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The verdict
Ghost scores 4.2/5 in our review. It's best for bloggers and newsletter creators and membership publications. Excellent for paid newsletters and blogs. The main trade-offs: not a general drag-and-drop builder; limited for non-blog page layouts; theming needs technical comfort. Pricing starts at $15/mo.
What Ghost looks like
A live snapshot of Ghost's site so you can eyeball the look and feel before clicking through.
Pros & cons
- Excellent for paid newsletters and blogs
- Keeps 100% of subscription revenue
- Fast, focused, and developer-friendly
- Not a general drag-and-drop builder
- Limited for non-blog page layouts
- Theming needs technical comfort
Key features
- Clean, distraction-free editor
- Native paid memberships and subscriptions
- Built-in email newsletters
- 0% revenue share on subscriptions
- Custom themes and Handlebars templates
- SEO-ready, fast managed hosting
Pricing
Self-host the open-source version free; managed Ghost(Pro) starts at $15/mo annually with a free trial. Ghost takes 0% of subscription revenue (payment processor fees apply).
| Plan | Monthly | Annual (per mo) | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $18 | $15 | 1 staff user, 1,000 members, custom domain, newsletters. |
| Publisher | $35 | $29 | Paid memberships, custom themes, integrations, 3 staff. |
| Business | $239 | $199 | 15 staff users, priority support, higher limits. |
Transaction fees: 0%. Prices verified against Ghost's pricing page; verify current pricing ↗.
Who should use Ghost?
Good fit
- Bloggers and newsletter creators
- Membership publications
Look elsewhere
- Brochure or e-commerce sites
Weighing the field? See Ghost alternatives →.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Ghost cost?
Ghost starts at $15/mo. Self-host the open-source version free; managed Ghost(Pro) starts at $15/mo annually with a free trial. Ghost takes 0% of subscription revenue (payment processor fees apply).
Does Ghost charge transaction fees?
Transaction fees: 0%. You keep the full sale (minus your payment processor).
Who is Ghost best for?
Ghost is best for bloggers and newsletter creators and membership publications. It's less ideal for brochure or e-commerce sites.