Travel strollers have exploded on the market in the last couple years! More and more families are wanting a smaller more compact stroller that will be easy to use on trips, as well as effortless to pull out of their car for quick everyday errands. The best ones are going to be lightweight without skimping on quality and maneuverability! 

Two travel strollers that are often compared due to similarities, including fold and larger backrest height, are the Bugaboo Butterfly and Joolz Aer. While they are both carry-on-size strollers with easy one-handed folds, they do offer some differences.  

Here we’ll review the differences, pros and cons between the Bugaboo Butterfly and the Joolz Aer. 

Bugaboo Butterfly

The Butterfly features the same quality and maneuverability that Bugaboo strollers are known for—just in a smaller package. The Butterfly is only 16.1 pounds and has a roomy 22” backrest height. 

Compact enough to be carried on your shoulder or stored in most overhead bins, the Butterfly offers features like an adjustable leg rest, spring-loaded basket, no-rethread harness with quick-button release, high-quality toxic-free machine washable fabrics, and a large ventilated sun canopy. 

The Butterfly is newborn-ready when you attach an infant car seat and, with the highest backrest of any travel stroller, it comfortably fits an older toddler up to 50 pounds.

 

Joolz Aer

The Joolz Aer has been around for a few years, but has recently gained more attention, and for good reason! It comes in at only 13.4 pounds and folds effortlessly with one hand. 

The Aer comes with an elastic carrying strap, making carrying it on your shoulder easy and comfortable. It is small enough to fit in most overhead bins, and offers features such as a tall backrest (21”), a convenient seat back pocket for your phone or small necessities, easy to access one touch brake, and high-quality materials free of toxic chemicals. 

The Aer is newborn-ready when you attach an infant car seat and comfortably fits an older toddler up to 50 pounds.

 

Bugaboo Butterfly vs. Joolz Aer Price

At $429, the Bugaboo Butterfly costs $20 less than the Joolz Aer at $449.  

Both strollers come with rain covers, however, the Butterfly also has the included leg rest. The Aer leg rest costs an additional $40, and is something you add onto the stroller, not built in like the Butterfly. The Aer does come with a nylon cover travel bag - though it does not provide any padding. There is currently no travel bag available for the Butterfly.

Complete Stroller Price

• Bugaboo Butterfly: $429 (includes stroller frame with seat fabrics, rain cover, and leg rest)
• Joolz Aer: $449 (includes stroller fully assembled, rain cover, and travel bag)

Bugaboo Butterfly vs. Joolz Aer Weight and Dimensions

The Bugaboo Butterfly and Joolz Aer are almost identical in size, with both meeting carry-on requirements for most airlines, but the Aer is 2.7 pounds lighter, and has a bit of a slimmer fold. 

Bugaboo says the Butterfly has the highest backrest of any stroller, measuring 22” making it super comfortable for larger toddlers or older children. The Aer’s backrest is only 1” less measuring 21”. Both the Butterfly and Aer have a 25” seat to canopy height. To give you an idea, other travel strollers come in at about 15-18” for their backrests (seat to canopy heights are pretty similar across all travel strollers). So both will provide a taller than average backrest, and allow their riders to have more head support for a longer time!

The seats for both the Butterfly and Aer can be used for the same length of time, from approximately 6 months, until your child reaches approximately 50 pounds. The seats are very similar in depth - the Butterfly has an 11” seat depth and the Aer has a 10” seat depth. However, the Butterfly has an included leg rest that can extend the seat depth to 16” when out straight. If you are wanting an option from birth other than clicking a car seat in, the Aer does have a bassinet available for purchase. It also folds with the bassinet attached!  

Recommended Use

• Bugaboo Butterfly: 6 months to 50 pounds (from birth with car seat)
• Joolz Aer: 6 months to 50 pounds (from birth with car seat or bassinet)

Stroller Weight

• Bugaboo Butterfly: 16.1 pounds
• Joolz Aer: 13.4 pounds (note that this is 0.2 pounds less than the Babyzen YOYO2)

Dimensions

• Bugaboo Butterfly: 36.4"L x 17.7"W x 40.3"H
• Joolz Aer: 32.7”L x 17.7”W x 41.5”H

Folded Dimensions

Both strollers meet the carry-on standards of the International Air Transport Association: 22"L x 18"W x 10"D.

• Bugaboo Butterfly: 21" x 17.7" x 9"
• Joolz Aer: 21" x 17.7” x 8.5”

Basket Weight Capacity

• Bugaboo Butterfly: 17.6 pounds
• Joolz Aer: 11 pounds

Seat Back Height

• Bugaboo Butterfly: 22"
• Joolz Aer: 21”

Seat to Canopy Height

• Bugaboo Butterfly: 25"
• Joolz Aer: 25”

Seat Depth

• Bugaboo Butterfly: 11” - with footrest fully extended it’s 16”
• Joolz Aer: 10”

Bugaboo Butterfly vs. Joolz Aer Features

The Bugaboo Butterfly and Joolz Aer are among the top-performing travel strollers for maneuverability, comfort, and ease of fold.

Both strollers have extendable canopies that offer ample sun coverage, as well as full-width, ventilated panels. The Butterfly canopy is slightly larger, but both are generous for travel strollers. Both models also include high quality fabrics that are free of chemicals plus beautiful leatherette handlebars.

