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Substack vs Buttondown
Both sit in newsletters & publishing. Here is how they differ on the things you can actually check.
Substack
substack.com
Free to run; takes a percentage of paid subscriptions. Includes a discovery network, notes and podcast hosting.
Free planNewsletters & Publishing
Visit SubstackButtondown
buttondown.com
Markdown-first newsletters with a deliberately minimal interface, good API and a free tier for small lists.
Free planNewsletters & Publishing
Visit Buttondown| Substack | Buttondown | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | Custom / not published | $9/mo |
| Entry plan | — | — |
| Paid annually | — | — |
| Price checked | 28 Sept 2026 | not verified |
| Pricing model | Free | Free plan |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Category | Newsletters & Publishing | Newsletters & Publishing |
| Around since | 2017 | 2017 |
These entry prices are indicative — none could be read automatically from the vendors' own pricing pages. Confirm before buying.
Substack vs Buttondown, answered
- Do Substack or Buttondown have a free plan?
- Both do. Substack and Buttondown each publish an ongoing free tier rather than a time-limited trial.
- What is the difference between Substack and Buttondown?
- Substack: Free to run; takes a percentage of paid subscriptions. Includes a discovery network, notes and podcast hosting. Buttondown: Markdown-first newsletters with a deliberately minimal interface, good API and a free tier for small lists.
