Overview
Buttondown is an indie-focused newsletter platform built by a solo developer, positioning itself as a simpler alternative to major players. Our analysis reveals creator-friendly terms with straightforward language, full subscriber portability, and no revenue share on paid plans, making it one of the better options for newsletter writers who value simplicity and ownership.
Key Concerns
- Small Team Risk: As a solo-developer operation, there's inherent risk around long-term platform stability and support responsiveness.
- Limited Features: Fewer built-in features compared to larger platforms may require third-party integrations with their own terms.
- Payment Processing via Stripe: Paid newsletters route through Stripe, adding another layer of terms and potential complications.
- Standard Arbitration: Disputes are handled through arbitration rather than courts.
Positive Aspects
- Full Content Ownership: You retain complete ownership of all your newsletter content with minimal licensing claims.
- Complete Subscriber Export: Full access to export your subscriber list with email addresses anytime.
- No Revenue Share: Paid plans include zero transaction fees or revenue share on paid subscriptions.
- Plain Language Terms: Terms of service written in clear, understandable language without excessive legalese.
- Privacy-Focused: Minimal data collection and no selling of subscriber data to third parties.
Data Collection Summary
Buttondown collects newsletter content, subscriber email addresses, engagement metrics (opens, clicks), and payment information for paid newsletters (via Stripe). The platform emphasizes minimal data collection and does not sell subscriber data or use it for advertising purposes.