Ghost Review 2026
Independent technology for modern publishing.
The Verdict
Ghost is the best platform for writers and publishers who want to own their audience. While WordPress tries to be everything and Substack takes a cut of your revenue, Ghost sits in the sweet spot: a clean, fast, modern publishing platform with built-in memberships and newsletters.
I've migrated several content creators from WordPress to Ghost, and every single one has told me their writing experience improved dramatically. The editor is distraction-free and beautiful. Pages load incredibly fast. And the built-in email newsletter means you don't need Mailchimp or ConvertKit.
The trade-off is clear: Ghost is not a general-purpose website builder. You can't build a complex business site, an ecommerce store, or a web application with it. It's a publishing platform, and it does that one thing exceptionally well.
✓Pros
- +Best-in-class writing experience
- +Built-in newsletter
- +Fast
✕Cons
- −Limited design flexibility
- −Not for general websites
Pricing & Plans
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $9/month | 500 members · Official themes |
| Creator | $25/month | Custom themes · 1000 members |
Who Should Use Ghost
- →Independent writers, journalists, and bloggers who want complete ownership of their content and audience.
- →Newsletter creators who want built-in email distribution without paying for a separate email marketing tool.
- →Creators building paid membership or subscription businesses — Ghost handles payments with 0% platform fees.
- →Publishers who care about performance — Ghost sites are among the fastest on the web.
Who Should NOT Use Ghost
- ✕Businesses that need a general-purpose website with multiple page types, forms, and complex layouts.
- ✕Ecommerce businesses — Ghost has no shopping features whatsoever.
- ✕Non-technical users who don't want to deal with theme customization — Ghost's design options are limited without coding.
What to Consider
- ●Ghost(Pro) managed hosting starts at $9/mo for 500 members. Self-hosting is free but requires a server.
- ●Ghost takes 0% of your subscription revenue (unlike Substack's 10%), but you handle payment processing fees.
- ●Theme customization requires Handlebars templating knowledge. The default themes are good, but customization needs code.
- ●Ghost's editor supports Markdown natively, which writers love but some beginners find unfamiliar.
Conclusion
Ghost is the best publishing platform for creators who are serious about owning their content, their audience, and their revenue. If you're a writer building a sustainable content business, Ghost should be at the top of your list.
Just make sure your needs actually fit the publishing model. If you need anything beyond content and memberships, you'll need to pair Ghost with other tools.
Try Ghost →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ghost better than Substack?
At a Glance
- Free Plan
- No
- Skill Level
- Intermediate
- Best For
- bloggingnewslettersjournalismcreators