Ghost CMS vs Ghost
A comprehensive head-to-head comparison of two leading news & media solutions in 2026. Compare features, pricing, ratings, and more to find the right fit.
Quick Verdict
Choose Ghost CMS if you need Publishing platform and prefer a free starting option. Choose Ghost if you prioritize Content API and want a free tier to start. Ghost CMS has a higher user rating (4.5 vs 4.4).
Ghost CMS vs Ghost: At a Glance
Feature Comparison: Ghost CMS vs Ghost
| Feature | Ghost CMS | Ghost |
|---|---|---|
| Publishing platform | ||
| Email newsletters | ||
| Membership management | ||
| Analytics | ||
| Paywall support | ||
| SEO optimization | ||
| Media library | ||
| API access | ||
| Stripe | ||
| Mailgun | ||
| Zapier | ||
| Integromat | ||
| RSS | ||
| API | ||
| Web support | ||
| Content API | ||
| Membership | ||
| Webhooks | ||
| Custom integrations | ||
| Node.js support | ||
| Cloud support | ||
| Self-hosted support |
Ghost CMS vs Ghost: Pricing Breakdown
Ghost CMS Pricing
Model: freemium
- Open source
- Self-hosted
- Basic features
- Community support
- Email newsletters
- Memberships
- Analytics
- Custom domain
- Advanced analytics
- Priority support
- Custom integrations
- Team collaboration
Ghost Pricing
Model: open-source-commercial
- Full Ghost
- Content API
- Community support
- Cloud hosting
- Membership
- Analytics
- Advanced features
- Priority support
- Custom themes
Pros and Cons
Ghost CMS
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.5/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Rich feature set with 15+ capabilities
- Strong Publishing platform functionality
- Strong Email newsletters functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Ghost
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.4/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Available on 3 platforms (Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted)
- Rich feature set with 9+ capabilities
- Strong Content API functionality
- Strong Membership functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Who Should Use Ghost CMS vs Ghost?
Choose Ghost CMS if you:
- Need Publishing platform
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Self-hosted
- Value Email newsletters
Choose Ghost if you:
- Need Content API
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Node.js and Cloud
- Value Membership
Frequently Asked Questions: Ghost CMS vs Ghost
Is Ghost CMS better than Ghost?
It depends on your needs. Ghost CMS has a 4.5/5 user rating while Ghost has 4.4/5. Ghost CMS excels in Publishing platform and Email newsletters, while Ghost stands out with Content API and Membership. Consider your budget (Free vs Free), platform needs, and specific feature requirements.
Which is cheaper, Ghost CMS or Ghost?
Ghost CMS offers a free plan and starts at Free. Ghost offers a free plan and starts at Free. Compare the specific plan features to determine the best value for your use case.
Can I use Ghost CMS and Ghost together?
While both are news & media tools, some teams use complementary software together. Check each product's API and integration capabilities for compatibility. However, most users find that one solution covers their core news & media needs.
What are the main differences between Ghost CMS and Ghost?
The key differences include: pricing model (freemium vs open-source-commercial), platform support (Web, Self-hosted vs Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted), and feature focus. Ghost CMS emphasizes Publishing platform, Email newsletters, Membership management while Ghost focuses on Content API, Membership, Analytics. User ratings differ slightly: 4.5 vs 4.4 out of 5.
Ready to choose?
Explore detailed reviews, user ratings, and pricing for both Ghost CMS and Ghost.