But cannot be used in the same way as although/though. We use but to connect items which are the same grammatical type (coordinating conjunction).
Warning:
The order of clauses connected by coordinating conjunctions cannot be reversed:
Although it rained a lot, we’ve still enjoyed our holiday.
We’ve still enjoyed our holiday, although it rained a lot.
It rained a lot but we’ve still enjoyed our holiday.
Not: But it rained a lot, we’ve still enjoyed our holiday.
Although can sound more formal than but. Though is much more common in speaking than in writing. Although is much more common in writing than in speaking.