Buttondown features: tier-by-tier list (2026)
Buttondown is a small-team newsletter platform with a free tier up to 100 subscribers and à la carte add-ons starting at $9 per month for power features.
Core capabilities (37)
Paid Subscriptions
Charge for your newsletter however you'd like. Ask readers to name their own price. Set up a free tier. The best part? We won't charge you extra for paid subscribers, so you'll keep all of the revenue that you make.
Source · core
Automations
Our automations help you turbocharge your relationships at scale. Build custom sequences for new subscribers. Create flows for tagged subscribers. Survey customers to personalize their content. Control exactly when & how each email is sent.
Source · core automation
Concierge migration
Overwhelmed by the prospect of switching mailing list providers? We'll migrate your list to Buttondown for free, no matter how large it is. Yes, really. No, there isn't a catch. Learn more → Integrations.
Source · core integrations
Are you a nerd? So are we
Connect Buttondown to other apps. Tweak your email flows however you need. Write how you like to write. Markdown. Our editor supports native Markdown for you to write emails faster & with fewer errors. New to Markdown? It takes only a few minutes to learn.
Source · core
Sponsorships
Sell ad slots in your newsletter. We handle the booking, you handle the writing. Set the prices, the format, and the dates. Sponsors browse your available slots, pay through Stripe, and submit their content themselves — you approve it before it goes out.
Source · core
Send from your own email
Post to Buttondown from your personal or business email account. Want to send your newsletter straight from your email client? You can – while maintaining a consistent, professional appearance.
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Unlimited newsletters
Create as many distinct newsletters as you'd like – you're only charged for your total subscribers. Expand your reach with multiple newsletters tailored to different audiences or topics.
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Unlimited contributors
Invite your whole team. Get help managing your lists with unlimited contributor accounts. Collaborate effortlessly with your team.
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And on and on
Wondering where a feature is that we might be missing? Reach out. We're here to serve you, and we use your feedback to build our roadmap. Buttondown is the last email platform you’ll switch to.
Source · core
Prefer the command line
Prefer the command line? Try our CLI tool to manage your newsletter from your terminal.
Source · core
Email is great
Email is great. Replies to your emails are great, too. But what if you want your subscribers to read what each other has written, and talk to one another?
Source · core
Buttondown s built-in comments interface gives your favorite
Buttondown s built-in comments interface gives your favorite readers a place to talk with each other and stay connected with you.
Source · core
Unlike other email providers, comments are a first-party
Unlike other email providers, comments are a first-party feature of Buttondown, and you can build automations & integrations for them just like you would any other part of your newsletter.
Source · core automation integrations
Buttondown s surveys boast response rates 200% higher
Buttondown s surveys boast response rates 200% higher than the industry average. Why? Because they re easy to answer, and they re sent from a trusted source.
Source · core
Set the prices, the format, and the dates
Set the prices, the format, and the dates. Sponsors browse your available slots, pay through Stripe, and submit their content themselves — you approve it before it goes out.
Source · core
Buttondown doesn t take a cut: you keep
Buttondown doesn t take a cut: you keep 100% of every sponsorship (minus Stripe s processing fee).
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Enhance your newsletters by attaching files, documents, or
Enhance your newsletters by attaching files, documents, or any other relevant content.
Source · core
Want to send your newsletter straight from your email client
Want to send your newsletter straight from your email client? You can – while maintaining a consistent, professional appearance.
Source · core
Expand your reach with multiple newsletters tailored to
Expand your reach with multiple newsletters tailored to different audiences or topics.
Source · core
Many of our competitors have this functionality, and
Many of our competitors have this functionality, and people have come to expect it. But many still don t.
Source · core
Hide specific emails if you need
Hide specific emails if you need. Set up a paywall for your paid content. And if you don t want them for whatever reason, you can turn them off, and just stick to sending email.
Source · core
Collaborate effortlessly with your team
Collaborate effortlessly with your team. Add as many contributors as you need to help manage, create, and send newsletters, fostering a truly collaborative environment for your content creation.
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Do you have any discounts for non-profits
Are you registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit (or your country's equivalent)? You can get a 50% discount on your plan.
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Is there a limit to the number of emails I can send
All of these prices assume that you're sending at most one email a day to your entire subscriber base.
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Who runs Buttondown
We're a small team of engineers, writers, and designers who are passionate about making emails better, fully remote and have been since our founding in 2017.
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Do you charge for active subscribers, or all contacts
We charge for active subscribers — you only pay for the people who are actively receiving your emails.
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I have more questions
Great! Send us an email at [email protected] ; we're happy to help. It's been massively simpler & easier running things with Buttondown. Stuff gets queued easier, deliverability is higher, bugs are fewer.
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Creating your account
When you're ready to roll, register for a Buttondown account . Buttondown is entirely based in your browser. There's nothing to install, so registration is quick and easy.
