Buttondown alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data
Common reasons people leave Buttondown: many features are paid add-ons, which adds up, and no discovery network or ad marketplace. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Buttondown, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. beehiiv currently ranks first.
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Show all 6 alternativesThe best Buttondown alternative for…
The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.
Best Buttondown alternative for most people
beehiivMore growth features like referrals and ads, with a larger free tier.
Best Buttondown alternative for a free option
GhostAdds a full website and membership tiers, and can be self-hosted.
Best Buttondown alternative for a free plan you can upgrade
SubstackFree to use with a reader network, if you're fine giving up a share of paid revenue.
Best Buttondown alternative for open source
GhostAdds a full website and membership tiers, and can be self-hosted.
Best Buttondown alternative for self-hosting
GhostAdds a full website and membership tiers, and can be self-hosted.
Best Buttondown alternative for Mac
Micro.blogBlog plus email newsletter in one cheap subscription, with fediverse cross-posting.
Best Buttondown alternative for iPhone and Android
SubstackFree to use with a reader network, if you're fine giving up a share of paid revenue.
Best Buttondown alternative for working in the browser
CuratedFree up to 1,500 subscribers, with tools for collecting links into each issue.
Buttondown alternatives: common questions
What is the best alternative to Buttondown?
beehiiv ranks first right now. More growth features like referrals and ads, with a larger free tier. Ghost and Substack follow it in our ranking.
Is there a free alternative to Buttondown?
Yes. beehiiv (free plan + paid), Ghost (open source), Substack (free plan + paid) and Curated (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.
Is there an open-source alternative to Buttondown?
Yes: Ghost. Ghost can also be self-hosted.
Why do people switch from Buttondown?
The complaints we hear most: many features are paid add-ons, which adds up; no discovery network or ad marketplace; limited design control compared with Ghost or beehiiv.
How is this list ranked?
Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Buttondown, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.