ConvertKit (now Kit) is an email-first platform that automates email marketing, newsletter growth, and digital product sales for creators.
Free·from $33/mo
About Ghost
What is Ghost?
Ghost is an open-source content management system (CMS) designed for professional publishing, not general-purpose websites. It combines a clean writing editor, email newsletter delivery, and membership management into one platform, helping creators and businesses turn their audience into a revenue stream.
Who is it for?
Ghost is best for bloggers, journalists, newsletter creators, and businesses that want a fast, ad-free publishing hub with built-in email marketing and paid subscriptions. It’s not ideal for those who need a traditional all-in-one website builder or e-commerce platform.
Key capabilities
Ghost handles SEO, AMP, and social sharing automatically. It offers native signup forms, paid subscription tiers (monthly/yearly), detailed audience analytics, and integrations with tools like Stripe, Zapier, Slack, and Mailchimp. You can self-host for free or use managed Ghost(Pro) hosting.
Key features
- Distraction-free editor — Markdown and rich text with live preview, plus dynamic cards for media.
- Email newsletters — Automatically send posts as emails to subscribers; segment your audience.
- Memberships & subscriptions — Charge for premium content with monthly/yearly tiers.
- SEO & AMP — Auto-generated meta tags, sitemaps, and Accelerated Mobile Pages.
- API-first headless CMS — Use Ghost as a backend for custom frontends.
- Native analytics — Track views, subscribers, and revenue per post.
- Custom themes & design — Full control over branding with hundreds of marketplace themes.
SaaSpartout Score
7.3
/10
Editorial score from our review methodology — not user ratings.
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Ghost Pricing
Ghost pricing: from $18/mo. Billing model: Freemium.
Starter — $18/mo (billed yearly)
For solo blogs & newsletters. Includes custom domain, email newsletters, simple design settings, and up to 1,000 members. 14-day free trial.
Publisher — $29/mo (billed yearly)
For custom publications. Adds 3 staff users, custom themes, 8,000+ integrations, paid subscriptions, and advanced analytics. Up to 1,000 members.
Business — $199/mo (billed yearly)
For teams scaling up. Includes 15 staff users, priority support, higher usage limits, and early access to features. Up to 1,000 members.
Custom — Contact for pricing
For complex needs: unlimited staff users, advanced configurations, dedicated IP, 99.9% uptime SLA, unlimited members.
All plans include a 14-day free trial. Self-hosting is free and open-source.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ghost free?
Ghost is open-source and free to self-host. Managed Ghost(Pro) plans start at $18/mo with a 14-day free trial.
How much does Ghost cost?
Ghost(Pro) pricing starts at $18/mo (Starter), then $29/mo (Publisher), $199/mo (Business), and custom pricing for enterprise.
Who is Ghost best for?
Ghost is best for bloggers, journalists, newsletter creators, and publishers who want to monetize content with paid subscriptions and built-in email marketing.
What are the top alternatives to Ghost?
Popular alternatives include WordPress (with plugins), Substack, Medium, and Mailchimp. Ghost is unique for combining a CMS, newsletters, and memberships in one open-source platform.
Does Ghost support paid subscriptions?
Yes, Ghost has native membership management with paid subscription tiers (monthly/yearly) via Stripe integration.
Can I use Ghost without coding?
Yes. Ghost offers design settings and hundreds of custom themes. No coding required, but developers can use the API for custom frontends.
