Buttondown vs Kit (ConvertKit)
Buttondown is a newsletter platform while Kit (ConvertKit) is a email marketing platform. Kit (ConvertKit) has been around since 2013, giving it a 4-year head start over Buttondown (founded 2017). Buttondown is the more affordable option at $9/mo, which is $30 less than Kit (ConvertKit)'s $39/mo entry point. Both offer free plans to get started. Kit (ConvertKit) has the edge with A/B testing, landing pages, ecommerce integrations. Both tools work well for bloggers.
Quick Verdict
Buttondown wins on price.
Kit (ConvertKit) wins on deliverability, rating, integrations.
Best for most users: Kit (ConvertKit) (bloggers).
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.
Kit (ConvertKit)
Email marketing built for creators
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is purpose-built for online creators including bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers, and course creators. It emphasizes simplicity and deliverability over complex design features, making it ideal for text-based newsletters and automated sequences.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Buttondown | Kit (ConvertKit) |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Starting Price | $9/mo | $39/mo |
| Free Plan | 100 subscribers | 10,000 subscribers |
| Founded | 2017 | 2013 |
| Email Templates | 0 | 50 |
| Integrations | 45 | 90 |
| Deliverability Rate | 98% | 98.2% |
| Marketing Automation | Yes | Yes |
| A/B Testing | No | Yes |
| Landing Pages | No | Yes |
| Segmentation | Yes | Yes |
| Drag & Drop Editor | No | No |
| SMS Marketing | No | No |
| Ecommerce Features | No | Yes |
| API Access | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Language | No | No |
| Web Push Notifications | No | No |
| Live Chat | No | No |
| Advanced Analytics | No | Yes |
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
Kit (ConvertKit): Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Excellent creator ecosystem with built-in monetization
- + Intuitive visual automation builder
- + Generous free plan up to 10,000 subscribers
- + Strong deliverability rates
- + Creator-focused features like tip jars and paid newsletters
Cons
- − Limited email template design options
- − Gets expensive at higher subscriber counts
- − No native SMS; texting needs the third-party SlickText app
- − Basic reporting compared to competitors
- − No drag-and-drop email editor
The Verdict
Buttondown and Kit (ConvertKit) are closely matched — both score within 0.2 points of each other in our overall rating. Your decision should come down to specific needs rather than overall quality. On deliverability, Kit (ConvertKit) reports 98.2% compared to 98% for Buttondown — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | Buttondown | Kit (ConvertKit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $9/mo Winner | $39/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 98% | 98.2% Winner |
| Rating | 25% | 4.4/5 | 4.6/5 Winner |
| Integrations | 10% | 45 | 90 Winner |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | Yes |
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're a developers
- + You're a writers
Choose Kit (ConvertKit) if…
- + You need ecommerce integrations
- + You need built-in landing pages
- + You need A/B testing
- + You need advanced analytics