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Beehiiv vs Ghost CMS

Beehiiv logo

Beehiiv

Software

The all-in-one platform for newsletter creators

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ghost CMS logo

Ghost CMS

Software

Modern platform for professional publishing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Beehiiv platform lacks native SMS support; requires third-party integrations via API or webhooks; Ghost CMS ghost Pro plans cap members, at 1,000 on both Starter and Publisher and 10,000 on Business
  • They diverge on capability: Beehiiv covers Newsletter creation, Ghost CMS covers Publishing platform.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Beehiiv and Ghost CMS actually diverge.

Attributes where Beehiiv and Ghost CMS differ
AttributeBeehiivGhost CMS
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
PlatformsWebWeb, Self-hosted
Founded20212013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Beehiiv

  • Newsletter creation
  • Email automation
  • Subscriber management
  • Monetization tools
  • Analytics dashboard
  • Referral program
  • A/B testing
  • Spam checking

Only in Ghost CMS

  • Publishing platform
  • Email newsletters
  • Membership management
  • Analytics
  • Paywall support
  • SEO optimization
  • Media library
  • API access

Both cover

  • Stripe
  • Zapier
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Beehiiv

  • Newsletter creation and hosting with monetizationnot Ghost CMS
  • Content creator monetisation through ad networks and paid subscriptionsnot Ghost CMS
  • Podcast hosting and distributionnot Ghost CMS

Ghost CMS

  • Running a publication or newsletter with paid subscriptionsnot Beehiiv
  • Self hosting a headless or full stack publishing platformnot Beehiiv

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Beehiiv

  • Platform lacks native SMS support; requires third-party integrations via API or webhooks
  • Free Launch plan offers only read-only AI capabilities

Ghost CMS

  • Ghost Pro plans cap members, at 1,000 on both Starter and Publisher and 10,000 on Business
  • Staff users are limited to 1 on Starter and 3 on Publisher
  • Custom themes and integrations require the Publisher plan at $29 a month billed yearly
  • The jump to 10,000 members is the $199 a month Business plan, with nothing between
  • Self hosting is free but installing under a subdirectory needs a custom reverse proxy that Ghost does not officially support

Pricing, plan by plan

Beehiiv

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Beehiiv review.

Ghost CMS

Free
  • Free Self-HostedFree
    • Open source
    • Self-hosted
    • Basic features
  • Creator$29/month
    • Email newsletters
    • Memberships
    • Analytics
  • Business$99/month
    • Advanced analytics
    • Priority support
    • Custom integrations

Which should you pick?

Choose Beehiiv if

  • You need newsletter creation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want email automation.
Beehiiv review

Choose Ghost CMS if

  • You need publishing platform.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted.
  • You also want email newsletters.
Ghost CMS review

Questions people ask

Is Beehiiv or Ghost CMS better?
Neither clearly leads. Beehiiv starts at Free and Ghost CMS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Beehiiv or Ghost CMS?
Beehiiv starts at Free and Ghost CMS at Free.
Does Beehiiv or Ghost CMS run on more platforms?
Beehiiv runs on Web. Ghost CMS runs on Web, Self-hosted.
Can I use Beehiiv for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Beehiiv best used for?
Beehiiv is most often used for newsletter creation and hosting with monetization, content creator monetisation through ad networks and paid subscriptions, podcast hosting and distribution. Of those, newsletter creation and hosting with monetization and content creator monetisation through ad networks and paid subscriptions are not what Ghost CMS is typically brought in for.
What can Beehiiv do that Ghost CMS cannot?
Beehiiv covers Newsletter creation, Email automation, Subscriber management, Monetization tools. Ghost CMS covers Publishing platform, Email newsletters, Membership management, Analytics. Both handle Stripe, Zapier, Web support.
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