Software · head to head
Buttondown vs Arc Publishing
Arc Publishing
Software
The enterprise publishing platform for news organizations
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Buttondown has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Buttondown limited built-in monetization compared to Substack, which offers native payment processing; Arc Publishing now sold as Arc XP, and arcpublishing.com redirects there
- They diverge on capability: Buttondown covers Newsletter creation, Arc Publishing covers Modular CMS.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Buttondown and Arc Publishing actually diverge.
| Attribute | Buttondown | Arc Publishing |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | Unknown | quote |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Mobile |
| Founded | 2017 | 2016 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Buttondown
- Newsletter creation
- Markdown support
- Subscriber management
- Analytics
- Paid subscriptions
- Zapier
- Webhooks
Only in Arc Publishing
- Modular CMS
- Content creation
- Publishing workflow
- Paywall management
- Subscription billing
- Analytics dashboard
- API framework
- Commerce integration
Both cover
- Stripe
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Buttondown
- Newsletter publishingnot Arc Publishing
- Email marketingnot Arc Publishing
- Audience buildingnot Arc Publishing
Arc Publishing
- Content management for news and digital publishersnot Buttondown
- Subscription and paywall managementnot Buttondown
- Video publishing alongside articlesnot Buttondown
- Multi-site delivery for broadcast and B2B publishersnot Buttondown
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Buttondown
- Limited built-in monetization compared to Substack, which offers native payment processing
- Fewer growth and discovery features compared to Beehiiv or Ghost
- Smaller community and ecosystem than larger newsletter platforms
- Basic automation compared to full-featured email marketing platforms
- No native mobile app for managing newsletters on the go
Arc Publishing
- Now sold as Arc XP, and arcpublishing.com redirects there
- Pricing is not published
- Built for media companies, so the editorial workflow assumptions do not suit a general business site
Pricing, plan by plan
Buttondown
Free- Free$undefined/mo
- Up to 100 subscribers
- Core newsletter features
- Hosted archives
- Paid$undefined/mo
- Pricing scales by subscriber count above 100
- Add-on features from $9/month
Arc Publishing
On request- Enterprise$undefined/custom
- Custom CMS
- Paywall integration
- Advanced analytics
Which should you pick?
Choose Buttondown if
- You need newsletter creation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want markdown support.
Choose Arc Publishing if
- You need modular cms.
- You work on Web, Mobile.
- You also want content creation.
Questions people ask
- Is Buttondown or Arc Publishing better?
- Neither clearly leads. Buttondown starts at Free and Arc Publishing at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Buttondown or Arc Publishing?
- Buttondown has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Buttondown and On request for Arc Publishing.
- Does Buttondown or Arc Publishing run on more platforms?
- Buttondown runs on Web. Arc Publishing runs on Web, Mobile.
- Can I use Buttondown for free?
- Yes. Buttondown has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Arc Publishing starts at On request.
- What is Buttondown best used for?
- Buttondown is most often used for newsletter publishing, email marketing, audience building. Of those, newsletter publishing and email marketing are not what Arc Publishing is typically brought in for.
- What can Buttondown do that Arc Publishing cannot?
- Buttondown covers Newsletter creation, Markdown support, Subscriber management, Analytics. Arc Publishing covers Modular CMS, Content creation, Publishing workflow, Paywall management. Both handle Stripe, Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Buttondown: How much does Buttondown cost?
Buttondown is free for your first 100 subscribers and includes core newsletter features. After that, pricing scales based on subscriber count. Add-on features start at $9/month each.
SourceButtondown: What editor options does Buttondown offer?
Buttondown supports Markdown, HTML, and WYSIWYG editors so you can compose newsletters in your preferred format.
SourceButtondown: Does Buttondown track analytics?
Analytics are disabled by default in Buttondown, prioritizing privacy. You can enable tracking if desired, and the platform is GDPR-compliant.
SourceButtondown: What is Buttondown's company structure?
Buttondown is an independent, self-funded, and profitable SaaS platform founded by Justin Duke with no plans to take external investment or change that model.