Comparison
CocoMail vs Buttondown
Both CocoMail and Buttondown focus on simplicity. The main differences: pricing model, domain setup, and target audience.
Last updated April 2026
Feature comparison
| Feature | CocoMail | Buttondown |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | 100 subscribers | |
| Pricing model | Per send | Per subscriber |
| Unlimited contacts | ||
| Deliverability | ||
| Custom domain sending | Standard+ | |
| Dedicated sender reputation | ||
| DKIM/SPF/DMARC auto-config | Manual | |
| Developer | ||
| REST API | ||
| Webhook integrations | ||
| Editor | ||
| Markdown support | ||
| Rich text editor | ||
| Design | ||
| Newsletter templates | Limited | |
| Monetization | ||
| Paid subscriptions | ||
| Features | ||
| Tag-based segments | Standard+ | |
| Open & click tracking | Creator+ | |
| Email automation | Standard+ | |
| RSS-to-email | ||
Pricing at a glance
CocoMail
Starts at $5/mo (2,500 emails). Creator plan at $15/mo (25,000 emails). Pro at $39/mo (100,000 emails). Unlimited contacts on every plan. Per-send pricing.
Buttondown
Free plan (100 subscribers). Basic at $9/mo (1,000 subscribers). Standard at $29/mo (5,000 subscribers). Professional at $79/mo (10,000 subscribers). Per-subscriber pricing.
CocoMail
Buttondown
The verdict
Buttondown and CocoMail share a philosophy: newsletters should be simple. The choice comes down to specifics. If you write in Markdown, want RSS-to-email, or need paid subscriptions, Buttondown is the better fit. If you want custom domain sending from day one, auto-configured authentication, unlimited contacts, and lower costs at scale, CocoMail is the better deal. Both are good tools for people who don't want bloated marketing suites.
Related reading
Your next newsletter doesn't need a campaign.
Write it. Send it. Get back to the work your readers came for.
Start sending