Substack vs Ghost
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 Substack if you need Newsletter publishing and prefer a free starting option. Choose Ghost if you prioritize Content API and want a free tier to start. Both are rated 4.4/5 by users.
Substack vs Ghost: At a Glance
Feature Comparison: Substack vs Ghost
| Feature | Substack | Ghost |
|---|---|---|
| Newsletter publishing | ||
| Subscriber management | ||
| Paid subscriptions | ||
| Email analytics | ||
| Post scheduling | ||
| Archive creation | ||
| Free/paid tier split | ||
| Comments & discussion | ||
| Apple News | ||
| Spotify | ||
| Stripe | ||
| RSS | ||
| Web support | ||
| Mobile support | ||
| Content API | ||
| Membership | ||
| Analytics | ||
| Webhooks | ||
| Zapier | ||
| Custom integrations | ||
| Node.js support | ||
| Cloud support | ||
| Self-hosted support |
Substack vs Ghost: Pricing Breakdown
Substack Pricing
Model: freemium
- Unlimited newsletters
- Basic design
- Archive access
- Email delivery
- Custom domain
- Advanced analytics
- Member chat
- Priority support
Ghost Pricing
Model: open-source-commercial
- Full Ghost
- Content API
- Community support
- Cloud hosting
- Membership
- Analytics
- Advanced features
- Priority support
- Custom themes
Pros and Cons
Substack
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.4/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Rich feature set with 15+ capabilities
- Strong Newsletter publishing functionality
- Strong Subscriber management functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Ghost
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.4/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Available on 3 platforms (Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted)
- Rich feature set with 9+ capabilities
- Strong Content API functionality
- Strong Membership functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Who Should Use Substack vs Ghost?
Choose Substack if you:
- Need Newsletter publishing
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Mobile
- Value Subscriber management
Choose Ghost if you:
- Need Content API
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Node.js and Cloud
- Value Membership
Frequently Asked Questions: Substack vs Ghost
Is Substack better than Ghost?
It depends on your needs. Substack has a 4.4/5 user rating while Ghost has 4.4/5. Substack excels in Newsletter publishing and Subscriber management, while Ghost stands out with Content API and Membership. Consider your budget (Free vs Free), platform needs, and specific feature requirements.
Which is cheaper, Substack or Ghost?
Substack offers a free plan and starts at Free. Ghost offers a free plan and starts at Free. Compare the specific plan features to determine the best value for your use case.
Can I use Substack and Ghost 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 Substack and Ghost?
The key differences include: pricing model (freemium vs open-source-commercial), platform support (Web, Mobile vs Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted), and feature focus. Substack emphasizes Newsletter publishing, Subscriber management, Paid subscriptions while Ghost focuses on Content API, Membership, Analytics. User ratings differ slightly: 4.4 vs 4.4 out of 5.
Ready to choose?
Explore detailed reviews, user ratings, and pricing for both Substack and Ghost.