Kartra is an all-in-one online business platform combining email marketing, sales funnels, membership sites, video hosting, and course delivery for coaches, course creators, and information marketers. The unsubscribe mechanism uses the {unsubscribe} merge tag auto-injected into every broadcast footer, and Kartra emits RFC 8058 headers automatically for authenticated domains. Consent is tracked at the Lead level across Kartra products with a single unsubscribe flag applying globally. This guide covers the tag, the unified Lead model, and how to verify the setup end to end.
Kartra unsubscribe link
| Tag syntax | {unsubscribe} |
| Placement | Auto-embedded in every broadcast footer |
| Scope | Kartra Lead-level opt-out across all products |
| Config path | My Communications > Broadcasts > Settings |
| RFC 8058 one-click | Yes, automatic for authenticated sending domains |
How to add the unsubscribe tag in Kartra
Place the merge tag exactly as shown below in the email template. Kartra replaces it at send time with a signed URL scoped to the recipient and campaign.
{unsubscribe}For custom HTML templates, wrap the tag in an anchor to render a proper hyperlink in the delivered email:
<a href="{unsubscribe}">Unsubscribe from this list</a>Auto-embedded in every broadcast footer
Yes, automatic for authenticated sending domains The recipient's mailbox provider (Gmail, Yahoo) uses the List-Unsubscribe-Post header to expose the native one-click button on the message. Requires domain authentication with DKIM and DMARC.
Kartra unifies leads across the Kartra product suite (email, funnels, membership, courses). A lead who unsubscribes from marketing broadcasts still receives course delivery emails, purchase confirmations, and membership access notifications since those are classified as transactional. Sales funnel emails (Autoresponders in Kartra terminology) respect the unsubscribe flag; only true transactional messages bypass it.
Testing your Kartra unsubscribe link
- Send a test message to a controlled Gmail address you own via the Kartra campaign preview action
- Click the footer unsubscribe link and confirm the opt-out on the landing page
- Check the subscriber or contact record: the status should be Unsubscribed within seconds
- Verify the RFC 8058 headers in Gmail: open the message, click three dots, then Show original. Look for
List-UnsubscribeandList-Unsubscribe-Post: List-Unsubscribe=One-Click
Want the full 222-platform reference?
See the pillar guide with the compliance landscape, the RFC 8058 deep dive, and the unsubscribe tag for every ESP: How to add an unsubscribe link: the complete 2026 guide →
How to add the Kartra unsubscribe link (step by step)
Kartra broadcasts include the unsubscribe link in the default footer, but custom HTML templates and Kartra Autoresponders (sequence emails) may require the tag inserted manually.
- Open your broadcast or Autoresponder email in the Kartra editor.
- Add or edit a text block in the footer where the unsubscribe link should appear.
- Insert the merge tag
{unsubscribe}. Kartra replaces it at send time with a signed URL scoped to the Kartra Lead. - Wrap it in an anchor:
<a href="{unsubscribe}">Unsubscribe</a>. - Add the physical postal address. Kartra reads it from My Account > Business info.
- Send a test to a seed address and verify the rendered link routes to the Kartra-hosted unsubscribe confirmation page.
Kartra Lead unified across products
Kartra unifies leads across the Kartra product suite (email broadcasts, sales funnels, membership sites, courses, calendars). A lead who unsubscribes from marketing broadcasts still receives course delivery emails, purchase confirmations, and membership access notifications since those are classified as transactional. Sales funnel emails (Autoresponders in Kartra terminology) respect the unsubscribe flag; only true transactional messages bypass it. This dual-track compliance model works well for creators running paid courses alongside free marketing content, since students receive their paid content regardless of marketing opt-out.
RFC 8058 one-click headers
Kartra added RFC 8058 one-click unsubscribe automatically ahead of the Google and Yahoo February 2024 requirements. The List-Unsubscribe and List-Unsubscribe-Post headers inject on every marketing broadcast from domains authenticated under My Account > Email settings > Sending authentication. SPF and DKIM records must be verified. Kartra provides an automated DNS-check wizard to help creators (typically non-technical users) configure the records correctly.
Autoresponder sequences and tag-based automations
Kartra Autoresponders (drip sequences) respect the Lead-level unsubscribe flag but continue running for the duration of the sequence when a contact unsubscribes mid-flight. This is different from ActiveCampaign or Klaviyo automation which exits contacts at the next send step. Configure Autoresponder step conditions to check the Lead subscription status if you need tighter enforcement. Tag-based automations that trigger new broadcasts also respect the unsubscribe flag, so a lead who opts out cannot re-enter a broadcast queue via tag automation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kartra unsubscribe tag?
The tag is {unsubscribe}. Kartra replaces it at send time with a signed URL scoped to the Kartra Lead. Use it inside an anchor: <a href="{unsubscribe}">Unsubscribe</a>.
Does a Kartra unsubscribe block course delivery emails?
No. Course delivery emails, purchase confirmations, and membership access notifications are classified as transactional and bypass the marketing unsubscribe flag. Only marketing broadcasts and Autoresponder sequences respect the flag.
Does Kartra support one-click unsubscribe for Gmail and Yahoo?
Yes, automatically for authenticated domains. Kartra injects List-Unsubscribe and List-Unsubscribe-Post headers on every marketing broadcast from domains verified under My Account > Email settings. Use the DNS-check wizard to validate SPF and DKIM configuration.
Do Autoresponders exit contacts on mid-flight unsubscribe?
Not by default. Autoresponders continue running for the duration of the sequence after unsubscribe, respecting the flag at each send step but not exiting the sequence. Configure step conditions to check subscription status for tighter enforcement.
Can I resubscribe a Kartra Lead who unsubscribed?
Not through the API without explicit consent capture. Kartra enforces permanent suppression on opt-outs. Reactivation requires the Lead to re-opt in through a Kartra opt-in form or preference center action.
About the Author
Alaa · LinkedIn
Email infrastructure specialist with 8+ years of hands-on experience in SMTP, deliverability, and email verification. I’ve configured and troubleshot mail systems across Postfix, Exchange, and cloud relays, managed IP reputation and warmup campaigns, and built verification pipelines processing millions of addresses. My work spans DNS authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, BIMI), bounce handling, blocklist monitoring, and compliance frameworks including CAN-SPAM and GDPR. I write every article on SMTPedia to give email professionals, developers, and marketers the accurate, RFC-grounded reference they need.
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