Ghost vs Buttondown
A detailed comparison of Ghost and Buttondown to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
💰 Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Ghost | Buttondown |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ Free (self-hosted) | ✓ Up to 100 subscribers |
| Lowest Paid | $9/mo (hosted) | $9/mo |
| Enterprise | $199/mo | Custom pricing |
⚡ Feature Comparison
| Feature | Ghost | Buttondown |
|---|---|---|
| Blog publishing | ✓ | — |
| Newsletter | ✓ | — |
| Memberships | ✓ | — |
| Payments | ✓ | — |
| SEO tools | ✓ | — |
| Custom themes | ✓ | — |
| API | ✓ | ✓ |
| Self-hosting | ✓ | — |
| Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom integrations | ✓ | — |
| Markdown support | — | ✓ |
| Automation | — | ✓ |
| Custom CSS | — | ✓ |
| Paid newsletters | — | ✓ |
| RSS to email | — | ✓ |
| Webhooks | — | ✓ |
| Custom domains | — | ✓ |
| Subscriber management | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✓ | ✗ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4.3 | ⭐ 4.3 |
Pros & Cons
Ghost
Pros
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Beautiful design
- ✓ No revenue share
- ✓ Self-hostable
Cons
- ✗ Requires technical skill
- ✗ Limited free themes
- ✗ Paid hosting can be expensive
- ✗ No visual builder
Buttondown
Pros
- ✓ Simple and clean
- ✓ Markdown support
- ✓ Indie-built
- ✓ Great API
Cons
- ✗ Limited free tier
- ✗ Basic templates
- ✗ Small team
- ✗ Limited design options
🏆 The Verdict
Choose Ghost if: You need professional publishers wanting ownership. Ghost excels with its open source and beautiful design.
Choose Buttondown if: You need technical writers and developers. Buttondown stands out with its simple and clean and markdown support.
Best free option: Both Ghost and Buttondown offer free tiers. Ghost offers "Free (self-hosted)" while Buttondown offers "Up to 100 subscribers".
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ghost better than Buttondown?
It depends on your needs. Ghost is better for professional publishers wanting ownership, while Buttondown is better for technical writers and developers. Both are excellent tools rated 4.3 and 4.3 respectively.
Which is cheaper, Ghost or Buttondown?
Ghost starts at $9/mo (hosted) while Buttondown starts at $9/mo. Both offer free tiers.
Can I switch from Ghost to Buttondown?
Most tools offer import/export features to help you migrate. We recommend trying Buttondown's free tier before fully committing to a switch.
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