You’ve probably seen a horse and buggy clip-clopping down a country road or come across modestly dressed families in plain clothing and wondered—are they Amish? Or are they Mennonite? Maybe even Hutterite?
At a glance, these three groups might seem similar. They’re often lumped together under the umbrella of “plain people” or known for stepping back from the pace of modern life.
But while they share common roots in the Anabaptist movement of the 1500s, their beliefs, lifestyles, and communities today are surprisingly different.
Let’s break it all down clearly—no guessing games, no stereotypes. Just a grounded, honest look at how these groups live, what they believe, and where their paths have diverged.
Key Highlights
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All three groups share Anabaptist roots but live very differently.
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Amish reject most modern tech; Hutterites embrace it communally.
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Mennonites range from ultra-traditional to fully modern.
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Education, dress, and governance vary widely by group.
- People often mix up the Amish and Mennonites because they can look and live similarly.
A Shared Anabaptist Beginning… Then Three Very Different Roads
The origin story for all three—Amish, Mennonites, and Hutterites—starts in the 16th century during the Protestant Reformation.
That was a time of spiritual upheaval, and a small but determined group broke away from both Catholicism and the early Protestant reformers.
They believed that only adults should be baptized—people old enough to choose their faith. For that stance, they were branded heretics, hunted down, and in many cases, killed.
The movement was called Anabaptism, literally “rebaptizers.” From that crucible of persecution, three leaders emerged and eventually gave rise to the distinct communities we know today:
- Menno Simons led the Mennonites, stressing peace and personal conviction.
- Jakob Amman split from the Mennonites, forming the more austere Amish.
- Jakob Hutter founded the Hutterites, emphasizing communal life and shared property.
While they share a foundation of adult baptism, pacifism, and simple living, how they live out those beliefs is where things start to look very different.
Beliefs in Practice
At the core, they all value humility, peace, and community—but the way they structure their lives around those values varies dramatically.
Amish
The Amish are probably the most well-known and the most visually distinct. They believe in creating strong boundaries between themselves and the outside world to preserve their values.
That doesn’t just mean no smartphones—it’s a whole way of life built on simplicity, family, and faith. Church isn’t in a building with a steeple. It’s hosted in homes or barns.
Their rules—called the Ordnung—aren’t written down, but they guide everything from dress to transportation.
They see technology as a threat to their close-knit way of life. If something could promote pride, vanity, or independence from the community, it’s generally avoided.
Mennonites
Mennonites are incredibly diverse. Some look and live like the Amish, while others might be your next-door neighbor with a smartphone, a college degree, and a minivan.
What unites them is a commitment to peace, service, and Christ-centered community. Worship happens in meetinghouses or churches.
And while some conservative Mennonite groups avoid electricity and modern conveniences, progressive branches fully engage with modern society, supporting education, missions, and careers in everything from teaching to medicine.
In short, being Mennonite doesn’t always come with visual cues.
Hutterites
Of the three, Hutterites are the most communally organized. Imagine a village where no one owns their home or car, everyone eats together in a communal dining hall, and decisions are made collectively by a council of elders.
That’s life in a Hutterite colony. They see shared property and labor as a biblical mandate, modeling their lives on passages like Acts 2:44–45.
While they reject military service and focus on mutual aid like the others, they’re the most technologically integrated of the three—especially when it comes to farming and running businesses.
A Hutterite colony might use cutting-edge tractors, have internet in the office, and still run its operations based on 16th-century values.
Day-to-Day Life (Technology, Dress, and Roles)
The way these groups approach daily living says a lot about their identity—and it can differ even within subgroups.
| Category | Amish | Mennonites | Hutterites |
| Technology | Strictly limited; no cars, limited phone or electricity | Ranges from none to fully modern | Embraced for communal productivity |
| Transportation | Horse and buggy | Horse and buggy to cars | Communal vehicles, often licensed drivers |
| Dress | Plain, solid colors, homemade clothing | Varies: from Amish-style to modern | Women wear modest dresses, often with polka dots or bright colors |
| Worship | In homes or barns | In churches or meetinghouses | In communal chapels |
| Work | Farming, carpentry, home businesses | Wide range—from farming to professions | Communal agriculture and manufacturing |
| Women’s Roles | Homemakers, may run home businesses | Varies from homemakers to professionals | Domestic work, education roles in colonies |
Technology Use
For the Amish, it’s not about rejecting technology for the sake of hardship—it’s about keeping life focused on what matters. They don’t want outside distractions eroding community ties.
Some allow propane for cooking or battery-powered lights. A few might use tractors with steel wheels. But smartphones, personal cars, and TVs? Off-limits.
Mennonites are more flexible. The more conservative groups (like Old Order Mennonites) are very similar to the Amish. But others attend college, drive cars, and use the internet freely.
Hutterites strike a unique balance. Their communal nature allows them to adopt technology in ways the Amish would never permit. It’s not about individual convenience, but productivity for the good of the colony.
