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Buttondown vs Ghost
Both sit in newsletters & publishing. Here is how they differ on the things you can actually check.
On price: Buttondown starts $9 a month cheaper than Ghost ($9 against $18, 50% less). 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.
Free planNewsletters & Publishing
Visit ButtondownGhost
ghost.org
Independent publishing platform with newsletters, paid memberships and a proper CMS. Self-host free or use Ghost(Pro).
Newsletters & Publishing
Visit Ghost| Buttondown | Ghost | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $9/mo | $18/mo |
| Entry plan | — | Starter |
| Paid annually | — | $18/mo |
| 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 | 2013 |
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 Ghost, answered
- Is Buttondown cheaper than Ghost?
- Yes. Buttondown starts at $9 a month against Ghost's $18, 50% less. Ghost's figure is its annual rate — the vendor publishes no month-to-month price we could read.
- Do Buttondown or Ghost have a free plan?
- Buttondown publishes an ongoing free plan; Ghost does not.
- What is the difference between Buttondown and Ghost?
- Buttondown: Markdown-first newsletters with a deliberately minimal interface, good API and a free tier for small lists. Ghost: Independent publishing platform with newsletters, paid memberships and a proper CMS. Self-host free or use Ghost(Pro).
