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Head-to-head · Newsletter Publishing Platforms

Medium vs Buttondown

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score Medium #4 in Newsletter Publishing Platforms 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 2 features Visit Medium
Buttondown #5 in Newsletter Publishing Platforms 8.6/10 Free plan · paid from $9/mo Free plan✓ 0 of 2 features Visit Buttondown

Medium leads on 1 check, Buttondown on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreMedium · 8.7/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresMedium · 1 of 2

Medium scores higher on our rubric for newsletter publishing platforms: 8.7 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #5.

Medium offers custom domain; Buttondown doesn't publish it.

Medium is the better fit for writers seeking a publication and built-in readership. Buttondown is the better fit for lean email-first newsletters with integrations.

  • Medium fits best

    Writers seeking a publication and built-in readership

  • Buttondown fits best

    Lean email-first newsletters with integrations

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Medium 8.7/10 Visit ↗ Buttondown 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.6
Ranking #4 in Newsletter Publishing Platforms #5 in Newsletter Publishing Platforms
Best for Writers seeking a publication and built-in readership Lean email-first newsletters with integrations
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price Not published $9/mo
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web
Support Email, Tickets, Docs Email, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features Medium 1/2 · Buttondown 0/2
Paid subscriptions Not published Not published
Custom domain ✓ (best) Not published
Specs
Free audience limit Not published Not published
Publishing channels Not published Not published
Platform fee on paid subs Not published Not published
Our review
Pros
  • Publish scheduled stories and send publication newsletters.
  • Support multi-author publications with editors, writers, and submissions.
  • Use member-only stories, reader subscriptions, and built-in statistics.
  • Free tier includes an editor, custom sending domain, and hosted archives
  • Supports subscriber segmentation and multi-step email automations
  • Connects to 45 integrations and offers a REST API and CLI
Cons
  • Newsletter delivery sits within a broader story-publishing product.
  • Custom publication design is limited to layouts and sections.
  • Subscription tiers are described by benefits rather than clear prices here.
  • Paid pricing varies with active-subscriber count
  • Pricing assumes no more than one full-list email per day
  • Its emphasis is email publishing rather than a broad website platform
Our verdict

Medium combines story publishing with publication newsletters, making it a fit for writers who want articles and email delivery under one publication. Individuals, organizations, and editorial teams can publish stories, schedule posts,…

Read the review →

Buttondown is an email newsletter platform for creators, writers, and businesses who want to publish newsletters and manage subscribers in one service. Its editor supports both rich text and Markdown, and hosted archives give readers a…

Read the review →
  1. MediumNewsletter Publishing Platforms 8.7Free plan
  2. ButtondownNewsletter Publishing Platforms 8.6Free plan · paid from $9/mo

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Medium — where it wins

    • Publish scheduled stories and send publication newsletters.
    • Support multi-author publications with editors, writers, and submissions.
    • Use member-only stories, reader subscriptions, and built-in statistics.

    Where it doesn't

    • Newsletter delivery sits within a broader story-publishing product.
    • Custom publication design is limited to layouts and sections.
    • Subscription tiers are described by benefits rather than clear prices here.

  • Buttondown — where it wins

    • Free tier includes an editor, custom sending domain, and hosted archives
    • Supports subscriber segmentation and multi-step email automations
    • Connects to 45 integrations and offers a REST API and CLI

    Where it doesn't

    • Paid pricing varies with active-subscriber count
    • Pricing assumes no more than one full-list email per day
    • Its emphasis is email publishing rather than a broad website platform
  • Medium8.7/10 · Free plan

    A story-publishing home with newsletters, memberships, and a built-in readership.

    Visit MediumFull verdict →
  • Buttondown8.6/10 · Free plan · paid from $9/mo

    A focused email newsletter tool with archives, segmentation, automation, and integrations.

    Visit ButtondownFull verdict →

More comparisons

All newsletter publishing platforms comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update