News · head to head
Ghost CMS vs Readwise Reader
The short version
- Only Readwise Reader 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.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Ghost CMS and Readwise Reader actually diverge.
| Attribute | Ghost CMS | Readwise Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $18/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Self-hosted | Ios, Android, Web |
| Founded | 2013 | 2017 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (News).
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
- Reading and note-takingnot Ghost CMS
- Highlight managementnot Ghost CMS
- Learning and studynot Ghost CMS
- Content curationnot 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
$18/month- Starter$18/month
- For solo blogs and newsletters
- Your own website
- Email newsletter
- Publisher$29/month
- For custom publications
- 3 staff users
- Custom themes
- Business$199/month
- For teams scaling up
- 15 staff users
- Priority support
- Custom$null/contact
- For organizations with complex needs
- Unlimited staff users
- Dedicated IP addresses
Readwise Reader
Free- Free TrialFree
- 30 days free
- No credit card required
- Readwise Annual$9.99/month
- Full Readwise and Reader access
- Billed annually
- Includes unified reading platform
- Readwise Monthly$12.99/month
- Full Readwise and Reader access
- Billed monthly
- Includes unified reading platform
Which should you pick?
Choose Ghost CMS if
- You need publishing platform.
- You work on Web, Self-hosted.
- You also want email newsletters.
Choose Readwise Reader if
- You need read-it-later.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Ios, Android, Web.
- You also want rss aggregation.
Questions people ask
- Is Ghost CMS or Readwise Reader better?
- Neither clearly leads. Ghost CMS starts at $18/month and Readwise Reader at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Ghost CMS or Readwise Reader?
- Readwise Reader has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $18/month for Ghost CMS and Free 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 Readwise Reader for free?
- Yes. Readwise Reader has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Ghost CMS starts at $18/month.
- 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.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Ghost CMS: How much does Ghost CMS cost?
Ghost(Pro) pricing starts at $18 per month when billed yearly for the Starter plan, with Publisher at $29 per month and Business at $199 per month. All plans include unlimited email sends and enterprise-grade security.
SourceReadwise Reader: How much does Readwise Reader cost?
Readwise (including Reader) costs $9.99 per month when billed annually or $12.99 per month when billed monthly USD. Readers can access articles, PDFs, newsletters, RSS feeds, and YouTube videos across web and mobile.
SourceGhost CMS: Can I cancel my Ghost subscription anytime?
Yes, users can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel their Ghost subscription anytime without penalties.
SourceReadwise Reader: Is there a free trial for Readwise Reader?
Yes, Readwise offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card required. Some users who let their trials expire may qualify for an additional extended trial.
SourceGhost CMS: Are there any additional fees with Ghost?
Ghost waives transaction fees on all plans, though payment processor fees still apply. There are no setup fees or hidden charges.
SourceReadwise Reader: How much can students save on Readwise?
Readwise offers 50% discounts to verified students, educators, non-profits, military, first responders, and individuals in countries where US pricing is unaffordable. Interested users should contact [email protected] to request eligibility.
SourceRelated pages
More on Readwise Reader
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