Buttondown
Minimalist Markdown-first newsletter tool with Stripe-powered paid subscriptions and no platform revenue cut.
Visit Buttondown → Get your launch kit →Fees
from $9/mo
Payout
Instant
Category
Newsletter
Countries
Stripe-supported
About Buttondown
Buttondown is a lean, developer-friendly newsletter platform built around Markdown, clean archives, and an API-first design. The free tier covers up to 100 subscribers and paid plans start at $9/month. Paid subscriptions run through Stripe with only standard card processing fees; Buttondown takes no cut of revenue.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No revenue share on paid subscriptions
- Native Markdown editor and clean API
- Flat subscriber-based pricing is predictable
- Multiple newsletters on one account
Cons
- No built-in sponsor or ad marketplace
- Limited design and templating options
- Small team means slower feature pace
Full breakdown
- Platform fee
- from $9/mo · monthly subscription
- Payout speed
- instant
- Minimum payout
- $0
- Countries supported
- Stripe-supported
- Email list export
- Full access
- Custom domain
- Yes
- Community features
- Basic comments, surveys, subscriber tags
Common questions
How much does Buttondown charge creators?
Buttondown charges from $9/mo (monthly subscription). Unlike platforms that take a percentage of creator revenue, Buttondown runs on a monthly subscription model. Minimum payout threshold is $0.
How fast does Buttondown pay out?
Buttondown pays creators on a instant cadence. Funds arrive immediately with no minimum threshold to wait for.
Can I export my subscriber list from Buttondown?
Yes — Buttondown gives creators full access to their subscriber email list, which you can export and take with you if you leave the platform.
What can creators earn from on Buttondown?
Buttondown supports subs. Fees apply as noted above.
Which countries does Buttondown support?
Buttondown pays out in: Stripe-supported. If your country isn't on the supported list, you typically can't receive payouts from Buttondown directly.
What are the best Buttondown alternatives?
The closest peers to Buttondown are Substack, Ghost, Kit. See the Compare sidebar on this page for side-by-side breakdowns.