You’ll find modern dairies, industrial farming equipment, and administrative offices with computers.
Clothing and Modesty
The Amish dress code is about uniformity and humility. No patterns. No jewelry. Men wear beards without mustaches (the mustache historically being associated with European military officers).
Women wear bonnets and aprons. Mennonite dress runs the gamut. Some conservative groups wear almost identical clothing to the Amish.
Others dress like mainstream society. In those churches, you might not be able to identify a Mennonite by appearance alone. Hutterites are interesting here—they have a communal style but allow more color and pattern.
You’ll see women in dresses with stripes or polka dots, head coverings, and long sleeves. Men typically wear plain work clothes like denim and button-ups.
How They’re Governed
Structure keeps these communities running—and each has its own rhythm of leadership and decision-making.
Amish – Decentralized but Disciplined
Each church district is autonomous. It’s led by a bishop, ministers, and a deacon. The Ordnung is what holds things together.
When someone steps out of line, the practice of shunning (Meidung) kicks in—not as punishment, but as a spiritual correction. It’s tough, but it reflects how seriously they take their commitments.
Mennonites – From Congregational to Conference-Driven
Some Mennonite groups operate independently at the local level, while others are part of large denominational conferences.
Governance varies, from informal congregational votes to more centralized bodies. Some churches ordain women and welcome LGBTQ+ members, while others are more conservative.
Hutterites – Council-Led Colonies
Each colony is led by a minister, often called the “minister brother,” along with a council of men. Big decisions—like buying land or building infrastructure—need approval from all married men in the colony.
It’s very patriarchal, and decisions are made slowly and collectively.
Education
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All three value education, but the finish line looks very different depending on the group.
Amish
Amish kids typically attend one-room Amish schools through the eighth grade. After that, they transition straight into community life—whether farming, carpentry, or home business.
Their focus is on practical skills, not degrees. In fact, a 1972 Supreme Court ruling (Wisconsin v. Yoder) made it legal for the Amish to stop formal schooling after eighth grade, recognizing their right to preserve religious traditions.
Mennonites
Again, it depends on the group. Some end formal schooling early, much like the Amish.
Others encourage higher education and have their own colleges—like Goshen College or Eastern Mennonite University.
In progressive communities, you’ll find teachers, doctors, even lawyers.
Hutterites
Children attend colony-run schools, often with outside teachers, up through the eighth grade.
Some go on to high school or vocational training, but most stay within the colony, focusing on learning skills that serve their community—farming, teaching, accounting, or leadership roles.
Where You’ll Find Them
Their historical migrations shaped where they are today.
- Amish: Mostly in the United States, especially Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. A few communities exist in Ontario and other areas, but they prefer rural environments where they can farm and stay close-knit.
- Mennonites: Everywhere. There are Mennonite communities across North America, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Their missionary work and adaptability have led to a truly global presence.
- Hutterites: Primarily in North America, especially the Canadian Prairies (Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan) and U.S. states like South Dakota and Montana. Colonies need lots of land for farming, so they’re usually far from cities.
Subgroups Within the Groups
None of these communities is a monolith. Each has branches that interpret their faith in slightly different ways.
Amish
- Old Order Amish: Most conservative, no electricity, strict Ordnung
- New Order Amish: Slightly more modern, may allow limited electricity
- Beachy Amish: Drive cars, use modern tools, wear plain but less rigid clothing
Mennonites
- Old Order Mennonites: Similar to Amish in dress and transport
- Conservative Mennonites: Wear plain clothes, may use limited technology
- Mainline Mennonites: Fully modern, integrated into mainstream culture
Hutterites
- Schmiedeleut
- Dariusleut
- Lehrerleut
All three branches still live communally, but they have slight differences in dress, leadership structure, and openness to outside influence.
Why It Matters to Know the Difference
It’s easy to collapse these groups into a single idea—“plain people,” “horse and buggy Christians,” or “anti-technology communities.” But they’re not interchangeable.
Their differences go beyond clothes and buggies. They reflect deep convictions about how to live a faithful life, how to serve others, and how to stay grounded in changing times.
Some want near-total separation from the modern world. Others engage with it, but on their own terms. And some build thriving, tech-enabled communities rooted in 500-year-old theology.
They all ask hard questions most of us avoid: How much is too much? What do I actually need? Who do I answer to? And that makes them worth knowing—not just for curiosity’s sake, but because their choices challenge our assumptions about what matters.
Final Thoughts
The Amish, Mennonites, and Hutterites all trace their spiritual ancestry to a radical, counter-cultural movement that risked everything to live according to conviction.
Today, each community still carries that legacy—in very different ways.
- The Amish hold tight to tradition, shielding their families from modern life.
- The Mennonites move across a wide range of expressions, from plain-living farmers to urban professionals.
- The Hutterites build tightly woven communities that blend ancient faith with modern efficiency.
So next time you see a buggy on a back road or hear about communal living on the prairie, you’ll know there’s a story behind it—one of resilience, belief, and the many forms that a life of faith can take.
