Ghost
Open-source publishing software — a full website and newsletter in one — sold as managed hosting called Ghost(Pro).
Pricing
| Plan | Per month | Limits | Terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $18 | 1,000 subscribers | monthly; $15/mo billed yearly |
| Publisher | $35 | 1,000 subscribers | monthly; $29/mo billed yearly |
| Business | $239 | 10,000 subscribers | monthly; $199/mo billed yearly |
Checked 24 September 2026. Ghost(Pro) managed hosting, billed in USD. Prices are for up to 1,000 members (Business: 10,000); yearly billing saves about 17%.
Strengths and limitations
Strengths
- +A full publishing website and newsletter in one, with a free custom domain on every plan.
- +Takes 0% of paid-subscription revenue from the Publisher plan up.
- +Recommendations, a referral programme and the Ghost Explore network on every plan.
Limitations
- −No free plan on the managed service — only a free trial.
- −The $18 Starter plan cannot take paid subscriptions or use custom themes; both need Publisher at $35 a month.
- −Starter allows one staff user and one newsletter.
Capability scores
| Dimension | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Low transaction fees | 5/5 | |
| Publication website | 5/5 | |
| Paid subscriptions | 4/5 | |
| Audience growth tools | 4/5 | |
| Value for money | 4/5 | |
| Ease of use | 3/5 | |
| Automation | 2/5 | |
| Free plan | 1/5 | |
Ghost compared
Alternatives
beehiiv
A newsletter platform built around growth, with a recommendation network, referral programme and ad network built in.
Kit
An email platform built for creators, with strong automation and a free plan for up to 10,000 subscribers.
MailerLite
A low-cost email marketing platform that also runs paid newsletters, websites and landing pages.
Substack
A free publishing platform and reader network that makes its money by keeping 10% of paid-subscription revenue.
Common questions
How much does Ghost cost?
Ghost starts at $18/mo (monthly; $15/mo billed yearly). Ghost(Pro) managed hosting, billed in USD. Prices are for up to 1,000 members (Business: 10,000); yearly billing saves about 17%. Checked against the vendor's pricing page on 24 September 2026.
Does Ghost have a free plan?
No. On Ghost(Pro) — each plan starts with a free trial. Ghost is also open-source software you can host yourself.
Is Ghost any good?
It scores 73 out of 100 on our weighted capability scoring, ranking fourth of 5 for newsletter platforms. Writers and publications that want a real website with the newsletter attached, and to keep all subscription revenue. Its main limitation: no free plan on the managed service — only a free trial.