The Butterfly has these features not seen on the Aer:

• An integrated 5-position adjustable leg rest that can also double as a carry handle
• A seat inlay that's padded for comfort and removable for easy machine washing
• A flexible, spring-loaded basket that's easy to load and unload
• Water repellent fabrics 

The Aer has these features not included on the Butterfly:

• A zippered storage pocket on the seat back for storing items like your phone or keys
• Nylon cover bag included 

Bugaboo Butterfly vs. Joolz Aer Configurations

If you're planning to use your stroller during baby's first months, the Joolz Aer offers more versatility in its configurations.

Both strollers can be paired with an infant car seat, but the Aer offers a bassinet. Even better, the Aer can fold with the bassinet attached. The Bugaboo Butterfly does not have any bassinet options.

How to Fold the Bugaboo Butterfly vs. Joolz Aer

How to Fold the Bugaboo Butterfly

To fold the Bugaboo Butterfly, press the two white buttons within the handlebar and lower the stroller until it's locked and standing. Press the same buttons to unlock the stroller and spring it back into place.

Hint: Once folded, the Butterfly does lock itself into place. To unlock with ease, press both buttons at once and slightly push the handlebar forward towards the stroller for it to spring back open.

How to Fold the Joolz Aer 

To fold the Joolz Aer, there are two buttons you will press at the same time. There’s a button on the handlebar and a button under the handlebar. You squeeze your thumb and hand, and lower it to the floor. Press the same buttons to spring it back into place. 

We'll update this post when a video of the Joolz Aer fold becomes available. 

Car Seats Compatible with Bugaboo Butterfly vs. Joolz Aer

Streamline your travel gear by attaching a car seat to either the Bugaboo Butterfly or Joolz Aer using car seat adapters sold separately.

Both strollers can fold with the car seat adapters on, however, for the most compact fold you would want to remove them. 

Car Seats Compatible with Bugaboo Butterfly

The car seat adapter for the Bugaboo Butterfly fits these car seats:

• Bugaboo Turtle One and Turtle Air by Nuna
• Clek Liing
• Cybex Aton and Cloud series
• Maxi-Cosi Mico series
• Nuna PIPA series

Car Seats Compatible with Joolz Aer

The car seat adapter for the Joolz Aer fits the following car seats: 

• Clek Liing
• Cybex Aton series and Cybex Cloud Q
• Nuna PIPA, PIPA RX, PIPA Lite, PIPA Lite R, PIPA Lite LX, PIPA Lite RX 

Bugaboo Butterfly vs. Joolz Aer Accessories

Customize both strollers for your needs by adding accessories like a bumper bar or a ride along board for your toddler! Both ride along boards offer a comfortable little seat for your older child as well, and both hold 44lb. This is a game changer for an on-the-go compact, travel stroller! 

The Butterfly comes with a rain cover and integrated leg rest, and a bumper bar is available separately. It's also compatible with universal Bugaboo accessories you won't find for the Aer, like a smartphone holder and parent organizer bag.

The Aer also comes with a rain cover, but the leg rest is an additional purchase. It also comes with a carry bag that protects your stroller from dirt and debris. There is also a bassinet available for purchase, which is not an accessory the Butterfly offers.

Bugaboo Butterfly Accessories

• Bumper bar
• Comfort Wheeled Board with Seat
• Cup holder
• Footmuff and performance winter footmuff
• Organizer
• Parasol
• Seat liner
• Smartphone holder
• Changing bag
• Backpack

Joolz Aer Accessories

• Bassinet
• Bumper bar
• Joolz Aer Footboard with Seat 
• Leg Rest 

Bugaboo Butterfly vs. Joolz Aer Colors and Fabrics

Both strollers offer high-quality fabrics that are free from chemicals, as well as a black leatherette handlebars. The Aer offers more color options, while the Butterfly comes in three neutral colors. 

The Butterfly comes in these colors:

• Midnight Black
• Forest Green
• Stormy Blue

The Aer comes in these colors:

• Ocean Blue
• Refined Black
• Lovely Taupe 
• Mighty Green
• Sage Green
• Delightful Grey
• Elegant Blue

Bugaboo Butterfly vs. Joolz Aer Pros and Cons

So which stroller is better: the Bugaboo Butterfly or the Joolz Aer? Only you can decide which is best for your family, but here are the benefits and drawbacks we see.

Bugaboo Butterfly

Benefits

• Costs $20 less than Joolz Aer ($60 less when considering included leg rest)
• 5-position leg rest that adds support as your child grows and can be used as a carry handle 
• Basket has higher weight capacity and is spring-loaded for easier accessibility
• Bigger sun canopy
• More accessories available including a cup holder and footmuff
• Taller backrest and deeper seat

Drawbacks

• Weighs 2.7 pounds more than the Aer
• Cannot be used with a bassinet
• Offers fewer color choices 
• Does not fold as compact

Joolz Aer

Benefits

• Has a bassinet available for purchase that can fold with the stroller
• Includes a storage pocket on the back of the seat
• Has more color options for both seat fabrics and stroller frame
• More compact fold
• Easy to use elastic carry strap 

Drawbacks

• Leg rest is sold separately (included on Butterfly)
• Not as big of a seat (both in backrest height and depth)
• Fewer accessories available 

 

Questions?

Strolleria is dedicated to making the baby gear buying experience less overwhelming for parents. 

If you have more questions about the Bugaboo Butterfly vs. Joolz Aer debate, feel free to contact us at 480-442-9433, start a live chat, or email us at customercare@strolleria.com.