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Migration Guide

Move from Buttondown to Bento with zero guesswork.

See how to export subscribers from Buttondown and import them into Bento, rebuild key automations, and protect deliverability while you switch platforms without losing readers.

easymigration1-2 hours3 core transfers ready
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Migration Flow

A practical migration plan from Buttondown to Bento

This guide follows a simple sequence: export cleanly, map data correctly, then validate before cutover. No generic product pitch, just the steps your team needs.

1Export from Buttondown
2Transfer and map in Bento
3Validate and launch

Stage 1

Export checklist

  1. 1Clean up your Buttondown list

    Log in to Buttondown, review your subscribers, and remove obvious test addresses or stale segments so you only migrate contacts you still care about.

  2. 2Export subscribers from Buttondown

    From the Subscribers view in Buttondown, choose the list or filter you want to export, then use the export option to generate a CSV file. Buttondown will either download the CSV directly or send you a download link by email depending on the export size.

  3. 3Collect tags and custom fields

    Review your Buttondown tags, segments, and custom fields, then note how you use them. This helps you recreate equivalent tags and properties in Bento before importing.

  4. 4Copy templates and recurring content

    Open your common newsletters and template snippets in Buttondown, then copy the HTML or markdown into new templates inside Bento.

  5. 5Rebuild drips and automations in Bento

    Take any Buttondown drips or scheduled sequences and recreate them as Bento automations using the visual workflow builder and event triggers.

Export Steps
Export checklistButtondown → Bento
1
Clean up your Buttondown list
2
Export subscribers from Buttondown
3
Collect tags and custom fields
0 of 6 steps complete
Data Transfer
Migration coverageButtondown → Bento
Subscribers
Pending
Tags
Pending
Custom Fields
Pending
Automations
Pending
Templates
Pending
Commerce Data
Pending
Transferring data from Buttondown...

Stage 2

Data portability map

Know in advance what imports directly and what may require a rebuild.

SubscribersFull transfer
TagsFull transfer
Custom fieldsFull transfer
AutomationsRebuild in Bento
TemplatesPartial transfer
Email historyNot portable
Commerce dataNot portable

Stage 3

Validate and cut over

Treat cutover like launch QA. Validate your highest-risk paths first, then move sending traffic.

Send a seed-list test from Bento and verify rendering, links, and tracking.
Compare list and segment counts against Buttondown before your first live send.
Rebuild high-value automations first, then test each trigger path before cutover.
Keep Buttondown running for a short overlap while you monitor deliverability in Bento.
Migration Process
White‑glove migrationETA: 24–48 hours
0%
Bento
Contacts & TagsPending
Custom FieldsPending
AutomationsPending
24-48 hour white-glove migration
Migration

Switching from Buttondown can be done in one focused session

We help you map lists, rebuild key automations, and validate deliverability before cutover so your first week on Bento is smooth.

Your current ESP
BentoBento
Progress0%
Contacts and attributesPending
Lists and segmentsPending
Templates and flowsPending
Sending setupPending
Migration complete! Ready to send.

Operator Notes

Buttondown to Bento language map

Keep this open while rebuilding flows. It maps terminology and highlights what to do first during migration QA.

Buttondown→Bento
  • SubscribersContacts

    In Buttondown you manage subscribers to a newsletter. In Bento the same people are contacts that can receive product, marketing, and transactional email.

  • BroadcastsCampaigns

    One off newsletters in Buttondown are broadcasts. In Bento they are campaigns that can target segments across all your data.

  • Drips or sequencesAutomations and flows

    Buttondown supports simple time based drips. In Bento you build automations and flows that react to events, behavior, and attributes.

  • TagsTags

    Both platforms use tags, but Bento lets you mix tags with events and properties for much richer segments.

  • Custom fieldsProperties

    Custom fields in Buttondown become properties on contacts and events in Bento so you can filter and personalize at a granular level.

  • Paid newslettersSubscriptions and billing events

    Buttondown can charge for access to a newsletter directly. In Bento you track billing events from your payment stack and trigger email around them.

  • RSS to emailBlog and content automations

    Buttondown can email new posts from a feed. In Bento you trigger automations from content and product activity across your stack.

Tips

  • Start with a small test segment from Buttondown and send a preview campaign from Bento to confirm tracking, links, and branding look right.
  • Use Bento tags and properties to recreate any key segments you relied on in Buttondown before turning on automations.
  • Map your paid or VIP subscribers clearly during import so you can keep benefits and messaging consistent.
  • Turn off Buttondown welcome emails and drips only after your Bento automations are live and tested.

Watchouts

  • Historical send and open history from Buttondown will not appear in Bento, so plan your re engagement rules based on fresh engagement once you move.
  • If you charge for access to your newsletter through Buttondown, make sure billing and access are handled correctly in your new stack before closing your old account.
  • Check that unsubscribed and bounced addresses from Buttondown are not re imported as active contacts.

Keep Exploring

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