Ghost

Web & e-commerce

Free self-hostedEditorial overview
A CLOSER LOOK

What is Ghost?

Ghost is a publishing platform for articles, newsletters and membership-based websites. The open-source application can run on your own infrastructure, giving independent publishers control over their site while managed Ghost(Pro) hosting remains a separate commercial service.

Article editor

Memberships

Newsletters

Publication themes

Is it a good fit?

Best suited to

Independent publishers building a publication and subscriber audience.

Before you choose

Self-hosting requires separate mail delivery and server maintenance.

Editorial assessment based on the provider’s published information. Our method

Know what you're signing up for.

Ghost can be used under MIT terms without a software subscription. Self-hosted Ghost software; Ghost(Pro), mail delivery and payment processing are separate. Deployment, maintenance and any external services remain the user’s responsibility.

Self-hosted Ghost software; Ghost(Pro), mail delivery and payment processing are separate.

Check current official pricing

The useful parts. The trade-offs.

Why consider it

Publishing and audience management fit together naturally

MIT source supports deployment flexibility

What to keep in mind

Email delivery requires separate configuration

Self-hosted upgrades and backups need an owner

How to use it well

Set up the publication’s core pages and define whether articles are public, member-only or part of a paid offering. Create a consistent post template and test the signup flow before promoting the publication to readers.

For self-hosted installations, configure bulk email delivery separately and review payment-provider requirements before selling subscriptions. Keep backups of the database and uploaded media. Ghost(Pro) can reduce operational work, but its subscription is distinct from the free MIT-licensed application.

A few things you might be wondering.

Is Ghost free?

Ghost can be used under MIT terms without a software subscription. Self-hosted Ghost software; Ghost(Pro), mail delivery and payment processing are separate. Deployment, maintenance and any external services remain the user’s responsibility.

Is Ghost(Pro) free because Ghost is open source?

No. Ghost(Pro) is a separately priced managed hosting service.

Can Ghost support memberships and newsletters?

Yes. Publishing, member management and newsletter workflows are central features.

Where can I check the latest prices?

Use the provider link on this page. Billing period, location, team size, promotions, taxes, and optional extras may affect the amount you pay.

How should I compare this tool with alternatives?

Choose tools for the same task, then compare their feature limits, platform support, and total cost for your team. The Compare button helps you keep a shortlist.

Are the user reviews moderated?

Yes. New reviews are submitted for moderation. We show published user reviews separately from the editorial overview and never assign a default user rating.

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