Buttondown vs Curated
Both are in Newsletter platforms. Here is how their plans, prices and features compare, taken from each vendor's own site.
| Buttondown | Curated | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan · from $39/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Not stated by the vendor | Not stated by the vendor |
| Plans | Free ($0); Paid (Priced by active subscribers (slider on the page)) | Free ($0); 1,501 to 2,500 subscribers ($39/mo); 2,501 to 5,000 subscribers ($69/mo); 5,001 to 10,000 subscribers ($129/mo); Larger lists ($189 up to 15,000 subscribers, $299 up to 25,000, $399 up to 50,000; above that, contact sales) |
| Fees and pricing notes | Priced by active subscribers (slider on the page) | $189 up to 15,000 subscribers, $299 up to 25,000, $399 up to 50,000; above that, contact sales |
| Best for | Not stated | Creators |
| Key features | Rich text or markdown editor; Send from a custom domain; Hosted newsletter archives; Tagging and segmentation (add-on) | Save links with a bookmarklet, Chrome extension or secret email address; Import saved links into your next scheduled issue; Customizable email template with your own intro and commentary; Web version with searchable back issues, on your domain or Curated's |
| Checked on | 2026-10-02 | 2026-10-10 |
Prices change; confirm on the vendor's site before you buy. Full details and sources are on each tool's page.
Buttondown
- Free for the first 100 subscribers
- Charged by active subscribers, not total contacts
- Features are sold as add-ons, so you pay only for what you use
- 50% non-profit discount
Trade-offs
- Most features beyond the editor are paid add-ons
- Automations, multiple newsletters and custom-domain archives cost $29 a month each
- Prices assume at most one email a day to your whole list
Curated
- Free up to 1,500 subscribers with every feature, including sending
- Every feature is on every tier; price depends only on subscribers
- No long-term contracts
Trade-offs
- Up to 31 sends a month
- Costs rise with list size, and lists over 50,000 need a sales call
- Built for curated link newsletters rather than general email campaigns