Buttondown vs MailerLite
Pricing
Buttondown: Free up to 100 subs, from $9/mo
MailerLite: Free up to 1k subs, paid from $9/mo
Description
Buttondown: Minimal newsletter tool for people who just want to write in markdown and hit send
MailerLite: Simple email marketing at great prices
Pros
- Markdown-based editor, no dragging boxes around
- $9/month for up to 1,000 subscribers is the cheapest paid newsletter tool
- No bloated features: it does newsletters and that is it
- 5x cheaper than Mailchimp for comparable features
- Free tier covers 1,000 subscribers with full email builder
- Drag-and-drop editor that actually produces good-looking emails
Cons
- Very basic automation: no complex email sequences
- Only 100 subscribers on free tier; Substack and Beehiiv offer more
- Minimal templates: your emails look plain (which some people prefer)
- Automation is simpler than Kit (formerly ConvertKit) or Customer.io
- Fewer native integrations: may need Zapier for your stack
Details
Buttondown is the newsletter tool for people who think Kit (formerly ConvertKit) has too many features. Write in markdown, send to your list, done. No drag-and-drop editors, no complex automation flows, no features you will never use.
Built and run solo by Justin Duke. The $9/month starting price is the cheapest in the newsletter space. The tradeoff is obvious: if you want referral programs, A/B testing, or complex automation, you need a different tool. If you just want to write and send a newsletter without the tooling getting in the way, Buttondown is refreshingly simple.
MailerLite is email marketing without the bloat or the price tag. Founded in Lithuania by Ignas Rubezius, bootstrapped until acquired for $90M in 2022. 5x cheaper than competitors because remote team + Lithuanian base. Great for creators who want simple and affordable.
Verified
