How do these template types work and which one should you use? That's what we'll cover in this article.
What is a starting point template?
Starting point templates are the latest type of email template available in ConvertKit. They are completely editable in the email editor (which you use to write your emails).
Check this out in action below, where we've created a new Broadcast that uses the "Platform" starting point template. We can click any section of the email to edit its content, or its visual styles from the right sidebar settings:
NOTE: The changes you make to a starting point template using the email editor apply to only the current email.
If you want to customize your starting point template's design for every email that uses it, customize the starting point template using the visual email template editor instead (more on this next).
How to create a custom starting point template
To create a custom starting point template, click Email Templates under the Send tab in the top navigation.
Click the + New email template button and select the starting point template you want to use as the base for your custom template.
You can then customize the template using the visual email template editor.
NOTE: Any changes you make to your starting point template in the visual email template editor will not be reflected in draft emails that had been set up to use the template before you made your changes.
Things to note about starting point templates
You can use the visual email template editor to add default content anywhere in your starting point template. This default content will appear when you load your template in the email editor.
You can add custom CSS to your starting point template by adding an HTML block to it.
Starting point templates cannot be set as your default email template at this time.
What is a classic template?
Classic templates are the previous version of our visual email templates before we launched starting point templates.
Unlike starting point templates, only the content in the default content section of classic templates is editable in the email editor.
Below, we have a Broadcast that uses the "Creator" classic template. The whitish box in the middle is the template's default content section and we can click it to edit its contents.
But notice how we can't customize the content outside of the default content section, no matter how much we try to click it:
You'll need to use the visual email template editor to customize these other parts of your classic template. These changes will then apply to all emails that use the same classic template (except those that have already been sent).
How to create a custom classic template
Similar to starting point templates, you can create a custom classic template using the visual email template editor. Just select a classic template as the base for your custom template.
Things to note about classic templates
You can add default content only within the default content section of classic templates.
You can add custom CSS to your classic template by adding an HTML block to it.
What is an HTML template?
HTML templates are email templates designed entirely using custom HTML and CSS in the HTML template editor.
While the email editor lets you add content to emails that use an HTML template, you won't be able to edit the template's code (and thus the email's design).
HTML templates are best for creators who want to custom-code their own templates using HTML and CSS.
How to create a custom HTML template
You can use the HTML template editor to code a custom HTML template. Learn more about creating a custom HTML template here.
Which type of email template should you use?
Wherever possible, we recommend using a starting point template as you can flexibly customize it from the email editor.
This is convenient for adjusting your email's content and design while you write it, without having to edit the template in the visual email template editor separately.
Of course, you're still welcome to use a classic template if there's a certain classic template you really like. Just be aware of the limitations of classic templates as mentioned above.
And if you're a confident coder and want to code your own email template, feel free to go wild with an HTML template!
Summary of the three email template types
| Starting point template | Classic template | HTML template |
Editable from the visual email template editor | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
Editable from the HTML email template editor | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
Editable from the email editor | ✔️ (All content and design) | ✔️ (Only the content in the default content section) | ❌ (Your email's content is editable, but you'll need to use the HTML email template editor to edit the email's design and code) |
Can be used in Broadcasts | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Can be used in Sequences | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Can you set it as your default email template? | ❌ (You'll be able to do so in the future!) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Can you add custom CSS? | ✔️ (By adding an HTML block) | ✔️ (By adding an HTML block) | ✔️ |
When should you use it? | If you want complete flexibility over your email's content and design as you write it | If there's a certain classic template you like | If you're comfortable coding your own template using HTML and CSS |