Ghost CMS vs Steno
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 Steno if you prioritize AI transcription and want plans starting at Contact for pricing. Ghost CMS has a higher user rating (4.5 vs 4.4).
Ghost CMS vs Steno: At a Glance
Feature Comparison: Ghost CMS vs Steno
| Feature | Ghost CMS | Steno |
|---|---|---|
| Publishing platform | ||
| Email newsletters | ||
| Membership management | ||
| Analytics | ||
| Paywall support | ||
| SEO optimization | ||
| Media library | ||
| API access | ||
| Stripe | ||
| Mailgun | ||
| Zapier | ||
| Integromat | ||
| RSS | ||
| API | ||
| Web support | ||
| AI transcription | ||
| Broadcast search | ||
| Real-time monitoring | ||
| Clip creation | ||
| Media analysis | ||
| Slack | ||
Ghost CMS vs Steno: 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
Steno Pricing
Model: subscription
- Search transcripts
- Clip creation
- Email alerts
- Basic analytics
- All Starter features
- API access
- Team collaboration
- Advanced analytics
- Custom integrations
- Dedicated support
- SLA
- Custom retention
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
Steno
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.4/5)
- Rich feature set with 9+ capabilities
- Strong AI transcription functionality
- Strong Broadcast search functionality
Cons
- No free plan available
- Limited platform support (Web only)
- May require time to learn advanced features
Who Should Use Ghost CMS vs Steno?
Choose Ghost CMS if you:
- Need Publishing platform
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Self-hosted
- Value Email newsletters
Choose Steno if you:
- Need AI transcription
- Have a budget of Contact for pricing+
- Work primarily on Web
- Value Broadcast search
Frequently Asked Questions: Ghost CMS vs Steno
Is Ghost CMS better than Steno?
It depends on your needs. Ghost CMS has a 4.5/5 user rating while Steno has 4.4/5. Ghost CMS excels in Publishing platform and Email newsletters, while Steno stands out with AI transcription and Broadcast search. Consider your budget (Free vs Contact for pricing), platform needs, and specific feature requirements.
Which is cheaper, Ghost CMS or Steno?
Ghost CMS offers a free plan and starts at Free. Steno starts at Contact for pricing. Ghost CMS has a clear pricing advantage with its free tier.
Can I use Ghost CMS and Steno 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 Steno?
The key differences include: pricing model (freemium vs subscription), platform support (Web, Self-hosted vs Web), and feature focus. Ghost CMS emphasizes Publishing platform, Email newsletters, Membership management while Steno focuses on AI transcription, Broadcast search, Real-time monitoring. 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 Steno.