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Brightspot vs Ghost CMS

Brightspot logo

Brightspot

Software

The headless CMS for digital publishers and media companies

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ghost CMS logo

Ghost CMS

Software

Modern platform for professional publishing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Ghost CMS has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Brightspot pricing is not published and requires a demo; Ghost CMS ghost Pro plans cap members, at 1,000 on both Starter and Publisher and 10,000 on Business
  • They diverge on capability: Brightspot covers Headless CMS, Ghost CMS covers Publishing platform.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Brightspot and Ghost CMS differ
AttributeBrightspotGhost CMS
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, HeadlessWeb, Self-hosted
Founded20062013

Identical on both: 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 Brightspot

  • Headless CMS
  • API-first architecture
  • Content modeling
  • Publishing workflow
  • Asset management
  • Content versioning
  • User permissions
  • Scheduling

Only in Ghost CMS

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

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Brightspot

  • Headless or hybrid CMS for large editorial operationsnot Ghost CMS
  • Publishing across web, apps and syndication from one content storenot Ghost CMS
  • Content operations for newsrooms and broadcastersnot Ghost CMS
  • Managing large media libraries alongside articlesnot Ghost CMS

Ghost CMS

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

Where each one falls short

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

Brightspot

  • Pricing is not published and requires a demo
  • Aimed at enterprise media and publishing organisations rather than smaller sites

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

Brightspot

On request
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • Headless CMS
    • Multi-site management
    • Omnichannel publishing

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 Brightspot if

  • You need headless cms.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Headless.
  • You also want api-first architecture.
Brightspot 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 Brightspot or Ghost CMS better?
Neither clearly leads. Brightspot starts at On request and Ghost CMS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Brightspot or Ghost CMS?
Ghost CMS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Brightspot and Free for Ghost CMS.
Does Brightspot or Ghost CMS run on more platforms?
Brightspot runs on Web, Mobile, Headless. Ghost CMS runs on Web, Self-hosted.
Can I use Ghost CMS for free?
Yes. Ghost CMS has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Brightspot starts at On request.
What is Brightspot best used for?
Brightspot is most often used for headless or hybrid cms for large editorial operations, publishing across web, apps and syndication from one content store, content operations for newsrooms and broadcasters, managing large media libraries alongside articles. Of those, headless or hybrid cms for large editorial operations and publishing across web, apps and syndication from one content store are not what Ghost CMS is typically brought in for.
What can Brightspot do that Ghost CMS cannot?
Brightspot covers Headless CMS, API-first architecture, Content modeling, Publishing workflow. Ghost CMS covers Publishing platform, Email newsletters, Membership management, Analytics. Both handle Web support.
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