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Software · head to head

Buttondown vs Readwise Reader

Buttondown logo

Buttondown

Software

The easiest way to start and grow your newsletter

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Readwise Reader logo

Readwise Reader

Software

The read-it-later app for power readers

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Readwise Reader there is no free tier, only a 30 day trial
  • They diverge on capability: Buttondown covers Newsletter creation, Readwise Reader covers Read-it-later.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Buttondown and Readwise Reader actually diverge.

Attributes where Buttondown and Readwise Reader differ
AttributeButtondownReadwise Reader
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebIos, Android, Web

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2017).

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
  • Stripe
  • Twitter

Only in Readwise Reader

  • Read-it-later
  • RSS aggregation
  • Newsletter inbox
  • PDF support
  • Highlighting
  • Notion
  • Obsidian
  • Roam Research

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Buttondown

  • Newsletter publishingnot Readwise Reader
  • Email marketingnot Readwise Reader
  • Audience buildingnot Readwise Reader

Readwise Reader

  • Saving and reading articles, PDFs and newsletters in one placenot Buttondown
  • Reviewing highlights from books and articles over timenot 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

Readwise Reader

  • There is no free tier, only a 30 day trial
  • Reader is bundled into the full plan rather than sold separately, so it cannot be had at the cheaper Lite price
  • The Lite plan at $5.59 a month billed annually is daily email review only, without the web app or tagging
  • Paying monthly rather than annually raises the full plan from $9.99 to $12.99

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

Readwise Reader

On request
  • Reader Lite$8.99/month
    • Unlimited articles
    • Highlighting
    • RSS feeds
  • Full$12.99/month
    • Everything in Lite
    • Readwise integration
    • Spaced repetition

Which should you pick?

Choose Buttondown if

  • You need newsletter creation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want markdown support.
Buttondown review

Choose Readwise Reader if

  • You need read-it-later.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want rss aggregation.
Readwise Reader review

Questions people ask

Is Buttondown or Readwise Reader better?
Neither clearly leads. Buttondown starts at Free and Readwise Reader at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Buttondown or Readwise Reader?
Buttondown has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Buttondown and On request for Readwise Reader.
Does Buttondown or Readwise Reader run on more platforms?
Buttondown runs on Web. Readwise Reader runs on Ios, Android, Web.
Can I use Buttondown for free?
Yes. Buttondown has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Readwise Reader 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 Readwise Reader is typically brought in for.
What can Buttondown do that Readwise Reader cannot?
Buttondown covers Newsletter creation, Markdown support, Subscriber management, Analytics. Readwise Reader covers Read-it-later, RSS aggregation, Newsletter inbox, PDF support. Both handle 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.

Source
Buttondown: What editor options does Buttondown offer?

Buttondown supports Markdown, HTML, and WYSIWYG editors so you can compose newsletters in your preferred format.

Source
Buttondown: 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.

Source
Buttondown: 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.

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