Software · head to head
Microsoft Start vs Buttondown
Microsoft Start
Software
Your personalized news feed powered by Microsoft
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Microsoft Start microsoft Start (MSN) is a free, ad-supported consumer news aggregator with no subscription tier or enterprise procurement listing anywhere on its own site (msn.com).; Buttondown limited built-in monetization compared to Substack, which offers native payment processing
- They diverge on capability: Microsoft Start covers Personalized news, Buttondown covers Newsletter creation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Start and Buttondown actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Start | Buttondown |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | Unknown |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Windows | Web |
| Founded | 1975 | 2017 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Microsoft Start
- Personalized news
- Topic following
- Weather updates
- Sports scores
- Finance news
- Microsoft Edge
- Windows 11
- Microsoft Account
Only in Buttondown
- Newsletter creation
- Markdown support
- Subscriber management
- Analytics
- Paid subscriptions
- Zapier
- Stripe
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Start
- Daily newsnot Buttondown
- Topic trackingnot Buttondown
- Weather updatesnot Buttondown
- Quick informationnot Buttondown
Buttondown
- Newsletter publishingnot Microsoft Start
- Email marketingnot Microsoft Start
- Audience buildingnot Microsoft Start
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Microsoft Start
- Microsoft Start (MSN) is a free, ad-supported consumer news aggregator with no subscription tier or enterprise procurement listing anywhere on its own site (msn.com).
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Microsoft Start
Free- FreeFree
- Personalized news feed
- Topic following
- Cross-device sync
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
Which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft Start if
- You need personalized news.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows.
- You also want topic following.
Choose Buttondown if
- You need newsletter creation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want markdown support.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Start or Buttondown better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Start starts at Free and Buttondown at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Start or Buttondown?
- Microsoft Start starts at Free and Buttondown at Free.
- Does Microsoft Start or Buttondown run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Start runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows. Buttondown runs on Web.
- Can I use Microsoft Start for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Microsoft Start best used for?
- Microsoft Start is most often used for daily news, topic tracking, weather updates, quick information. Of those, daily news and topic tracking are not what Buttondown is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Start do that Buttondown cannot?
- Microsoft Start covers Personalized news, Topic following, Weather updates, Sports scores. Buttondown covers Newsletter creation, Markdown support, Subscriber management, Analytics. 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.
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.