Newsletter pricing
Buttondown pricing: pay for active subscribers, not a feature tier
Buttondown's pricing is a single active-subscriber ladder. The first 100 active subscribers are free, then the monthly charge rises with the list while add-ons stay separate.
Joonas Rotko
Pricing checked 29 September 2026
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Pricing at a glance
| Plan | Monthly price | Annual / billing note | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 to 100 active subscribers | — | For a new newsletter. |
| Pay as you grow(best fit) | From $9/mo | From $7.50/mo annual | For a live newsletter whose cost grows with active readers. |
Prices and billing terms above reflect the stated check date. Confirm the checkout total, tax and renewal terms before buying.
Buddy's take
Buttondown suits a focused newsletter where a simple writing and sending workflow matters more than a broad marketing suite. Its value is clearest when you can price the active list honestly.
Find your cost
Choose a captured active subscribers band, plan and billing view. This calculator uses published price points only, so it does not guess at intermediate bands.
Your captured price point
Pay as you grow
Month-to-month price at the selected band. Confirm the live checkout total before purchase.
Check Buttondown pricing →Stored USD bands are for active subscribers only. Confirm current add-ons and exact intermediate bands on Buttondown.
Which plan fits your workload?
| If you need | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A small newsletter under 100 active readers | Free | The first 100 active subscribers are free. |
| A growing publication | Pay as you grow | The same plan increases with active subscribers, so use the calculator's captured bands for a realistic budget. |
Free
- ✓100 active subscribers
- ✓Editor and custom domain
- ✓Hosted archives
- ✓Basic newsletter workflow
Pay as you grow
- ✓Active-subscriber pricing
- ✓Annual discount stated
- ✓Custom domain and archives
- ✓Add-ons priced separately
Billing, extra costs and terms
The published subscription price is not necessarily the total cost. Check the terms that affect your actual workload, expansion and cancellation before you migrate.
Buttondown charges for active subscribers, not the total list. Clean inactive subscribers before assuming a price band.
The stored ladder starts at $9 monthly or $90 yearly, then lists $29 around 2,500 to 5,000 subscribers, $79 at 10,000 and $239 at 25,000.
Annual billing was recorded as roughly 18% lower. Confirm the annual invoice and renewal terms in checkout.
Optional features are à la carte, so the base subscription may not be the total operating cost.
What else could fit your budget?
Compare the job and cost model, not only the entry price
MailerLite
$12/mo · Comfort at 500 subscribers
A subscriber-priced email platform with landing pages and straightforward automation.
AWeber
$15/mo · Lite at 500 subscribers
A traditional email suite with a clear Lite and Plus feature split.
Moosend
$9/mo · Pro at 500 contacts
A lower-entry contact-based automation option for regular campaigns.
Full product context
Need the product trade-offs too?
The pricing page focuses on plan selection and cost. The review covers product fit, limitations, alternatives, AI capabilities and the buying risks that a plan table leaves out.
Read: Buttondown reviewFrequently asked questions
Buttondown is free for the first 100 active subscribers. Stored pricing starts at $9 monthly at the next band and rises with active subscribers.
Yes. The stored plan data lists $90 annually for the entry paid band, equivalent to $7.50 per month.
Its core price is based on active subscribers, with optional features sold separately.
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