Ghost
Ghost is an open-source blog and newsletter platform for creators, publishers, businesses, and developers.
What Ghost is
Ghost is an open-source blog and newsletter platform for creators, publishers, businesses, and developers. It combines publishing tools, editorial workflows, SEO tools, analytics, multilingual content, and memberships. Publishers can send email newsletters, including multiple newsletters for different audiences, and offer free or paid memberships with monthly or yearly premium tiers. Its editor supports media and content such as galleries, GIFs, video, audio, products, files, and bookmarks. Ghost connects with services including Stripe, Zapier, Slack, YouTube, Google Analytics, and GitHub. Custom domains, theme customization, and CSV export are available. Starter is $18 a month billed yearly, with 1,000 members, one staff user, and a 5 MB upload limit. Ghost charges no platform fee on publication revenue, though payment processor fees apply. Ghost(Pro) includes security protections, and all plans include device verification and email-based two-factor authentication.
Good
- Supports free and paid monthly or yearly memberships.
- Includes email newsletters and multiple newsletter options.
- Editor handles galleries, video, audio, and files.
- Offers SEO tools, analytics, and CSV export.
- No Ghost fee on publication revenue.
Watch out
- No permanent free plan; trial lasts 14 days.
- Starter is $18 a month billed yearly.
- Payment processor fees still apply.
- Starter limits uploads to 5 MB.
Who it suits
Ghost suits creators, publishers, businesses, and developers who want a publishing platform with newsletters and memberships. Its staff plans and editorial workflows may also fit publication teams.
Verdict
Ghost brings publishing, newsletters, and memberships together in a web-based platform. Check its annual billing, plan limits, and processor fees against your publication’s needs.
Plans and prices
From Ghost's own pricing page, checked 27 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $18 a month | For solo blogs and newsletters; includes 1,000 members · 1,000 members · 1 staff user · 5 MB file upload limit · Billed yearly |
| Publisher | $29 a month | For custom publications; includes 3 staff users and 1,000 members · 1,000 members · 3 staff users · 100 MB file upload limit · Billed yearly |
| Business | $199 a month | For teams scaling up; includes 15 staff users and 1,000 members · 1,000 members · 15 staff users · 250 MB file upload limit · Billed yearly |
| Custom | Priced on request | For more complex needs; includes unlimited staff users and unlimited members · Unlimited members · Unlimited staff users |
The facts
Each one read from Ghost's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Account Security
- All plans include device verification and email-based two-factor authentication.checked 27 Sep 2026
- Built-in Newsletters
- Ghost includes email newsletters and supports multiple newsletters based on audience preference.checked 27 Sep 2026
- Content gating
- postchecked 21 Sep 2026
- Custom domain
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
- Custom Domain
- Ghost(Pro) includes a free ghost.io subdomain and supports custom domains.checked 27 Sep 2026
- Domain Promotion
- Ghost(Pro) includes one year of free .link domain registration.checked 27 Sep 2026
- Member limit
- 1000checked 21 Sep 2026
- Paid from
- 18checked 21 Sep 2026
- Paid Subscriptions
- Ghost supports free and paid memberships with monthly and yearly premium tiers.checked 27 Sep 2026
- Payment Fees
- Ghost states that publications earn revenue with 0% payment fees; processor fees still apply.checked 27 Sep 2026
- Primary Audience
- It serves creators, publishers, businesses, and developers.checked 27 Sep 2026
- Rich Media
- The editor supports galleries, GIFs, video, audio, products, files, bookmarks, and more.checked 27 Sep 2026
- Security Protection
- Ghost(Pro) includes DDoS mitigation, a web application firewall, brute-force protection, and rate limiting.checked 27 Sep 2026
- Support Options
- Support varies by plan and includes product help, email support, priority support, and account management.checked 27 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- App Integrations
- Ghost connects with services including Stripe, Zapier, Slack, YouTube, Google Analytics, and GitHub.checked 27 Sep 2026
- Open Source Platform
- Ghost is an open source blog and newsletter platform for professional publishers.checked 27 Sep 2026
The company
- Company Funding
- Ghost is independent and funded entirely by its users, without investors.checked 27 Sep 2026
- Founded
- 2013checked 23 Sep 2026
- Headquarters
- Singaporechecked 23 Sep 2026
- Team Management
- Paid plans support staff users, with unlimited staff users on Custom.checked 27 Sep 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Nochecked 21 Sep 2026
- Free Tier Limit
- The page describes a free trial, not a permanent free plan.checked 27 Sep 2026
- Free Trial
- Ghost offers a completely free 14-day trial.checked 27 Sep 2026
- Subscription billing
- bothchecked 21 Sep 2026
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