I first came across Ghost^ a few years ago, but it barely registered. As a long-time WordPress fan, I took a quick look during its early days, but it didn’t appeal to me at the time.
Fast forward to 10 years, I found myself searching for an all-in-one publishing and membership solution, something that could handle content, newsletters, and subscriptions without relying on a tangle of plugins or third-party tools. I still have a lot of respect for WordPress, but achieving what I wanted with it meant stitching together multiple plugins, improving the UX and frankly, I wasn’t up for that.
Getting Started With Ghost
I was genuinely excited to dive into the platform, so I wasted no time signing up for a Ghost(Pro) trial to see what it had to offer.
Here’s what I discovered.
Ghost(Pro) is a fully managed and hosted service, much like WordPress.com. There’s no need to worry about installation, server setup, security, or updates, the Ghost team handles all of that for you, allowing you to focus entirely on publishing.
Alternatively, you can self-host Ghost, just like you can with WordPress. But be warned, the process is significantly more technical. Ghost isn’t widely supported by mainstream web hosts, and the installation requires a good grasp of server configuration and the command line.
While Ghost does offer its own command-line tool, Ghost-CLI, which simplifies installation and updates with single-line commands, it’s not exactly beginner-friendly. Unless you’re comfortable managing a server, I’d strongly recommend sticking with Ghost(Pro). It removes the technical burden and lets you get up and running without any hassle.
The Ghost Experience
The Ghost interface immediately stood out to me. It has a clean, minimalistic look and feel that’s fast, intuitive, and refreshingly free of bloat. There’s no need for plugins or extensions to get started, which I found a real breath of fresh air after years of WordPress.
SEO features are built in, and the writing experience is delightful. The distraction-free editor helps maintain focus and flow, no clutter, no interruptions, just you and your words.
On the front end, Ghost really performs. Load times are lightning-fast thanks to its lightweight architecture. It’s lean and optimised right out of the box, something that impressed me straight away.
Customisation is easy enough. You can switch themes directly from the admin area. There’s a small selection of free themes and a growing market of premium ones, but compared to WordPress or even other CMS options, the theme ecosystem still feels quite limited.
However, Ghost is flexible. If you’re comfortable with a bit of HTML, customising themes is easy and even enjoyable. Ghost uses the Handlebars templating language, which is simple to learn and well documented. But if you’re not confident in code, you may need to bring in a developer for anything beyond basic changes.
Memberships and Newsletters
Ghost promises to make it easy to build a publication with memberships and subscriptions, and I have to say, it delivers.
What sets Ghost apart is how seamlessly everything works. Built-in signup forms, paid memberships, and newsletter delivery all come baked into the platform. You can offer tiered memberships, send email newsletters, and track subscriber engagement, open rates, and revenue stats, all from your dashboard, without relying on third-party tools.
That’s a big win in my book. There’s no need to juggle services like Mailchimp or MailerLite unless you want to. And if you do, Ghost Integrations allow you to plug in a wide range of third-party apps with ease.
Ghost isn’t just another CMS. It’s an all-in-one publishing platform designed for creators who want speed, simplicity, and control.
Ghost Pricing
Ghost is open source, which means you’re free to use it however you like. For developers or more advanced users, self-hosting offers complete control, there are no limits on the number of members or staff users, a freedom you won’t find on the managed Ghost(Pro) plans.
Ghost(Pro), the paid managed service, is functionally the same as the self-hosted version. The main difference is convenience. With Ghost(Pro), hosting, CDN, SSL, security, and updates are all handled for you. You might also receive new features slightly earlier than those self-hosting.
There’s no permanently free plan, but you can try Ghost(Pro) for free for 14 days, more than enough time to see if it fits your workflow.
Pricing starts at $11/month for the Starter plan. This tier includes up to 500 members, one staff (admin) user, and unlimited contributors. However, you can’t use custom themes or custom integrations at this level.
The Creator plan, priced at $35/month, raises the limit to 1,000 members and two staff users. It also unlocks support for custom themes and integrations, a much-needed step up for anyone serious about branding and flexibility.
Next is the Team plan at $63/month, also supporting up to 1,000 members but with enhanced infrastructure for handling larger traffic spikes and access to priority support.
At the top end is the Business plan, priced at $240/month. It offers support for up to 10,000 members, unlimited staff accounts, custom SSL, and a 99.9% uptime SLA. It’s aimed at larger publications with a revenue focus and more demanding requirements.
Ghost Pros & Cons
Ghost has everything you need if you’re looking for a simple, no-fuss publishing platform. Its sole purpose is to serve publishers, and it does that exceptionally well.
However, if you’re hoping to go beyond publishing, Ghost may fall short. I often see people asking, “Can Ghost do this? Can Ghost do that?” The honest answer is usually no. Ghost isn’t designed for selling courses, building complex membership portals, or running an eCommerce store. If your goals extend beyond content and newsletters, WordPress, with its vast plugin ecosystem, is likely the better choice.
In terms of drawbacks, the main one, especially for those coming from WordPress, is that Ghost simply isn’t as flexible. Theme choices are limited, and customisation isn’t straightforward unless you’re comfortable with code or have a developer to hand. Self-hosting Ghost can also be a technical challenge, requiring command-line experience and server know-how. For most users, it’s far easier (and less stressful) to stick with Ghost’s own managed hosting or an alternative Ghost hosting provider^ rather than trying to go it alone.
Ghost Verdict
If you’re after a simple, focused way to publish online, stay connected with your audience, and avoid the constant plugin and theme updates that come with WordPress, then Ghost is an easy choice.
Try GhostFinal Score
9/10
The final score reflects pricing, support, performance and overall value.
