Bugaboo Butterfly 2 Plus vs. Butterfly 2: What Actually Changed?

The Bugaboo Butterfly 2 Plus just launched alongside the standard Butterfly 2, and if you're trying to figure out whether the upgrade is worth it, the honest answer is that it depends on what you actually need from the stroller. The core fold, the wheels, and the seat mechanics are the same across both. The differences sit in a smaller, more specific set of comfort and newborn features rather than a full redesign, which makes this a much easier comparison than most stroller shopping decisions turn out to be.

What Stayed the Same

Both strollers fold in one second into an ultra-compact package that Bugaboo markets as compatible with airplane overhead bins, and both are built around a spacious, ergonomic seat that reclines for naps and sits fully upright for sightseeing. The integrated footrest adjusts with one hand on both models. Wheel durability testing is identical on paper too: both are tested to withstand 4,000 km, or roughly 2,485 miles, of strolling before showing significant wear, which is Bugaboo's way of signaling that the wheels and suspension on either stroller should hold up through years of regular use rather than wearing thin after a couple of big trips.

Storage capacity is also unchanged. Both strollers carry an underseat basket rated for up to 17.6 lbs, plus a rear pocket for smaller essentials. If basket space was going to be your deciding factor, this comparison won't move the needle either way.

What's Different on the Butterfly 2 Plus

The single biggest addition is an integrated, tuck-away foot cover built into the seat, designed to cover a newborn's legs up to the waist without a separate bunting or footmuff. The standard Butterfly 2 doesn't include this, so newborn coverage there depends on layering with your own blankets or a separately purchased accessory.

Comfort details get an upgrade too. The Plus uses an extra-padded 5-point harness, compared to the standard padded harness on the Butterfly 2, and it adds a padded headrest extension on the seat inlay that the standard model doesn't have. That headrest support is aimed at longer stretches in the seat, the kind of nap that happens mid-flight or halfway through a long museum visit, rather than a quick trip around the block. On the sustainability side, Bugaboo states the Plus cuts its CO2 footprint by 37% compared to the very first Bugaboo Butterfly model. The standard Butterfly 2 is also described as having the lowest CO2 footprint in the Bugaboo lineup at the time of its own release, so both strollers carry a sustainability story, just measured at different points in the product line's history.

What the Foot Cover Actually Solves

It's worth spending a moment on the foot cover specifically, since it's the feature most likely to actually change someone's decision here. Without it, a newborn riding in either Butterfly model needs some form of added warmth and coverage for their legs, typically handled with a blanket tucked around them or a separately purchased footmuff. The Plus builds that coverage into the seat itself, tucking away when it's not needed rather than becoming extra bulk once your child is older and sitting upright most of the time. For families who know they'll be using the stroller from the newborn stage, that's a real, tangible difference rather than a marketing footnote. For families whose child is already past the newborn stage and just needs a compact stroller for the toddler years, this particular upgrade won't do much for you, since the foot cover is specifically built around infant use rather than general comfort at any age.

Comparing the Sustainability Claims

Both strollers lean on sustainability in their marketing, just measured against different baselines. The standard Butterfly 2 was described as having the lowest CO2 footprint in the Bugaboo lineup at the time of its own release. The Butterfly 2 Plus goes further, citing a 37% reduction compared to the original Bugaboo Butterfly, the very first model in this compact line. Bugaboo hasn't published a direct percentage comparing the Plus specifically to the standard Butterfly 2, so it's fair to say both strollers represent genuine sustainability improvements over their predecessors, without a precise number showing exactly how much better the Plus is than the Butterfly 2 you might already own. Both models use the same underlying approach of bio-based materials paired with recycled aluminum in the frame, so the material philosophy is consistent even where the specific numbers aren't directly comparable.

Should You Wait for the Plus or Buy the Butterfly 2 Now?

