Buttondown vs Substack
Substack costs less at 6 of the 8 list sizes we priced.
At 5,000 subscribers
$29/mo
Basic plan at 5,000 subscribers.
Free planUp to 100
Paid newsletters$9/mo add-on
SubstackCheaper
$0/mo
Free plan at 5,000 subscribers.
Free planYes
Paid newsletters10% of revenue
At every list size
✓ marks the lower monthly price.
| Your newsletter | Buttondown | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 subscribers | $9 | $0 |
| 5,000 subscribers | $29 | $0 |
| 10,000 subscribers | $79 | $0 |
| 25,000 subscribers | $239 | $0 |
| 50,000 subscribers | $319 | $0 |
| 100,000 subscribers | $459 | $0 |
| 5,000 subscribers · 250 paying $8/mo | $38 | $200 |
| 25,000 subscribers · 1,500 paying $8/mo | $248 | $1,200 |
Free newsletter rows assume no paid subscribers. Paid rows add each platform's fee on paid revenue; card processing fees are excluded.
Which one to pick
Choose Buttondown if
Cheap, simple and privacy-first; features like paid subscriptions or analytics are $9/month add-ons.
Choose Substack if
Free at any list size; you pay only when you earn, but 10% of paid revenue becomes expensive as a paid newsletter grows.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Buttondown or Substack?
Substack costs less at 6 of the 8 list sizes we priced.
Does Buttondown have a free plan?
Yes. The Free plan costs $0: first 100 subscribers.
Does Substack have a free plan?
Yes. The Free plan costs $0: free to publish at any size; Substack keeps 10% of paid subscription revenue.