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Choose your username
Your username is part of your public Buttondown URL, so pick something unique and memorable. If you have existing subscribers that you're migrating to Buttondown, you may want to use the username they're familiar with.
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Create a password
Use lots of numbers, letters, and symbols. If you use a password manager that has a password generating feature, that's a great option.
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Confirm your account
After you create an account, Buttondown sends a confirmation email to the email address you entered. Check your email for an email from "[email protected]" and click the link to verify your account. Still waiting for the confirmation email?
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What to do next
Now that your account is set up, here are the recommended next steps: Configure your newsletter's branding -- set up your newsletter's name, description, colors, and logo.
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Welcome to Buttondown, the easiest way to start
Welcome to Buttondown, the easiest way to start and grow your newsletter. This guide will walk you through creating your account and getting everything set up.
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Buttondown is entirely based in your browser
Buttondown is entirely based in your browser. There s nothing to install, so registration is quick and easy.
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Later, if you decide to send your newsletter
Later, if you decide to send your newsletter from the Buttondown server, your subscribers won t see the email address that you registered with.
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After you ve chosen a username, entered your
After you ve chosen a username, entered your email, and created a password, click "Create an account."
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If you re coming from another newsletter platform
If you re coming from another newsletter platform, check out our migration guides for step-by-step help.
Source · core
Integrations (1)
Need to embed videos, GIFs, songs, tweets posts
Need to embed videos, GIFs, songs, tweets posts, or anything else? We support over 45 integrations .
Source · integrations
Collaboration (4)
Comments
Let people comment on your posts – or not. Email is great. Replies to your emails are great, too. But what if you want your subscribers to read what each other has written, and talk to one another?
Source · collab
Attachments
Include anything with your emails. Enhance your newsletters by attaching files, documents, or any other relevant content. Share resources, exclusive content, or supplementary materials with ease.
Source · collab
Archives
Post your newsletters to the web. Share them far & wide. Yes, we mostly send email . But sometimes you'll want to share a permalink of your content, or have people browse your newsletter's archives.
Source · collab
Yes, we mostly send email
Yes, we mostly send email . But sometimes you ll want to share a permalink of your content, or have people browse your newsletter s archives.
Source · collab
Reporting and analytics (5)
Want to know what your audience thinks
Want to know what your audience thinks? Our surveys allow you to gather valuable feedback, conduct polls, and gain insights to tailor your content and improve your newsletter.
Source · reporting
Subscribers answer straight in their browser, which improves
Subscribers answer straight in their browser, which improves completion rates. You ll get the results in your inbox and your analytics pages.
Source · reporting
Absolutely nothing for your first 100 subscribers
That price includes: Rich text or markdown editor Send from a custom domain Hosted newsletter archives Privacy-first Add-ons: Tagging & segmentation +$ 9 /month Paid subscriptions +$ 9 /month Comments and surveys +$ 9 /month Analytics +$ 9 /month RSS-to-email
Source · reporting
I need to talk to someone
Need help with your setup? Reach out to us at [email protected] . Want to report a bug, request a new feature, or just generally give feedback? Find us on GitHub . Need to contact support?
Source · reporting
Want to report a bug, request a new
Want to report a bug, request a new feature, or just generally give feedback? Find us on GitHub .
Source · reporting
Security and compliance (2)
Analytics and privacy
Buttondown is GDPR-compliant and then some. We don't collect any data about you or your subscribers by default. Want a closer look into subscriber behavior & email performance? It's available in one click, giving you the right insights at a glance.
Source · security
You can set specific permissions for each contributor
You can set specific permissions for each contributor, so you can control what they can and can t do.
Source · security permissions
Administration (2)
Add your email address
Enter your go-to email address for receiving notifications, account updates, and billing information. Later, if you decide to send your newsletter from the Buttondown server, your subscribers won't see the email address that you registered with.
Source · admin
Alternatively, you can send your newsletter from a
Alternatively, you can send your newsletter from a custom domain . This is optional -- there s nothing wrong with using a common email domain like Gmail or Protonmail.
Source · admin
See Buttondown pricing in detail
This page lists what Buttondown does. For per-seat math, tier comparison, and the full hidden-fee list, see the Buttondown pricing breakdown.
Closest alternatives
Other newsletter platform tools buyers shortlist when they evaluate Buttondown.
Sources
Features evolve. Confirm directly with the vendor before purchase decisions. This list was last refreshed on 2026-05-27.
Frequently asked questions
What features does Buttondown include?
This page tracks 51 verified Buttondown features across 6 categories, sourced from Buttondown's official site.
Which tier do I need for Buttondown?
Buttondown's feature availability varies by plan. Compare the public Buttondown tiers, calculator, and hidden fees on the Buttondown pricing page.
How does Buttondown compare on features to alternatives?
Buyers commonly compare Buttondown against Substack, beehiiv, Kit. Each alternative's feature page is linked below where we cover it.