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Email Marketing

Buttondown vs Mailgun: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of Buttondown and Mailgun. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: Both Buttondown and Mailgun offer free plans. Buttondown has 2 pricing tiers while Mailgun has 14.

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026

Buttondown vs Mailgun: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureButtondownMailgun
Starting PriceCustom pricing$15/mo
Number of Plans214
Free TierYesYes
Pricing Modelusage-basedusage-based
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Buttondown and Mailgun are both priced at Custom pricing, making them equally accessible Email Marketing tools. Together they offer 16 pricing plans with 15 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.

Both tools offer free plans, making them accessible for teams on a budget.

Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Email Marketing needs.

Pricing Plans
Buttondown
Buttondown
Try it free
Tier 1
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Rich text or markdown editor
  • Send from a custom domain
  • Hosted newsletter archives
  • Privacy-first
Start with Free
Enterprise: Send high-volume emails through the most reliable email API provider.
Custom pricing
Start with Enterprise: Send high-volume emails through the most reliable email API provider.
Tier 2
Paid Add-ons
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Tagging & segmentation (+$9/month)
  • Paid subscriptions (+$9/month)
  • Comments and surveys (+$9/month)
  • Analytics (+$9/month)
  • RSS-to-email support (+$9/month)
  • Email attachments (+$9/month)
  • Archives on a custom domain (+$29/month)
  • Multiple newsletters (+$29/month)
  • Automations (+$29/month)
  • Whitelabeling (+$79/month)
  • Teams (+$79/month)
Start with Paid Add-ons
Documentation: API resources to help you use Mailgun
Custom pricing
Start with Documentation: API resources to help you use Mailgun
Tier 3
Release Notes: Keep up with what's in the Mailgun platform.
Custom pricing
Start with Release Notes: Keep up with what's in the Mailgun platform.
Tier 4
2025 State of Email Deliverability Research Report
$2025/monthCheapest
Start with 2025 State of Email Deliverability Research Report
Tier 5
$0/mo
$0/monthCheapest
Start with $0/mo
Tier 6
100 emails/day included
$100/monthCheapest
Start with 100 emails/day included
Tier 7
$15/mo
$15/monthCheapest
Start with $15/mo
Tier 8
10,000 emails/mo included
$10000/monthCheapest
Start with 10,000 emails/mo included
Tier 9
Extra emails
Custom pricing
Start with Extra emails
Tier 10
$35/mo
$35/monthCheapest
Start with $35/mo
Tier 11
50,000 emails/mo included
$50000/monthCheapest
Start with 50,000 emails/mo included
Tier 12
Extra emails & validations
Custom pricing
Start with Extra emails & validations
Tier 13
$90/mo
$90/monthCheapest
Start with $90/mo
Tier 14
100,000 emails/mo included
$100000/monthCheapest
Start with 100,000 emails/mo included

Swipe to compare plans →

Buttondown

Minimal newsletter tool for writers and indie publishers

View all Buttondown plans

Mailgun

Transactional email API for developers with deliverability tools

View all Mailgun plans

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Buttondown if:

  • You prefer Buttondown's free tier features—Rich text or markdown editor, Send from a custom domain
  • You want more features built-in—Buttondown offers 15 additional features across its plans
  • You prioritize Buttondown's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)

Choose Mailgun if:

  • You prefer Mailgun's free tier features—features
  • You need 14 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
  • You prioritize Mailgun's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)

Both Buttondown and Mailgun offer free plans [1], eliminating cost barriers for evaluation. This means you can test both tools thoroughly with your actual workflows before any financial commitment. The free tiers differ in scope: Buttondown includes 4 features, while Mailgun includes multiple features. Evaluate which free tier matches your evaluation needs before deciding to upgrade. Your best approach is to activate both free trials and evaluate which tool's workflow, integrations, and user experience align better with your team's needs before committing to paid plans.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Buttondown vs Mailgun

How many pricing plans does Buttondown have vs Mailgun?
Buttondown offers 2 pricing plans, while Mailgun offers 14 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Buttondown or Mailgun offer a free plan?
Yes, both Buttondown and Mailgun offer free plans. Compare the feature limits of each free tier to see which better fits your use case before upgrading.
Does Buttondown or Mailgun offer custom enterprise pricing?
Yes, both Buttondown and Mailgun offer custom enterprise pricing tiers with quote-based pricing. Contact each vendor for a tailored quote.
How do Buttondown and Mailgun compare for Email Marketing?
Both Buttondown and Mailgun are Email Marketing tools. Buttondown offers 2 plans starting at Custom pricing, while Mailgun offers 14 plans starting at $15/mo. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your Email Marketing needs.

Sources

  1. Buttondown Official PricingVendor pricing page
  2. Mailgun Official PricingVendor pricing page

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