Buttondown vs Flodesk
Both sit in newsletters & publishing. Here is how they differ on the things you can actually check.
On price: Buttondown starts $16 a month cheaper than Flodesk ($9 against $25, 64% less). Paying annually takes Flodesk to $19/mo (24% off). Where a price could not be read from the vendor's page it is marked indicative below.
Buttondown
buttondown.com
Markdown-first newsletters with a deliberately minimal interface, good API and a free tier for small lists.
Flodesk
flodesk.com
Template-led newsletters for creators and small brands who care how the email looks, priced by active subscriber count.
| Buttondown | Flodesk | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $9/mo | $25/mo |
| Entry plan | — | Lite |
| Paid annually | — | $19/mosave 24% |
| Price checked | not verified | 21 Sept 2026 |
| Pricing model | Free plan | Free trial |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Category | Newsletters & Publishing | Newsletters & Publishing |
| Around since | 2017 | — |
1 of these 2 prices were read from the vendor's own pricing page, most recently on 21 Sept 2026; the rest are indicative. Entry tier only — vendors change pricing without notice.
Buttondown vs Flodesk, answered
- Is Buttondown cheaper than Flodesk?
- Yes. Buttondown starts at $9 a month against Flodesk's $25, 64% less.
- Do Buttondown or Flodesk have a free plan?
- Buttondown publishes an ongoing free plan; Flodesk does not.
- What is the difference between Buttondown and Flodesk?
- Buttondown: Markdown-first newsletters with a deliberately minimal interface, good API and a free tier for small lists. Flodesk: Template-led newsletters for creators and small brands who care how the email looks, priced by active subscriber count.
- Which one is cheaper paid annually?
- Buttondown, at $9 a month against Flodesk's $19. Buttondown publishes no annual discount we could read, so it stays at $9, while Flodesk drops to $19 a month paid yearly (24% off).