"[9] Lonell Broadnax, Jr., a contributing writer to the Daily Helmsman Online felt that "Butterflies" is a soulful song which takes Jackson back to his "rhythm and blues roots".

and added that what grabs his attention about a song like "Butterflies" is not the "melody but the weirdly ringing wrench-against-faucet clang on the backbeat.

"[14] Christie Leo of the New Straits Times gave the track a more positive review, calling the song a "luxuriant" ballad.

[6] Pop music critic Robert Hilburn, writing for the Los Angeles Times, described "Butterflies", and another song from Invincible ("Speechless"), as being "as woefully generic as their titles".

[16] Darryl Frierson of University Wire felt that songs like "Butterflies" can set the "mood for any romantic interlude".

"[21] Chicago Tribune rock music critic Greg Kot said that Jackson is not "convincing as the vulnerable ladies' man on drippy ballads" such as "Butterflies".

[22] Stephen Thomas Erlewine, a writer for AllMusic, commented that Invincible was "highlighted" by "lovely ballads" such as "Break of Dawn" and "Butterflies".

[9] David Browne of Entertainment Weekly wrote in his review for Invincible that, "The ballads are a squishy bunch with glaringly banal lyrics, pleasantries like 'Butterflies' and 'Break of Dawn' that could emanate from just about" anyone.

[11] Catherine Halaby of the Yale Daily News said that songs on the album like "Heaven Can Wait", "Butterflies", and "You Are My Life" "fulfill the quota for sugary ballads".

[26] Jon Pareles, writing for The New York Times, said that tracks on Invincible like "Butterflies" and "Don't Walk Away" are "melting love ballads".

[7] Tim Perzyk of the Duke Chronicle wrote, "By the time 'Butterflies' spins on track seven, it's unclear why Michael didn't record a collaborative boxed set with Mariah Carey, whose 'Heartbreaker', 'Breakdown' and 'Butterfly' would fit quite nicely" into Jackson's Invincible album.

[27] Pop music critic Craid Seymour of the Buffalo News wrote that "another winning tune" on the album is the "dreamy 'Butterflies', which flows along at a groovy midtempo pace.

"[28] Music critics writing for the South Florida Sun Sentinel said that the track shows the "shy, loving, gentle side" of Jackson.