Buttondown vs MailerLite
Buttondown is a newsletter platform while MailerLite is a email marketing platform. MailerLite has been around since 2010, giving it a 7-year head start over Buttondown (founded 2017). Buttondown is the more affordable option at $9/mo — that's $1 less than MailerLite's $10/mo entry point. Both offer free plans to get started. MailerLite has the edge with A/B testing, a drag-and-drop editor. Both tools work well for bloggers.
Quick Verdict
Buttondown wins on price, deliverability.
MailerLite wins on rating, 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.
MailerLite
Email marketing tools for growing businesses
MailerLite is known for its simplicity, affordability, and clean design. It's one of the best options for small businesses and beginners who want professional email marketing without complexity. The built-in website builder and digital product sales features add extra value.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Buttondown | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Starting Price | $9/mo | $10/mo |
| Free Plan | 100 subscribers | 500 subscribers |
| Founded | 2017 | 2010 |
| Email Templates | 5 | 90 |
| Integrations | 30 | 140 |
| 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
MailerLite: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Excellent value for money — most affordable paid plans
- +Clean, intuitive interface perfect for beginners
- +Built-in website and landing page builder
- +Sell digital products directly
- +Strong drag-and-drop email editor
Cons
- −Free plan limited to 1,000 subscribers
- −No SMS marketing
- −Fewer integrations than competitors
- −Strict approval process for new accounts
- −Limited automation compared to ActiveCampaign
The Verdict
Buttondown and MailerLite 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, Buttondown reports 98% compared to 97% for MailerLite — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | Buttondown | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $9/mo | $10/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 98% | 97% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.4/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 30 | 140 |
| 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 MailerLite if…
- + You need A/B testing
- + You're a small businesses
- + You're a beginners