Buttondown vs Constant Contact
Buttondown is a newsletter platform while Constant Contact is a all-in-one marketing platform. Constant Contact has been around since 1995, giving it a 22-year head start over Buttondown (founded 2017). Buttondown is the more affordable option at $9/mo — that's $3 less than Constant Contact's $12/mo entry point. Buttondown offers a free plan (100 subscribers), while Constant Contact does not. Constant Contact has the edge with A/B testing, SMS marketing, a drag-and-drop editor.
Quick Verdict
Buttondown wins on price, deliverability, rating, free tier.
Constant Contact wins on integrations.
Best for most users: Buttondown (developers).
Buttondown
The easiest way to start and grow your newsletter
Buttondown is a minimalist newsletter platform beloved by developers and writers who prefer Markdown over drag-and-drop editors. It focuses on writing quality and simplicity, with excellent API support for custom integrations and automations.
Constant Contact
Small business marketing made easy
Constant Contact is one of the most established email marketing platforms, particularly strong for small businesses and nonprofits. Its event marketing capabilities and social media integration set it apart, though its automation features lag behind newer competitors.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Buttondown | Constant Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Starting Price | $9/mo | $12/mo |
| Free Plan | 100 subscribers | No free plan |
| Founded | 2017 | 1995 |
| Email Templates | 5 | 300 |
| Integrations | 30 | 300 |
| Deliverability Rate | 98% | 97% |
| Marketing Automation | ✓ | ✓ |
| A/B Testing | ✕ | ✓ |
| Landing Pages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segmentation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drag & Drop Editor | ✕ | ✓ |
| SMS Marketing | ✕ | ✓ |
| Ecommerce Features | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-Language | ✕ | ✕ |
| Web Push Notifications | ✕ | ✕ |
| Live Chat | ✕ | ✓ |
| Advanced Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
Buttondown: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Markdown-first writing experience
- +Excellent API for developers
- +Clean, minimal interface
- +Paid subscription support
- +Custom domain on free plan
Cons
- −No visual email editor
- −Minimal templates
- −No A/B testing
- −Small free plan (100 subscribers)
- −Limited integrations
Constant Contact: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Longest 60-day free trial in the industry
- +Excellent event marketing features
- +300+ templates and integrations
- +Strong brand recognition and trust
- +Social media posting included
Cons
- −No free plan
- −Automation is basic on lower tiers
- −Gets expensive with larger lists
- −Interface feels outdated in places
- −Limited advanced features
The Verdict
Buttondown edges ahead with a 4.4/5 rating compared to Constant Contact's 4.1/5. The gap comes mainly from value for money (4.8 vs 4) and deliverability (4.5 vs 3.9). On deliverability, Buttondown reports 98% compared to 97% for Constant Contact — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | Buttondown | Constant Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $9/mo | $12/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 98% | 97% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.4/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 30 | 300 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | No |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose Buttondown if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($9/mo)
- + You need a free plan to get started
- + You're a developers
- + You're a writers
Choose Constant Contact if…
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You need A/B testing
- + You're a small businesses
- + You're a nonprofits