If you need a stroller for a trip in the next few weeks, the standard Butterfly 2 is sitting in stock and ready to go, while the Plus won't be available until August 20, 2026. If your timeline has more flexibility and newborn-specific coverage matters to your family, waiting for the Plus gets you that foot cover along with the extra padding on the harness and headrest. If you're due around the same time the Plus becomes available, it's worth asking our team about the specific pre-order window so you're not stuck deciding between an on-time delivery and the features you actually want. Neither choice is wrong, it really comes down to whether your calendar or your feature list is driving the decision.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Shop Both Strollers

Butterfly 2 Plus, Heritage Black

Shop the Butterfly 2 Plus in Heritage Black

Butterfly 2, Dusty Pink

Shop the Butterfly 2 in Dusty Pink

The Butterfly 2 Plus is also available in Deep Indigo, Desert Taupe, and Forest Green. The standard Butterfly 2 comes in Desert Taupe and Forest Green as well, so both strollers share several of the same color options. Deep Indigo is the one shade that's exclusive to the Plus in this lineup, so if that particular color is what you're after, the Plus is your only option regardless of which feature set you'd otherwise prefer.

Which One Fits Your Family?

• You have a newborn or a baby on the way: The Plus's integrated foot cover is the clearest reason to pay more, since it covers a real gap in the standard Butterfly 2's newborn setup.
• You need a stroller right now: The standard Butterfly 2 is in stock. The Plus is on pre-order until August 20, 2026.
• You want the softest possible harness and headrest: The Plus's extra-padded harness and headrest extension are built specifically for longer stretches in the seat.
• You already have a Butterfly 2 that works fine: The core fold, wheels, and seat mechanics are identical, so there's no functional reason to switch unless the newborn feature or extra padding matters to you.
• You want the newest color, Deep Indigo: That shade launched with the Plus and isn't available on the standard Butterfly 2 in this lineup.
• Budget is the deciding factor: The standard Butterfly 2 gives you the same fold, wheels, and basket capacity for less, without the newborn-specific extras.

The Short Version, One More Time

If you strip away the marketing language, this comparison comes down to three things: whether you're traveling with a newborn, how soon you need the stroller, and how much the extra padding and sustainability improvement matter to you personally. Everything else, the fold speed, the wheel durability, the basket capacity, carries over unchanged between the two. That's a smaller, more specific upgrade than a lot of "2.0" style product releases, which makes the decision itself fairly straightforward once you know what you're actually choosing between. It's also worth remembering that neither stroller is being discontinued in favor of the other, so there's no pressure to decide before one option disappears from the shelf.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the main difference between the Butterfly 2 Plus and the Butterfly 2?
The Plus adds an integrated, tuck-away foot cover for newborn use, an extra-padded harness, and a padded headrest extension. The fold, wheels, and basket capacity are the same on both.

Is the Butterfly 2 Plus heavier than the standard Butterfly 2?
The Plus is listed at 16.2 lbs. The standard Butterfly 2's current listing doesn't specify a stroller weight, so a direct comparison isn't possible from the published specs.

Do both strollers hold the same amount in the storage basket?
Yes. Both are rated for up to 17.6 lbs in the underseat basket, plus a rear pocket for smaller items.

Is the Butterfly 2 Plus available now?
It's currently on pre-order, with availability starting August 20, 2026. The standard Butterfly 2 is in stock now.

Does the standard Butterfly 2 have a newborn-specific feature like the Plus?
Not in the same way. The Plus's integrated foot cover is new to this generation, so newborn comfort on the standard Butterfly 2 comes from the seat's recline and your own added layers.

Are the wheels and suspension different between the two?
No. Both use the same larger wheels with full suspension, tested to the same 2,485-mile durability benchmark.

Is the Butterfly 2 Plus's sustainability claim better than the standard Butterfly 2's?
Both make sustainability claims measured against different points in the product line's history. Bugaboo hasn't published a direct percentage comparing the Plus specifically to the standard Butterfly 2.

Can I still buy the standard Butterfly 2 once the Plus is fully available?
Based on current listings, both strollers are active in MacroBaby's catalog, so the standard Butterfly 2 isn't being phased out alongside the Plus launch.

MacroBaby carries both the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 and the newly arriving Butterfly 2 Plus in our Orlando showroom, so you can compare the harness padding and foot cover in person before deciding which one is worth the difference for your family, and our team can walk you through pre-order timing if the Plus is the one you land on. Stop by or browse our full lightweight stroller collection online.