Buttondown vs GetResponse
Buttondown is a newsletter platform while GetResponse is a all-in-one marketing platform. GetResponse has been around since 1998, giving it a 19-year head start over Buttondown (founded 2017). Buttondown is the more affordable option at $9/mo, which is $10 less than GetResponse's $19/mo entry point. Both offer free plans to get started. GetResponse has the edge with A/B testing, landing pages, SMS marketing.
Quick Verdict
Buttondown wins on price, rating.
GetResponse wins on deliverability, 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.
GetResponse
All-in-one marketing platform
GetResponse is a full-featured marketing platform that goes beyond email marketing to include webinars, landing pages, sales funnels, and marketing automation. Founded in 1998, it's one of the most established players with a strong track record for deliverability.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Buttondown | GetResponse |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Starting Price | $9/mo | $19/mo |
| Free Plan | 100 subscribers | 500 contacts, 2,500 emails/month |
| Founded | 2017 | 1998 |
| Email Templates | 0 | 200 |
| Integrations | 45 | 170 |
| Deliverability Rate | 98% | 99% |
| Marketing Automation | Yes | Yes |
| A/B Testing | No | Yes |
| Landing Pages | No | Yes |
| Segmentation | Yes | Yes |
| Drag & Drop Editor | No | Yes |
| SMS Marketing | No | Yes |
| Ecommerce Features | No | Yes |
| API Access | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Language | No | Yes |
| Web Push Notifications | No | Yes |
| Live Chat | No | Yes |
| 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
GetResponse: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + All-in-one platform with webinars, landing pages, and funnels
- + Excellent automation builder with visual workflows
- + Built-in webinar hosting
- + Strong deliverability (99%+)
- + Competitive pricing for feature set
Cons
- − Free plan limited to 500 subscribers
- − Interface can feel overwhelming for beginners
- − Webinar quality not comparable to dedicated platforms
- − Customer support response times vary
- − Some features locked behind higher tiers
The Verdict
Buttondown and GetResponse are closely matched — both score within 0.1 points of each other in our overall rating. Your decision should come down to specific needs rather than overall quality. On deliverability, GetResponse reports 99% compared to 98% for Buttondown — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | Buttondown | GetResponse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $9/mo Winner | $19/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 98% | 99% Winner |
| Rating | 25% | 4.4/5 Winner | 4.3/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 45 | 170 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 GetResponse if…
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You need ecommerce integrations
- + You need built-in landing pages
- + You need A/B testing