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Ghost CMS vs Google News

Ghost CMS logo

Ghost CMS

News

Modern platform for professional publishing

From
$18/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Google News logo

Google News

News

Comprehensive news coverage powered by Google

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Google News 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; Google News free model only with no paid alternatives
  • They diverge on capability: Ghost CMS covers Publishing platform, Google News covers AI-powered curation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ghost CMS and Google News actually diverge.

Attributes where Ghost CMS and Google News differ
AttributeGhost CMSGoogle News
Starting price$18/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Self-hostedWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20131998

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 Google News

  • AI-powered curation
  • Full coverage
  • Local news
  • Topic following
  • Newsstand
  • Google account
  • Google Assistant
  • Chrome

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 Google News
  • Self hosting a headless or full stack publishing platformnot Google News

Google News

  • News consumptionnot Ghost CMS
  • Topic trackingnot Ghost CMS
  • Local newsnot Ghost CMS
  • Researchnot 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

Google News

  • Free model only with no paid alternatives
  • Revenue generated through advertising rather than subscriptions

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

Google News

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Personalized news feed
    • Full coverage feature
    • Local news

Which should you pick?

Choose Ghost CMS if

  • You need publishing platform.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted.
  • You also want email newsletters.
Ghost CMS review

Choose Google News if

  • You need ai-powered curation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want full coverage.
Google News review

Questions people ask

Is Ghost CMS or Google News better?
Neither clearly leads. Ghost CMS starts at $18/month and Google News at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ghost CMS or Google News?
Google News has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $18/month for Ghost CMS and Free for Google News.
Does Ghost CMS or Google News run on more platforms?
Ghost CMS runs on Web, Self-hosted. Google News runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Google News for free?
Yes. Google News 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 Google News is typically brought in for.
What can Ghost CMS do that Google News cannot?
Ghost CMS covers Publishing platform, Email newsletters, Membership management, Analytics. Google News covers AI-powered curation, Full coverage, Local news, Topic following. 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.

Source
Google News: Is Google News free?

Yes, Google News is a free news aggregation service available to all users. No subscription or payment is required to access personalized news feeds and search functionality.

Source
Ghost CMS: Can I cancel my Ghost subscription anytime?

Yes, users can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel their Ghost subscription anytime without penalties.

Source
Google News: How does Google News make money if it's free?

Google News generates revenue through advertising displayed within the news aggregation service rather than charging users for access.

Source
Ghost 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.

Source
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