buttons.cm

What It Is

Buttons.cm is an online “bulletproof email buttons” generator provided by Campaign Monitor, designed for HTML email use cases. It uses progressively enhanced VML and CSS to generate email button code, with a focus on solving inconsistent support for standard HTML/CSS across email clients such as Outlook. After entering the button text, URL, width and height, colors, border, border radius, and background image, users can copy the generated code snippet directly.

Core Features and Ecosystem

The generated code includes both VML conditional comments for Outlook and styled <a> tags for regular email clients, making it more robust than a pure CSS button. It also supports background images, though the page clearly notes that background images may be blocked by some clients, and that Outlook does not support nested VML, so bulletproof buttons cannot be placed directly on top of bulletproof background images. The page includes compatibility notes for clients such as Android Mail, Gmail, Apple Mail, Outlook, and Yahoo, and links to Campaign Monitor resources including its CSS guide, Responsive Email Design, and Coding your Emails. The documentation is quite practical for common email development pain points.

Pricing and Ease of Use

The page does not mention any fees or login requirements, and based on how it is presented, it appears to be a free online tool. Usability is strong: the form fields are straightforward, and the generated code can be dropped into an email template immediately. However, it is not a complete email framework, and there is no mention of an API, SDK, or open-source availability. If you need responsive buttons, developers must add their own classes, IDs, and media queries.

Pros, Cons, and Best Fit

Its strengths are focus, speed, and a strong awareness of email client compatibility, making it especially suitable for email marketers and front-end/EDM developers who need to generate CTA buttons. Its limitations are its narrow scope: complex layouts still require manual coding and cross-client testing. In Campaign Monitor’s template editor, button attributes such as the URL and text also cannot be turned into editable fields.

China Access and Alternatives

The page does not provide information about access from mainland China, payment, or service availability, so this remains unknown. If you need a more complete email development workflow, you can combine it with tools such as MJML, Foundation for Emails, Litmus, Email on Acid, or Can I Email for template building and compatibility testing.