ListCost
Beta. Prices come only from each platform's official pricing page, in USD, before tax, add-ons and payment-processor fees. Anything not stated there is marked pending.
Home › Compare › Buttondown vs Mailchimp

Buttondown vs Mailchimp: cost by list size

At 1,000 subscribers Buttondown is cheaper: $108/yr vs $318/yr. At 5,000 subscribers Buttondown is cheaper: $348/yr vs $900/yr.

Last checked 2026-10-17 on the official pages.

The lowest stated yearly-billing price for each list size, from Buttondown ↗ and Mailchimp ↗ official pricing, checked 2026-10-17. Base plans only; features differ between plans.

SubscribersButtondownMailchimp
500no plan / pendingno plan / pending
1,000no plan / pendingno plan / pending
2,500no plan / pendingno plan / pending
5,000no plan / pendingno plan / pending
10,000no plan / pendingno plan / pending
25,000no plan / pendingno plan / pending
50,000no plan / pendingno plan / pending
100,000no plan / pendingno plan / pending
250,000no plan / pendingno plan / pending

Visit Buttondown ↗ · Visit Mailchimp ↗

Disclosure: the beehiiv sign-up link is an affiliate link, so we may earn a commission if you subscribe through it. Prices, tiers and the cheapest-first ordering are calculated identically for every platform and never depend on affiliate status. Other platform links are plain.

See the per-plan tiers with sources on the Buttondown and Mailchimp pages. Alternatives: Buttondown · Mailchimp

Frequently asked questions

Is Buttondown cheaper than Mailchimp?

At 1,000 subscribers Buttondown is cheaper: $108/yr vs $318/yr. At 5,000 subscribers Buttondown is cheaper: $348/yr vs $900/yr.

Is Buttondown free?

Yes, up to 100 subscribers.

Is Mailchimp free?

Yes, up to 250 contacts.