Ghost
An open-source publishing platform for blogs, newsletters and paid memberships; free to self-host, with Ghost(Pro) from $18 a month (annual).
- Self-host free
- Flat monthly
- Hosted or self-hosted
- Open source
- Independent sources
- Verified 10 Nov 2026Sources are dated on this profile
- 1 sourceLinked, typed and dated
- Independent third-party sourcesHow this profile was compiled
- Not an endorsementStack18 has not tested this product
What is Ghost?
Ghost is an open-source publishing platform for websites, newsletters and paid memberships, available free to self-host or as managed Ghost(Pro) hosting.
- Best forPublishers running newsletters and paid memberships
- Team size fitSmall teams, Mid-size teams
- PricingSelf-hosted free; Ghost(Pro) Starter $18, Publisher $29, Business $199 a month (annual).
- Main limitationNot a general-purpose website builder.
- AlternativesWordPress.com, Webflow, Framer · compare all
Ghost overview: who it is for and what it does.
Ghost combines a fast publishing editor, newsletters and native paid memberships, so writers and media brands can run subscriptions on their own site.
A February 2026 guide lists self-hosting as free, and managed Ghost(Pro) billed yearly at Starter $18 a month, Publisher $29 and Business $199.
The guide notes Ghost is built for publishing and memberships rather than general-purpose websites.
Main problem it solves
Lets publishers own their audience and subscriptions.
Typical customer segment
Independent writers and media businesses.
Target users
- Newsletter writers
- Independent media
- Creators with memberships
Primary use cases
- Blogs
- Newsletters
- Paid memberships
- Publications
What makes it distinct
- Open source.
- Native memberships.
- Newsletters built in.
Ghost features explained.
Ghost(Pro) plans (annual)
- Starter
- $18 a month.
- Publisher
- $29 a month.
- Business
- $199 a month.
Publishing
- Editor
- Built for writing.
- Newsletters
- Built in.
- Memberships
- Native paid subscriptions.
Deployment
- Self-hosted
- Free, open source.
- Managed
- Ghost(Pro).
- Fit
- Not a general website builder.
Ghost pricing and plans.
Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly. Checked 10 Nov 2026 against Rework.
Pricing model
Flat monthly Ghost(Pro) plans; self-hosting free.
Free plan
Yes (self-hosted)
Free trial
Not documented
Ghost plans and prices (USD)
Self-hosted
$0
Free
You host it.
Starter
$18 per month
Annual
Managed hosting.
Publisher
$29 per month
Annual
More features.
Business
$199 per month
Annual
Larger publications.
Rework (February 2026); confirm current Ghost(Pro) prices.
Prices change. Confirm current plans and terms on the vendor's site before you decide.
Visit official website (external) ↗See alternativesGhost integrations, API and platforms.
Important integrations
- Stripe
- Zapier
- Unsplash
Supported platforms
- Web
- Self-hosted
API
Not reviewed for this profile.
Data import and export
Not reviewed for this profile.
Integration coverage was not assessed in full. Check Ghost's integrations directory and documentation for your tools.
Ghost pros and cons.
Strengths, limitations and best fit. Each point cites a source; editorial summaries are not customer reviews.
Strengths
Limitations
Best for
- Publishers running newsletters and paid memberships
- Independent writers
- Media startups
May be less suited to
- Ecommerce stores
- Complex marketing sites
Top Ghost alternatives and competitors.
WordPress.com
Automattic's hosted WordPress service, with a free plan and paid plans from $4 a month (Personal…
Explore →Related productWebflow
A visual web design platform with a built-in CMS; site plans from $15 a month (Basic, annual) and CMS at…
Explore →Related productFramer
A design-first website builder with AI features, a free plan and paid site plans from $10 a month…
Explore →Ghost compared with similar CMS and website builders.
Summaries come from each profile. This is a side-by-side aid, not a ranking.
| Product | Pricing model | Starting price | Free plan | CMS type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghost | Flat monthly | $18/mo (annual) | Self-hosted | Publishing | Newsletters, memberships |
| Contentful | Flat monthly | $300/mo (Lite) | Yes (10 users) | Headless | Enterprise content ops |
| Duda | Flat monthly | $19/mo | Not listed | Builder (agency) | Agencies |
| Framer | Site plan + seats | $10/mo (annual) | Yes (non-commercial) | Visual builder | Designers, startups |
| HubSpot Content Hub | Tiered monthly | $25/mo (Starter) | Yes (branding) | CRM-connected builder | HubSpot users |
| Sanity | Per seat | $15/seat/mo | Yes (20 seats) | Headless | Structured content |
Ghost vs competitors: head-to-head comparisons.
Each comparison has a feature table, pricing side by side, strengths and limits, and best-fit scenarios.
Ghost discussions and buying questions.
No published discussions mention this product yet.
Ghost questions and answers
What is Ghost used for?
Ghost is an open-source publishing platform for websites, newsletters and paid memberships, available free to self-host or as managed Ghost(Pro) hosting. Typical uses include blogs, newsletters, paid memberships, publications.
How much does Ghost cost?
Self-hosting is free; Ghost(Pro) is $18, $29 or $199 a month billed yearly.
Is Ghost open source?
Yes, and it can be self-hosted.
Can Ghost sell paid memberships?
Yes, paid memberships and newsletters are built in.
How does Ghost compare with its competitors?
Stack18 publishes head-to-head comparisons of Ghost vs WordPress.com, each with a feature table, pricing and best-fit scenarios.
What are the main alternatives to Ghost?
The main alternatives to Ghost covered on Stack18 are WordPress.com, Webflow and Framer. WordPress.com may suit bloggers and businesses wanting hosted WordPress without server work. Webflow may suit design-led teams building custom marketing sites. Framer may suit designers and startups shipping polished sites fast. See the Ghost alternatives guide for a side-by-side table.
What are the pros and cons of Ghost?
Strengths: Native newsletters and paid memberships. Free to self-host. Limitations: Not a general-purpose website builder. Self-hosting needs technical skill.
Who is Ghost best for?
Ghost may suit publishers running newsletters and paid memberships; independent writers; media startups. It may be less suited to ecommerce stores; complex marketing sites.
What integrations does Ghost support?
Documented integrations and ecosystem items include Stripe, Zapier, Unsplash. API: Not reviewed for this profile.
When was the Ghost profile last verified?
Sources for this profile were last reviewed on 10 Nov 2026. 1 source is listed under Sources, and prices and plans can change, so confirm with the vendor.
Where this information comes from.
- Best Webflow Alternatives (updated 23 February 2026) Rework Third-party Accessed 10 Nov 2026
Secondary-source profile. Vendor pages were not reviewed directly for this profile. Facts and prices are taken from independent third-party sources and may differ from the vendor's current pages. Confirm with the vendor before buying.
Facts come from Rework (February 2026). Capabilities were not tested.
Stack18 has not tested this product or received anything from the vendor for this profile. Editorial summaries of vendor information are not endorsements. Confirm details with the vendor before buying.
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