Buttondown vs Ghost
Both are in Newsletter platforms. Here is how their plans, prices and features compare, taken from each vendor's own site.
The main differences
- Fees: Buttondown Priced by active subscribers (slider on the page); Ghost Custom pricing.
| Buttondown | Ghost | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free plan | from $15/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Not stated by the vendor |
| Free trial | Not stated by the vendor | Yes |
| Plans | Free ($0); Paid () | Starter ($15/mo annual); Publisher ($29/mo annual); Business ($199/mo annual); Custom () |
| Fees | Priced by active subscribers (slider on the page) | Custom pricing |
| Best for | Not stated | Not stated |
| Key features | Rich text or markdown editor; Send from a custom domain; Hosted newsletter archives; Tagging and segmentation (add-on) | Your own website and email newsletter; Free custom domain; Unlimited email sends and managed deliverability; Paid subscriptions, tips and premium tiers (Publisher and up) |
| Checked on | 2026-10-02 | 2026-10-02 |
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
Ghost
- No payment fees from Ghost on paid subscriptions
- Unlimited email sends on every plan
- Website and newsletter in one product
- Cancel or change plan at any time
Trade-offs
- Starter has no paid subscriptions
- Prices are for 1,000 members; Business covers 10,000
- Starter allows only 1 staff user