Softwr

News · head to head

Ghost vs PocketBase

Ghost logo

Ghost

News

Modern publishing platform with content API and membership support

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PocketBase logo

PocketBase

APIs

Open-source backend with REST API, real-time subscriptions and Admin UI

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Ghost backup and migration processes have significant limitations and are problematic for long-term users; PocketBase requires technical expertise to deploy and maintain
  • They diverge on capability: Ghost covers Content API, PocketBase covers REST API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ghost and PocketBase actually diverge.

Attributes where Ghost and PocketBase differ
AttributeGhostPocketBase
PlatformsWeb, Self-hosted, Cloud-hostedLinux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD
CategoryNewsAPIs
Founded20132021

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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

  • Content API
  • Membership
  • Analytics
  • Zapier
  • Custom integrations
  • Node.js support
  • Cloud support

Only in PocketBase

  • REST API
  • Real-time subscriptions
  • Admin UI
  • SQLite
  • File storage
  • Go support
  • Docker support

Both cover

  • Webhooks
  • Self-hosted support

What people use each for

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

Ghost

  • API Developmentnot PocketBase
  • API Gatewaynot PocketBase
  • API Testingnot PocketBase
  • API Documentationnot PocketBase
  • Microservicesnot PocketBase

PocketBase

  • Embedded realtime database with REST APInot Ghost
  • Backend-as-a-service for single-file deploymentsnot Ghost
  • Rapid application development with email/OAuth2 authenticationnot Ghost
  • File storage and media attachment managementnot Ghost
  • Lightweight alternative to Firebase or traditional backend infrastructurenot Ghost
  • Go and JavaScript customisable application frameworknot Ghost

Where each one falls short

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

Ghost

  • Backup and migration processes have significant limitations and are problematic for long-term users
  • Open-source version lacks automatic backups, email subscriptions, and ad placement features
  • No built-in e-commerce functionality; separate platform required for product sales
  • Smaller community compared to WordPress, making support and resources harder to find
  • Narrow focus on publishing limits use cases outside content-only websites

PocketBase

  • Requires technical expertise to deploy and maintain
  • No built-in hosting provided
  • Community support only

Pricing, plan by plan

Ghost

Free
  • Self-HostedFree
    • Open-source Ghost CMS
    • Full control over data
    • No payment fees
  • Starter$15/month
    • Up to 1,000 members
    • Newsletter functionality
    • Membership management
  • Publisher$29/month
    • Unlimited members
    • Continuous member scaling
    • Advanced analytics
  • Business$199/month
    • All Publisher features
    • Custom domain
    • Priority support

PocketBase

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PocketBase review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Ghost if

  • You need content api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted, Cloud-hosted.
  • You also want membership.
Ghost review

Choose PocketBase if

  • You need rest api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
  • You also want real-time subscriptions.
PocketBase review

Questions people ask

Is Ghost or PocketBase better?
Neither clearly leads. Ghost starts at Free and PocketBase at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ghost or PocketBase?
Ghost starts at Free and PocketBase at Free.
Does Ghost or PocketBase run on more platforms?
Ghost runs on Web, Self-hosted, Cloud-hosted. PocketBase runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
Can I use Ghost for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Ghost best used for?
Ghost is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation. Of those, api development and api gateway are not what PocketBase is typically brought in for.
What can Ghost do that PocketBase cannot?
Ghost covers Content API, Membership, Analytics, Zapier. PocketBase covers REST API, Real-time subscriptions, Admin UI, SQLite. Both handle Webhooks, Self-hosted support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Ghost: What is the free option for Ghost?

Ghost is open-source software that can be self-hosted for free. Self-hosting costs depend on your own server, domain, SSL, email delivery infrastructure, and DevOps expertise.

Source
PocketBase: How much does PocketBase cost?

PocketBase is completely free and open-source. It is a self-hosted backend solution with database, authentication, and file storage capabilities at no cost.

Source
Ghost: What is the starting price for Ghost(Pro) managed hosting?

Ghost(Pro) Starter plan is USD 15/month when billed yearly or USD 18/month when billed monthly. This plan includes up to 1,000 members with membership features enabled.

Source
PocketBase: Is PocketBase open-source?

Yes, PocketBase is open-source software. You can download, modify, and deploy it yourself at no cost with no licensing restrictions.

Source
Ghost: Can I collect payments and manage subscriptions with Ghost?

Yes. Ghost includes native membership and subscription management with support for free signups and paid tiers (monthly/yearly options). All revenue goes directly to publishers with zero payment fees.

Source
Ghost: Does Ghost integrate with Stripe?

Yes. Ghost integrates with Stripe for payment processing and subscription management, plus Zapier, Slack, Google Analytics, and thousands of other third-party apps.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Ghost

More on PocketBase

Keep looking

Other head to heads