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Ghost CMS vs Readwise Reader

Ghost CMS logo

Ghost CMS

Software

Modern platform for professional publishing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Readwise Reader logo

Readwise Reader

Software

The read-it-later app for power readers

From
On request
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: Ghost CMS ghost Pro plans cap members, at 1,000 on both Starter and Publisher and 10,000 on Business; Readwise Reader there is no free tier, only a 30 day trial
  • They diverge on capability: Ghost CMS covers Publishing platform, Readwise Reader covers Read-it-later.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ghost CMS and Readwise Reader actually diverge.

Attributes where Ghost CMS and Readwise Reader differ
AttributeGhost CMSReadwise Reader
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Self-hostedIos, Android, Web
Founded20132017

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 Ghost CMS

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

Only in Readwise Reader

  • Read-it-later
  • RSS aggregation
  • Newsletter inbox
  • PDF support
  • Highlighting
  • Notion
  • Obsidian
  • Roam Research

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Ghost CMS

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

Readwise Reader

  • Saving and reading articles, PDFs and newsletters in one placenot Ghost CMS
  • Reviewing highlights from books and articles over timenot Ghost CMS

Where each one falls short

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

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

Readwise Reader

  • There is no free tier, only a 30 day trial
  • Reader is bundled into the full plan rather than sold separately, so it cannot be had at the cheaper Lite price
  • The Lite plan at $5.59 a month billed annually is daily email review only, without the web app or tagging
  • Paying monthly rather than annually raises the full plan from $9.99 to $12.99

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Readwise Reader

On request
  • Reader Lite$8.99/month
    • Unlimited articles
    • Highlighting
    • RSS feeds
  • Full$12.99/month
    • Everything in Lite
    • Readwise integration
    • Spaced repetition

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Readwise Reader if

  • You need read-it-later.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want rss aggregation.
Readwise Reader review

Questions people ask

Is Ghost CMS or Readwise Reader better?
Neither clearly leads. Ghost CMS starts at Free and Readwise Reader at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ghost CMS or Readwise Reader?
Ghost CMS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Ghost CMS and On request for Readwise Reader.
Does Ghost CMS or Readwise Reader run on more platforms?
Ghost CMS runs on Web, Self-hosted. Readwise Reader runs on Ios, Android, Web.
Can I use Ghost CMS for free?
Yes. Ghost CMS has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Readwise Reader starts at On request.
What is Ghost CMS best used for?
Ghost CMS is most often used for running a publication or newsletter with paid subscriptions, self hosting a headless or full stack publishing platform. Of those, running a publication or newsletter with paid subscriptions and self hosting a headless or full stack publishing platform are not what Readwise Reader is typically brought in for.
What can Ghost CMS do that Readwise Reader cannot?
Ghost CMS covers Publishing platform, Email newsletters, Membership management, Analytics. Readwise Reader covers Read-it-later, RSS aggregation, Newsletter inbox, PDF support. Both handle Web support.
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